FAQ's

A transfer station is a facility where refuse is separated and processed for either recycling or shipment to a landfill.

The transfer station is open to the general public seven days a week. The entry gate opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 4:55 p.m. We request that everyone have their vehicles unloaded and out of the facility by 5:00 p.m. daily.

The transfer station is located at 3650 N. Ramsey Road in Coeur d'Alene. The closest cross streets are Appleway (to the South) and Kathleen Avenue (to the North). Watch for the signs in the center median on Ramsey Road.

There is also a transfer station in Post Falls located at 15580 W. Prairie Avenue.

No. Kootenai County only provides transfer station and landfill services. You must contact a private hauler to pick up your garbage at your home or business.

The following companies provides garbage collection services in Kootenai County.

Waste Management of Idaho -- 765-4968
City of Worley (within city limits only)
Lenz Sanitation -- 765-5233
Southlake Services -- 686-9262
Harrison Sanitation -- 689-3215
Coeur d'Alene Garbage/Post Falls Sanitation -- 457-1820

No. The facility at Ramsey Road is simply a transfer station. Garbage is no longer buried at this site. All garbage is put into trailers and hauled to the landfill at Fighting Creek on Highway 95, south of Coeur d'Alene.

Residents of Kootenai County pay an annual fee that is included in their tax statement. Upon payment of the annual fee, residents are permitted to dispose of up to 2000 lbs. of household waste and yard debris associated with their residential property for free (Note: Roofing materials and tires on rims are charged to everyone). There may be additional fees for disposal of certain items. Please refer to the Fee Structure Page for more details.

No. The landfill is not designed to handle traffic from the general public. All garbage is unloaded from the transfer trailers directly into the landfill area. All access is designed for heavy equipment and semi-trucks.

The county operates a rural collection system for general household garbage. There are 16 different locations throughout the county which have refuse containers for the use and convenience of our rural residents. For limitations on what is accepted at these rural sites, please refer to the Rural Collection Section of this web site.

The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection sites are located at the Ramsey Transfer Station in Coeur d'Alene with collection days on Wednesday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the Prairie Avenue Transfer Station in Post Falls with collection days on Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please wait for a technician to assist you at the facility. Do not leave your materials outside the gates. No hazardous waste can be collected at any other time. This service is for residential customers only. There is a 5-gallon liquid limit per collection day.

Certainly there are more materials capable of being recycled than what is collected through the Kootenai County recycling programs. However, the key to successful programs is locating markets first, then establishing collections.

Idaho, unlike Washington or Oregon, does not mandate recycling. These other states have mandated requirements of waste reduction and recycling which have attracted both large and small processors and end users to their areas. These companies are assured a flow of materials due to the state mandates and taxpayer subsidies. Idaho does not have any such mandates or industries at this time. We ship our materials to distant markets and are therefore subject to the high costs of shipping.

As local markets open and become available, our collection will continue to expand.

The disposal of Asbestos is governed by the EPA. There are specific requirements that must be met before the disposal of Asbestos can take place. There are specific forms that must accompany each and every load that is brought for disposal. Please see the section on Asbestos for further details.

The Solid Waste Department provides guided tours of the Landfill and Transfer Station facilities. Please contact the Administration office at (208) 446-1430 to make arrangements for tours.

The intent of the residential solid waste fee is for normal household waste, created by day to day residential living. The fee is based on a residential lifestyle that creates normal waste not to exceed three (3) thiry-two (32) gallon cans per week.

Waste such as vehicle tires, vehicle batteries, roofing materials, construction or demolition materials, appliances, furniture, carpet, large bulky items, wood or wood products, and hazardous materials are not covered under the residential solid waste fee. These wastes and others materials may be subject to additional charges.