The Fighting Creek Farm Landfill is the department's active landfill. It is located just off Highway 95 approximately
16 miles south of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. This landfill began accepting waste in May 1993 and has gone through and will continue
to go through several construction phases as waste is added.
Our landfill is a fully lined facility which meets environmental requirements imposed by the Federal, State and Local regulators.
The landfill is designed to efficiently handle waste while still protecting the environment. Our goal is to maximize our use of the
land while at the same time minimizing our impact on the environment and protecting the land.
We are required to meet stringent testing requirements for surface water, ground water and waste water on or around our facility
several times during the year. In addition, we must meet air quality standards, gas emission standards, as well as many other
regulations required for operating a landfill.
We design and operate our facilities in order to minimize visual impacts for our neighbors and visitors to Kootenai County.
We have created berms to reduce the visual impact of the landfill from the highway. In addition, we have developed, in association
with the US Army Corps of Engineers, a designated wetlands area on the landfill property. Within this area we have designed ponds,
habitat and plantings to increase the wildlife that is indigenous to our area.
The Solid Waste Department offers guided tours of this facility, to aid in the public's understanding of solid waste issues
and problems specific to Kootenai County. If you are interested in visiting the Fighting Creek facility, please make arrangements
by calling the Administration Office at (208) 446-1430.
With the lateral expansions granted by permit in 2000, the Fighting Creek Landfill should serve Kootenai County in its current
capacity until after 2040. If we manage our waste through recycling, reduction and diversion, the landfill space will last even longer.
