Trying to help the environment? Boise has specific recycling rules, here’s what to know

Shaun Goodwin
·2 min read

It’s no secret that Boise wants to be at the forefront of Idaho’s efforts to turn green in the coming years — it’s hard to miss the massive “Carbon Neutral by 2050” message plastered across City Hall.

But even something as simple as plastic bottle recycling has been limited in Ada County since 2018.

Republic Services, the trash and recycling company that services the county, has accepted only the plastics numbered 1 or 2 since 2018, turning away any items with the numbers 3-7 printed on them.

Here’s what those numbers mean and what other materials are accepted at the landfill.

What plastics can you recycle?

If you look at any recyclable plastic, the triangular recyclable sign will surround a number between 1 and 7. This is called the resin identification code.

Republic Services accepts plastics with a code of 1 or 2, typically items like milk jugs, soda bottles and other plastics with a threaded neck. Republic accepts plastics 4-7 if inside an orange Hefty ReNew trash bag in the recycling bin.

Here’s what each resin identification code typically corresponds to:

3 - Pipes, siding and flooring

4 - Plastic bags, six-pack rings and tubing

5 - Auto parts, industrial fibers and food containers

6 - Plastic utensils, styrofoam, cafeteria trays

7 - Other plastics, such as acrylic and nylon

But if you’re unsure what a plastic’s resin identification code is, Republic Services recommends throwing it out with the rest of the trash.

“When in doubt, throw it out,” the company previously told the Idaho Statesman. “If you are not sure if something is recyclable, throw it away and reduce the risk of contamination.”

Other materials accepted at the landfill

The Ada County Landfill is found northwest of Boise at 10300 N. Seamans Gulch Road. The landfill accepts a large variety of waste; here’s what it takes, according to the landfill’s website:

  • Landscaping wood waste — Branches, trees and brushes, but nothing with thorns

  • Clean wood waste — Pallets, lumber and plywood, but nothing stained, painted or treated

  • Clean concrete and asphalt

  • Scrap metal — Metal appliances, workout equipment, grills, etc.

  • Electrical chords

  • Lawn mowers, weed eaters, tillers, etc.

  • Bicycles — Can also be donated to the Recycle-A-Bicycle Program

  • Tires — All sizes are accepted for a fee of $3.50 per tire. The landfill asks residents to call ahead for 12 or more tires or large tractor tires.

  • E-waste — Televisions, monitors, microwaves and other electronics.

The landfill also accepts hazardous waste, such as at-home cleaning products, at designated locations around Ada County. Hazardous materials typically include words on the packaging such as “caution,” “danger,” and “corrosive.”