Over the past 35 years, residents, businesses and visitors have strongly supported community recycling in Teton County, and continue to do so as our community embarks on the Road to Zero Waste. Teton County operates a source-separated system for common recyclables, benefiting from the assistance of residents who sort their recyclables into the different categories we accept. This system works well for our small, rural, isolated community — saving labor and equipment costs thereby increasing the value of these materials, which helps the recycling program remain viable.
Teton County hauls our community’s trash over 100 miles away to be buried in a landfill just outside of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Landfilling costs Teton County more than $100/ton while recycling costs the county, on average, $20/ton. In addition to being more fiscally responsible, recycling is allowing these valuable materials be reused rather than landfilled.
Teton County manages 8 community recycling sites conveniently located throughout the valley where residents and visitors can recycle accepted materials.
Unique items such as electronic waste, batteries, hardcover books, textiles, bike tires and tubes, scrap metal, fluorescent light bulbs, bear spray and household hazardous waste can be recycled at the main recycling center located on Adams Canyon Drive.
The Teton County recycling program collects only materials that are truly able to be recycled/reused and for which viable markets exist. We operate a “source separated’’ collection system in which we require recyclers to separate items based on material type – as opposed to a ‘single source’ or ‘commingled’ collection system (common in larger communities) in which all materials go into one bin and are separated at a more sophisticated Materials Recovery Facility.
Teton County is currently expanding recycling and waste facilities which will help enable us to accept increased volumes and additional types of materials. As the county’s waste diversion program grows, additional modifications to simplify the current collection system may become viable.
At eight community bin sites throughout the county that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you can recycle:
All recyclables must be clean, dry, and sorted by category. Dirty or mixed materials can contaminate the whole load and may end up in the landfill — so when in doubt, rinse it out and sort carefully.
Where are Community Recycling Drop-Off Sites located?
The Recycling Center at Adams Canyon Road accepts many other materials during office hours only (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.):
These materials are never accepted in standard recycling bins but can be dropped off at the Recycling Center during office hours (9–5, Monday–Friday):
For questions or to check drop-off details, please call (307) 733-7678.
Some of the bulkiest or most unusual items can still be recycled — just bring them to the Teton County Trash Transfer Station. The following are accepted for recycling or special handling:
Fees may apply depending on material type and volume. Sorting and separating materials ahead of time can help reduce your costs and ensure more items are diverted from the landfill.
Even though it might seem recyclable, the following items are not accepted in our program due to contamination risk or lack of viable markets:
Paperboard products, like cereal, tissue boxes, milk cartons, juice boxes and soup cartons
Egg cartons, cardboard or foam
Plastic food containers, such as yogurt containers, lettuce and berry containers, food service packaging, even if marked #1 or #2
Plastics #3–#7
Containers with food residue or liquids
Cardboard contaminated with grease, oil, or other waste
Styrofoam, such as packing materials or packing ‘peanuts’
When in doubt, give us a call — we’re happy to help!
Recycling is a community effort. Every clean can, sorted bin, and mindful decision helps reduce landfill waste and protect our beautiful corner of the world.
Teton County seeks to utilize regional materials processors whenever possible, as is the case with scrap metal, newspaper, glass and textiles. Other materials are transported to recycling processors where those facilities exist. The benefits of re-utilizing materials through recycling rather than destroying them in landfills or by incineration ultimately outweighs the impacts associated with transporting these materials to processors. Where do Teton County Recyclables Go and What do they Become?
Each year Teton County trucks nearly 30,000 tons of trash to the Bonneville County Landfill located just outside of Idaho Falls, Idaho – over 200 miles, round trip. On average, 5 semi-trucks per day, 6 days per week make this journey to deliver our community’s trash to be entombed underground.
