Pocatello celebrates reopening of renovated recycling facility on Garrett Way
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POCATELLO — City officials, Pocatello Chamber of Commerce Trail Blazers, and community members gathered Monday evening to celebrate the reopening of the city’s newly renovated Recycling Services Facility at 3034 Garrett Way. A ribbon-cutting ceremony included a tour and live demonstration of the recycling process.
Formerly owned and operated by Western Recycling/Republic Services, the facility was acquired by the City of Pocatello in August 2024 to prevent its closure and ensure the continuation of local curbside recycling services.
“When we first acquired the facility, it was a train wreck,” said Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad. “We’re proud to reopen this facility as a city-operated service and continue providing accessible recycling options for our community. This project is a great example of how partnerships and smart investment can strengthen Pocatello’s future.”
According to Blad, recycling is important to the city, with approximately 77% of Pocatello residents currently participating in recycling — one of the highest rates in the region.
During Monday’s event, city staff demonstrated how recyclable materials are sorted and processed. Once collected from homes, the recyclables are dumped onto the facility floor, pushed onto a ground conveyor belt with a forklift, compressed into large bales, and then sold to companies that repurpose the materials into new products.
A video of the process can be viewed here.
“It’s amazing to us what a benefit this is to the community,” said Tom Kirkman, the city’s director of public services. “We’re doing what’s right for the environment and keeping things out of the landfill.”
The facility upgrades include interior renovations, warehouse improvements, and an enhanced public drop-off area designed to improve efficiency, safety, and accessibility. The improvements reflect the city’s ongoing commitment to advancing recycling efforts and promoting environmental stewardship.
Blad said the project was brought to fruition thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Energy – Idaho Operations Office. The renovations were completed through a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP), an initiative that supports cleanup efforts and infrastructure improvements benefiting public health and the environment.
This project is one of several across Idaho made possible following a settlement of an enforcement action by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality related to alleged violations of the Hazardous Waste Management Act.
The city encourages all residents to recycle, noting that recycling saves natural resources, energy, and water, reduces landfill waste, and supports local jobs.
While most paper, plastics, and metals are accepted in the city’s curbside program, certain items cannot be recycled due to contamination issues. Non-recyclable materials include plastic bags of any kind, Styrofoam, yard waste, welcome mats, lawn furniture, bottle caps and lids, automotive glass, porcelain or ceramics, light bulbs, mirrors, and Pyrex.
For details on the city’s curbside recycling program go here.
