Solid Waste

MISSION STATEMENT

The Board of Directors and the employees of the Flathead County Solid Waste District provides environmentally sound and cost-effective refuse collection, disposal and recycling opportunities for Flathead County residents and businesses. Our facilities are a major part of the economic and environmental infrastructure of Flathead County. Long range planning and fiscal integrity ensures decades of capacity with minimal financial impacts to Flathead County citizens.

Percentage of Total Waste Disposed Fiscal Year 2024

Solid Waste Data

Total tonnage disposed of at the Flathead County landfill between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024 was 172,876 tons.

In FY24, 97,605 tons of mixed waste was landfilled, of which 49% was disposed of by commercial haulers, 12% by municipal haulers, 12% by private citizens and 27% hauled by Flathead County Solid Waste Department (FCSW) from the container sites.

Household Recycling

Household recycling is available for cardboard, newspaper & aluminum cans, and are provided at

The Landfill
Bigfork
Columbia Falls
Creston
Lakeside
Somers Container Sites
Please be sure cardboard is flattened and cut down to 40 inches or less.

Kalispell recycling locations are provided by Valley Recycling at their facility.

Dedicated cardboard compacting units have been installed at the Landfill, Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Creston, Lakeside and Somers container sites.

Items accepted at the Landfill Site

Refuse
Construction Debris
Appliances
Used Motor Oil (household only, no commercial)
Automotive and Alkaline Batteries
Brush and Yard Waste

As a service to County residents we also retrieve junk vehicles.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY

FCSW holds a Household Hazardous Waste Collection day on the 3rd Saturday of every month.

Click on DocumentsOpens in a new tab. for a sign-up form or call for for more information.

JUNK VEHICLE RECYCLING PROGRAM

FCSW offers free pick up and removal of Junk Vehicles within Flathead County. "If you own a vehicle that is unlicensed, inoperative, discarded, dismantled or wrecked ~ State law requires that you remove it from your property, or if you have three vehicles or more, conceal them from public view."

Click on DocumentsOpens in a new tab. for a junk vehicle release form or call for more information.

PARTNERSHIP TO FIGHT PESTICIDE POLLUTION

The University of Montana's Flathead Lake Bio Station has received a $6.6 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fight pesticide pollution. Read more...