Trash slows down Palouse compost

A few users of the recycling facility at Palouse are leaving trash behind, so city officials are trying to get the word out about better facility maintenance.

City crews took 12 hours, instead of the usual four hours, this month to dispose of the mound of debris left behind by citizens.

Public Works Director Duane Griffin said they had to dig through the material designated for the compost chipper to pick out trash that can’t be put through the blades.

Nails, Christmas lights and barbed wire are just some of the materials that can’t go through the chipper, Griffin said.

“We have to go down there and dig through the pile. You have to look- you‘re afraid you might end up with nails and barbed wire and fencing,” Griffin said.

Users are also dumping debris in the wrong place. The facility has marked area for recycling materials and composing materials.

“We just end up with leaves in the chipper pile,” said Griffin.

Palouse rents its chipper from Garfield and any hazardous debris passing through could permanently damage the blade.

A permit to use the city recycling facility costs $25 a year.