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Do you have a question for PCEI?
Below is a list of the most common questions we receive at PCEI. We
have supplied answers to these questions In an effort to serve our
community and membership.
If you have a questions for us submit it to: webmaster@pcei.org |
What can I recycle in Latah County and where?
If you live in a household within the city limits of Moscow, Deary, or
Troy then you may participate in the curbside recycling program. Each
household should have two green 18-gallon recycle bins. To participate,
simply place your bins on the curb for collection on the day that your
household garbage is picked up. Items that can be placed in curbside
collection bins include:
• Batteries
• Tin/steel cans
• Aluminum cans (Moscow Recycling will pay for aluminum
cans!)
• Clear, brown, and green glass bottles and jars
• Corrugated cardboard (includes brown paper grocery bags)
• White Ledger (copy, computer and lined notebook paper)
• Magazines, newspapers, newspaper inserts and phone books
• Mixed waste paper (see detail description below)
• Shredded paper (tied off in a plastic bag)
• #1 clear plastic bottles (NO LIDS)
• #2 opaque screw-top jugs (NO LIDS)
What is mixed waste paper?
• Single-ply cardboard such as cereal boxes, shoe boxes, soda and
beer containers
• Construction paper, pastel/color paper, wrapping paper, tissue
paper
• Paper towel cores, molded pulpboard (egg cartons)
• Paper milk cartons, juice boxes, soy milk boxes
• Envelopes (with or without windows), file folders, index
cards, calculator tape
• Slick or glossy paper (including pamphlets & brochures)
If you do not live within the city limits of Moscow, Deary, or Troy, or
you wish to recycle an item not listed on the curbside list, recyclable
materials can also be dropped off at Moscow Recycling. Moscow
Recycling is located at 401 North Jackson Street in Moscow (just south
of Rosauer’s); recycling can be dropped off 7 days a week, 24-hours a
day, unless otherwise noted. Items that are accepted for recycling
at Moscow Recycling include all of the items available for pick-up
service and:
• Automotive batteries
• Rechargeable batteries (Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30–5:30)
• Aluminum foil (clean)
• Motor oil (in container, no dumping)
• Mixed plastics (#1 non-clear/clamshell, #2
non-opaque/non-screw-top, #3-7)
• Bicycles and bicycle parts (Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30–5:30)
• Hardbound and paperback books
• Inkjet and toner cartridges (Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30–5:30)
• Electronic media (Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30–5:30)
• TV’s and copiers (for a set fee, Tuesday–Saturday,
9:30–5:30)
• CFL light bulbs (spiral and unbroken)
• Yard Waste (drop off on North Almon Street, directly behind
center, 24-hours)
• Scrap metals (yellow/red brass. copper tubing/wire,
cast/sheet aluminum, and radiators – Moscow Recycling will buy these
items!)
Please:
• Drain and rinse containers
• Discard lids
• Do not place styrofoam in the recycling bins
• Do not place light bulbs, drinking glasses, ceramics, or window glass
in the glass recycling bins
• Do not place plastics containing hazardous waste (e.g. oil or
antifreeze), plastic packaging, plastic bags or plastic with metal rims
in the plastic recycling bins
For general information or information about additional services
provided by Moscow Recycling visit their website at www.moscowrecycling.com or call
(208) 882-0590.
Additional recycling services provided in Latah County:
Plastic grocery bags: Moscow Food Co-op accepts reusable grocery
bags. Rosauer’s, Safeway, Wal-Mart, and WINCO accept all bags
Styrofoam, packing materials: NRS (208) 882-2383, Mail Boxes
ETC. (208) 882-5000, Moscow Hide & Fur (208) 882-0601 and NW Showcase
(208) 882-4767
Furniture, clothing, etc.: Salvation Army, Now & Then and
Goodwill
Dishes and silverware: PCEI Plate Project located at the 1912
Center (208) 882-1444
Computers: Staples ($10 per piece, no charge for small items
such as mice and keyboards)
Plastic nursery pots: Pleasant Hill Farm (208) 877-1434, and the
University of Idaho Arboretum (there is a bin for pot donations near the
big red barn off of Palouse River Drive)
Working Appliances: Local appliance dealers, thrift stores, and
pawn shops
Non-working Appliances: Latah Sanitation Inc. Transfer Station
accepts scrap steel for recycling (208) 882-5724
Wood stoves: Latah Sanitation Inc. Transfer Station (inquire
regarding Idaho tax refund)
Usable building materials: Wasankari Construction (call first
(208) 883-4362)
Usable Fixtures: Wasankari Construction (call first (208)
883-4362)
Paint: Latah Sanitation Inc. Transfer Station (call for hours
(208) 882-5724)
Scrap metals: Latah Sanitation Inc. Transfer Station accepts
scrap steel for recycling (208) 882-5724
Propane tanks: Amerigas – Lewiston (208) 743-9455
Electric motors and pumps: Strom’s Electric (208) 835-2331
Fluorescent Tubes: Check out EcoLights, and Total Reclaim Environmental
Services
Reduce! - Reuse! - Recycle!
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Composting has occurred naturally since plants began growing on earth.
When vegetation decays, it breaks down and provides nutrients for the
soil, plants, and other life around it. We can make our own compost
(and also reap the benefits) because of the same decomposition
process!
Why compost?
On average, 24% of our solid waste is material that could
alternately be composted and used for enriching soil, retaining
moisture, cleaning up contaminated soil, keeping away plant diseases,
and much more! If you don’t have any inclination to these beneficial
uses of compost, there is still good reason to do it. Organic materials
such as food scraps that end up in the landfill actually create harmful
methane and acidic leachate pollution. This is because organic waste in
a landfill goes through anaerobic decompostion (because it does not
receive oxygen) and results in producing methane. When organic material
is composted it alternately goes through aerobic decomposition (because
the compost is turned during the process) and therefore produces carbon
dioxide instead of greenhouse gasses and pollution.
How do I compost?
It is easy to make a composter and even easier to buy one, though the
fabulous self-turning doo-dads and trinkets you may find for sale are
not necessary for making glorious compost. The easiest composter to
build is a 3 or 4 sided chicken wire enclosure that you can throw your
compost into. Just letting the scraps pile up will start the
decomposition process! Another simple do it yourself method is using 5
shipping pallets: one pallet for the bottom, and one standing up to
make each side. You can find many other ways to contain your compost
heap, be creative, use building materials you have had laying around!
If building a composter sounds like a big task, get a few friends or
neighbors to do it together. After it is built you can all put your
food scraps and lawn trimmings together and later share the compost or
use it to make a community garden!
What do/don't I compost?
Do:
Cow or horse manure
Cardboard rolls
Clean paper
Coffee grounds and filters
Cotton rags
Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
Eggshells
Fireplace ashes
Fruits and vegetables
Grass clippings
Hair and fur
Hay and straw
Houseplants
Leaves
Nut shells
Sawdust
Shredded newspaper
Tea bags
Wood chips
Wool rags
Yard trimmings
Don't:
Black walnut tree leaves or twigs
Coal or charcoal ash
Dairy products (butter, egg yolks, milk, sour cream, yogurt
Diseased or insect-ridden plants
Fat, grease, lard, oils
Meat or fish bones and scraps
Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter)
Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides
Composting is easy but doing it optimally requires some key factors.
There must be a balance between organic “green” materials (like manure,
food scraps, and grass clippings) and drier “brown” materials (like
leaves or wood chips). If it is too dry or too soggy the decomposition
process will take a much longer amount of time. Maintaining a balance
depends on the types of matter you put into the compost. You can add
dry leaves to a compost that is too wet, or if it is too dry you can
wet it down with a garden hose. A good decomposing compost mixture is
the product of patience and experimentation. You can find helpful
The smaller the pieces of organic matter you throw into your compost
the better. But beware! They can be too small if oxygen is prevented
from flowing through the pile.
Oxygen flow is the most important part of composting. To allow maximum
oxygen throughout your compost without drying it out, make sure to turn
the pile every week or two. Adding bigger pieces of matter such as wood
chips or shredded newspaper can help allow oxygen to get to the pile,
as well as keeping the pile on top of bulkier objects such as branches
so that it stays off the ground.
The microorganisms that break down compost rely on the temperature of
the heap they live on. A compost pile’s heat is generated from the
nitrogen ingredients or “green” ingredients and should be between 135
and 160 degrees farenheit for prime decomposition. This temperature is
also essential for killing pathogenic organisms and weed seeds. Things
necessary for warming up your compost are having a big enough heap (at
least 3 by 3 feet), having enough nitrogen or green ingredients (grass
clippings, food), turning the pile to disperse heat, and making sure it
is moist enough.
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How can I stop the city from spraying herbicides on my property?
The City of Moscow has an annual contract for the spraying of various
herbicides on City streets, alleys, right-of-ways, etc. The purpose of
this spraying program is threefold: 1) to prevent weeds from growing in
street cracks and causing further damage to roadways; 2) to eliminate
noxious weeds (which has essentially been accomplished on City
right-of- ways); and 3) to control other weeds. This program runs from
late spring through early autumn and monthly notices run in this
newspaper during that time.
If you are a chemically sensitive person or wish not to have spraying
done adjacent to or on your property, you must notify the City of
Moscow Street Superintendent, Mike McGahan by phone at 883-7096. You
must call each year to be added to the list; it does not carry over
from year to year. You may post "No Spray" signs on your property, but
please make sure they do not obstruct the clear view of motorists.
The City's Commission on Health and Environment asks that you hand pull
or otherwise remove weeds growing along your property, especially those
in curb and street cracks, if you request no spraying along your
property.
If you have questions about this program, its purpose, or about the
herbicides used you may contact the Moscow Street Department at the
above phone number. More information, including Material Safety Data
Sheets for the chemicals used and herbicide-free weed removal methods,
is posted on the City’s Web
site
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What evidence of pesticides in groundwater is there for our region?
Here is a fact sheet from the USGS entitled "Pesticides and
Volatile Organic Compounds in Ground and Surface Water of the Palouse
Subunit, Washington and Idaho".
The paper discusses pesticides and other volatile organic compunds
found in area groundwater. |
Who tests well water?
ANATEK LABS INC.
Anatek Labs Inc. specializes in the testing of drinking water, waste
water and environment samples for homeowners and industry. They are
certified analytical laboratories with locations in Moscow
(208-883-2839) and Spokane (509-838-3999) or 888-534-3999.
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What is the liquid icemelt product used locally, and is it harmful?
In recent years, both the City of Moscow and the Idaho Transportation
Department have adopted a new method of de-icing our streets and
highways. Instead of relying on traditional measures of applying sand
and basalt to control ice and snow, they have started using a new
anti-icing application called Ice-Stop. read the full story... |
How can I learn more about Ice Stop?
Please view the following pdf files for information about these
products.
You may also visit the Fateful Harvest website to
learn more about that book. |
What animals live in Paradise Creek?
Macroinvertabrates
- Ephemeroptera
- Trichoptera
- Megaloptera
- Coleoptera
- Hemiptera
- Odonata
- Pelecypoda
- Crustacea
- Diptera
- Gastropoda
- Oligochaeta
- Nematoda
- Hirudinea
- Collembola
- Bryozoa
- Coelenterata
- Amphipoda
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How can I learn more about bats and bat houses in our region?
You can visit Bats Northwest
to learn about our bat species, how bats benefit you and how you can
provide habitat for them. |
Holodiscus discolor
Oceanspray
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What native plants live along Paradise Creek?
Here is a list of native plants that PCEI uses inour sream restoration
project. There are also many non-native plants along t he stream
including Pacific Willow and Golden Willow.
Latin Name, Common Name: Tree(T) or Shrub(S), Soil Moisture:
Dry(D) and/or Moist M)
- Acer glabrum, Rocky Mountain Maple: T, D
- Alnus incana, Thinleaf Alder: T, M
- Amelanchier alnifolia, Serviceberry: S, D, M
- Betula occidentalis, Water Birch: T, M
- Betula glandulosa, Bog (Swamp) Birch: T, M
- Cornus sericea, Red-Osier Dogwood: S, M
- Crataegus douglasii, Douglas Hawthorn: T, M
- Holodiscus discolor, Oceanspray: S, D, M
- Philadelphus lewisii, Mockorange (Syringa): S, D
- Physocarpus malvaceus, Mallow Ninebark: S, D, M
- Populus tremuloides, Quaking Aspen: T, M
- Populus trichocarpa, Black Cottonwood: T, M
- Prunus virginiana, Common Chokecherry: T, M
- Ribes aureum, Golden Current: S, D, M
- Rosa gymnocarpa, Baldhip Rose: S, D
- Rosa woodsii, Woods (Pearhip) Rose: S, D
- Salix bebbiana, Bebb Willow: T, M
- Salix drummondii, Drummond Willow: T, M
- Salix exigua, Coyote Willow: S, M
- Salix lasiandra, caudata Whiplash (Pacific) Willow: T, M
- Salix mackenzieana, Mackenzie Willow: T, M
- Salix scouleriana, Scouler Willow: T, M
- Sambucus cerulea, Blue Elderberry: S, D, M
- Spirea betulifolia, Shiny-leaf Spirea: S, D
- Spirea douglasii, Douglas Spirea: S, D
- Symphoricarpos albus, Common Snowberry: S, D
- Symphoricarpos mollis, Creeping Snowberry: S, D
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What plastic can I recycle on the Palouse?
In addition to being able to recycle #1 and #2, you can now recycle
plastics with the numbers 3,4,5 and 7 at Moscow recycling center. In
the past, these plastic containers could not be accepted there because
there was no market for the recycling center to sell them. However,
this market has recently come available to Moscow’s Recycling Center.
Please continue to be thoughtful about the containers you purchase.
Recycling capabilities are not an excuse to go plastic crazy and buy
everything from this material amde from oil. Keep in mind that
reducing is the first step in the three R’s (Reduce/Recuse/Recycle).
So after you have reused the container to death, you can drop it by the
recycling center. Rinsed plastic containers (lids off) that have a
recycling symbol on it, are accepted. Plastic bags and Styrofoam are
still not accepted.
These newly accepted plastic containers are only accepted at the
24-hour drop off area at the Moscow Recycling Center and need to be
sorted by number code located on the container. Unfortunately, to
date, they do not have the capacity to pick up any other plastics in
the curbside collection beside numbers 1 and 2.
To accommodate the new bins in the drop off area, the cardboard
container near the Glass bins has been removed and the paper milk and
juice cartons (aseptic packaging) should be placed in the Mixed Waste
Paper bin. With all cases, there are a few packaging containers that
are still not accepted like motor oil containers and #6 plastic because
of high food contamination.
Thanks to Moscow Recycling center for helping to keep more plastics out
of our landfills. For more recycling information contact:
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How can I save water in my yard?
Water is the most valuable resource we have here on the Palouse. Over
time and as our community grows, our aquifer system is feeling the
pinch. It has become increasingly important to achieve maximum
efficiency with this community resource.
These tips will help you get the most out of watering while benefitting
your landscaping:
1. Water before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. and avoid watering on windy
days. As much as 30% of water can be lost to evaporation by
watering during midday.
2. Water in several short sessions rather than one long one. For
example, three ten- minute sessions spaced 30-60 minutes apart will
allow your lawn to better absorb moisture than one straight 30-minute
session.
3. Help root structures become deeper and more effective by watering
plants deeply but less frequently. Many plants and lawns only need
water once per week.
4. Only water when needed. Overwatering promotes shallow root growth
making your lawn less hardy. More plants die from overwatering than
underwatering.
5. Install moisture sensors in each irrigation zone (shady, sunny,
etc.) to better determine irrigation needs.
6. Adjust the timer on automatic sprinklers according to seasonal water
demands and weather conditions.
7. When watering with a hose and sprinkler, install a timer between the
faucet and hose to automatically shut water off at a certain time or set
a kitchen timer as a reminder.
8. Install a rain shut-off device on automatic sprinklers to eliminate
unneeded applications.
9. Use a sprinkler that throws large drops of water close to the
ground. Avoid sprinklers that spray a fine mist, which results in
excessive evaporation. Traveling sprinklers are among the most
efficient.
10. Maintain a lawn height of 2 to 3 inches to help protect the roots
from heat stress and reduce the loss of moisture to evaporation.
11. Avoid planting turf in areas that are difficult to irrigate
properly such as steep inclines and isolated strips along sidewalks and
driveways.
12. Aerate clay soils at least once per year to help the soil retain
moisture.
13. Cluster plants with similar water requirements together.
14. Consider planting native, low-water-use, or xeric plants whereever
possible. Many of these plants require less maintenance, little or no
water, and provide habitat for native fauna, especially birds.
15. When chosing plants, keep in mind that smaller ones require less
water to become established.
When creating a landscape plan, take into consideration how the yard
will be used and how it can provide the greatest benefit with the least
amount of maintenance. |
How were the scablands of eastern Washington formed?
To read more about the glacial floods of the ancient lake Missoula,
visit the web site of the Ice Age Floods
Institute.
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