Frequently Asked Questions...
Lewis Clark Recyclers General FAQ's
Who we buy from
Q: Does Lewis Clark Recyclers (LCRI) buy from the public?
A: LCRI does not buy from the public because the LCRI facility and operation is not set up to support both the flow of public traffic and the high commercial truck traffic within the same confined area.
Q: Does LCRI buy anything?
A: Yes, baled cardboard from commercial sites (e.g. grocery, wholesale & retail stores).
Our Services
Q: What services does LCRI offer?
A: We offer the following:
- On-site waste audits to determine waste reduction and savings potential.
- On-site waste stream consultation and management services.
- Design of collection systems specific to clients and/or site needs.
- Collection services for a wide variety of recyclable materials.
- Information destruction at your site or ours.
- Vault and estate volume purging services.
- Processing, marketing and brokerage of recyclable paper & plastic materials.
Q: Why does LCRI charge for some of the services it provides?
A: In cases when the average secondary value of materials collected and processed by LCRI doesn’t cover the expense of the service provided it must charge a fee to support operational costs of collection and processing.
Q: When LCRI services reflect a cost, is there any financial incentive for the customer to subscribe to the service?
A: LCRI service rates are by far less than traditional collection and disposal fees. In most cases the customer will still save two to four times the service charge imposed by LCRI.
Materials we process
Q: What types of recyclable material does LCRI accept at its facility?
A: LCRI accepts:
Wastepaper items including: Cardboard, cartons, liner board, newspaper, magazines, telephone directories, catalogs, discarded mail and envelopes, white and/or colored writing and typing paper, post-it notes, computer paper, packing paper, paper cores, old documents, file folders, bound records and books.
Plastic items including: Bottles and jugs ONLY #1 and #2 coded containers with dispenser openings less than 2 inches in diameter which were used to contained food, condiments, beverages, body soaps, shampoos or lotions, laundry detergents, fabric softeners or bleach and plastic buckets with handles removed. All containers must be residue and lid free! Clear stretch wrap film, clear shipping bags, bond and re-bond carpet and cushion padding. Post-industrial/Pre-consumer plastic materials must be pre-approved on a case to case basis.
Metal items including: “Open” aluminum and tin beverage and food containers up to 1 gallon in size. Please remove paper labels and dispose of tin lids. NO CANS used for PAINT, FUEL, AEROSOL, PESTICIDES, HERBICIDE or EXPLOSIVES will be accepted!!!!
Q: How many different types of recyclable commodities does LCRI process for marketing?
A: LCRI currently processes received or collected recyclable material to 19 different secondary market grades.
Q: Why does LCRI selectively choose the materials it collects, receives and/or processes?
A: Under state and local regulations LCRI can not accept recyclable materials containing more than 10% waste, trash or other materials not recycled by its operation. Marketing restrictions also limit non-grade contents to less than 3% by volume in any processed recyclable when shipped to market.
The Recycle Process
Q: What does it cost to prepare recyclables to a market ready state?
A: LCRI’s processing costs vary with the type and condition of the material. Excluding any collection expenses, LCRI’s in house processing costs range from $27 to $60 per ton.
Q: Where does Lewis Clark Recyclers market the recyclables it processes?
A: Six western states and 9 foreign countries. Shipping plays an important role in all cases.
Q: Do (foreign or domestic) market values of the recyclables change or remain constant?
A: Both foreign and domestic market values for recyclables change on a regular basis, changing as often as week to week similar to the agriculture markets.
Q: Do the changing markets affect LCRI's service rates?
A: NO! Rates are kept to a minimum regardless of market activity. Rate increases typically occur every 3 to 5 years and not predicated on the cost of doing business.
Our Business Practices
Q: Why are Lewis Clark Recyclers services the best alternative to other similar collection and hauling services?
A: LCRI offers the best alternative because:
- LCRI has a long successful business history.
- Our services are accommodating and dependable.
- LCRI’s hours of operation are 24/7, (except 5 annual holidays, when hours are limited).
- LCRI maintains schedules, equipment, quality staff and high safety ambitions
- All the services provided by LCRI ultimately save its clientele money.
Q: How many clients does Lewis Clark Recyclers currently service?
A: Over 120 daily stops are made to local businesses, institutions, commercial establishments and industrial sites. The actual number grows every day!
Q: How does Lewis Clark Recyclers keep up with the growing number of customer services?
A: LCRI maintains a fleet of 16+ collection vehicles, 20 other pieces of rolling stock, 17+ experienced CDL drivers, 8+ trained process operators and 7 members of administration.
Q: Does Lewis Clark Recyclers take measures to protect the business interests of its customers?
A: Absolutely! All employees undergo extensive background checks and must sign a confidentiality/nondisclosure agreement as part of the terms of employment. Collection and processing equipment incorporate optimum containment/destruction features. Security cameras monitor all phases of operations and staff performance.
Q: Does Lewis Clark Recyclers receive Federal and/or State financial aid for what it does?
A: The only financial support LCRI enjoys from Federal or State Government is limited to minor tax credits.
What about You?
Q: What should you do if your garbage disposal costs are too high?
Q: Or when stored records get in the way of operations?
Q: Or when those old magazines, books, or brochures need to go?
A: Contact Lewis Clark Recyclers for supporting service information…
FAQ’s on Recycling Plastics
Types of Plastics
Q: Why do recycling firms place restrictions on the types of plastics they will accept for recycling, if accepting them at all?
A: The acceptance for the various types of plastics does vary from one recycling firm to another. The three most common reasons have to do with processing space requirements, regional marketability and liquid residues. Plastics represent the largest challenge for most recycling processors.
Q: Are all plastics considered recyclable?
A-1: The initial application or contents play an important role in whether or not plastics can be considered recyclable. Example; EPA and DOT both restrict the storage and/or transportation of containers that may contain or leak hydrocarbons, hazardous waste or other unknown liquids. Therefore, those used to contain oils, pesticides, herbicides, other hazardous substances or drip unknown substance considered a threat to life or the environment must be properly disposed of.
A-2: Not all plastics are made from the same material and may go through various heat treatments, pigmentation and resin blending processes during manufacturing.
Though they may look or feel the same it’s no guarantee that they are. Even to the trained eye it’s like comparing or sorting loose piles of sugar and salt or white flour and starch.
Q: How do I identify the type of plastic that a container is made from?
A: With plastic containers the only way to tell is by the number code (#1 - #7) in the triangle on or near the bottom. This code represents the resin used by the manufacturer to make the container, but does not represent resins used in the lid, spout or dispenser.
Lewis Clark Recyclers and Plastics
Q: What type of plastic containers does Lewis Clark Recyclers accept?
A: ONLY #1 and #2 coded containers which contained food condiments, beverages, mild body soaps, shampoos or lotions, laundry detergents, fabric softeners or bleach with dispenser openings less than 2 inches in diameter. These containers must be residue and lid free.
****Please NO containers once used to contain oils, grease, fuel, anti-freeze, pesticides, herbicides, acids or other substances considered among household hazardous materials can to be accepted.
Q: What other types of plastic does Lewis Clark Recyclers accept?
A: Clear stretch wrap film, clear shipping bags, bond and re-bond carpet and cushion padding, plastic buckets with handles removed and an assortment of post-industrial/pre-consumer plastic materials. Call us for an interest assessment if you generate large volumes of a specific type of plastic waste.
Q: How much plastic does Lewis Clark Recyclers process for secondary use?
A: Over 680,000 pounds or 340 tons each year.
FYI: It takes 9 one gallon milk jugs or liter bottles to equal a single pound.
Q: Has Lewis Clark Recyclers always accepted the same types of plastics?
A: No, Lewis Clark Recyclers changes its standards and practices with what is considered acceptable in the various secondary markets it supports. New standards are established and published by the Institute of Scrap Recycling every two to four years.
Q: What happens to recycled plastic once processed and shipped?
A: The various types of plastics Lewis Clark Recyclers accepts and processes are used in a wide range of manufacturing applications including the following:
- interior automobile components
- Computer and entertainment cabinets
- Play ground equipment and toys
- Plastic bags and packaging
- Kitchen appliances and fixtures
- Carpeting, clothing and tool handles
- Plastic lumber, siding and pipe
- Window frames and tub enclosures
- Outdoor furniture
- Parking stops and roadside markers
FYI: It takes 14 liter bottles to make a single T-shirt.
Preparing plastics for recycle
Q: Why must you remove and dispose of lids from plastic containers prior to recycling?
A: There are 2 reasons: (1) Lids are usually made from a different type of plastic than the container and secondary markets prohibit lids in most cases. (2) Lids on a container suggest the likelihood of remnants remaining inside and containers must be empty/clean prior to processing for secondary use. Please remove and discard lids and empty plastic containers prior to recycling them!
Q: Do you have to remove paper or plastic labels or sleeves from your recyclable containers?
A: NO, these are removed during the final cleaning process by the secondary manufacturer.
Q: Where can one recycle plastic bags which are commonly used for retail merchandise or dry cleaning packaging?
A: Simply return them to the store or laundry service that put your goods in them as part of the sale.
FAQ’s on Recycling Paper Products
Types of Paper
Q: What are the benefits of recycling wastepaper?
A: Waste paper as defined above represents over 65% of all waste generated in the home, schools, offices and most businesses. Recycling 80% of all generated waste paper reduces landfill waste by more than 45 percent. This means disposal savings, prolonging landfill space and reduced pressure on natural resource (forest/tree) consumption.
Q: What types of wastepaper does Lewis Clark Recyclers accept for recycling?
A: All types of paper: plain, colored, printed, stapled, glued, dyed, coated or shredded. This includes cardboard, cartons, newspaper, magazines, telephone directories, catalogs, mail and envelopes, writing and typing paper, post-it notes, computer paper, packing paper, old documents, file folders, bound records and even books.
Q: Has Lewis Clark Recyclers always accepted all types of wastepaper?
A: No, Lewis Clark Recyclers changes its standards and practices with what is considered acceptable in the various secondary applications. Standards are established and published by the Institute of Scrap Recycling every two to four years.
Q: What types of paper does LCRI NOT accept?
A: Paper containers, boxes, plates or cups that contain remnants of food waste, blood, body fluids, animal waste, liners, wax, foil, sprayed on paint or wet residual substances. Please, NO used tissue napkin or hand towel products!
About Paper Volumes
Q: How much wastepaper does Lewis Clark recyclers collect, process and ship for secondary use?
A: Over 25,482,000 pounds or 12,740 tons annually.
FYI: One 8.5 x 11 inch ream of 20lb bond paper weighs 5 pounds. An average Lewiston Sunday Morning Tribune weighs 1.3 pounds.
Q: What is the percentage of paper collected by Lewis Clark Recyclers versus the volume delivered to its facility?
A: LCRI is responsible for the collection over 35 tons or 85% of the total daily volume processed through its facility while deliveries account for 7 tons per day.
Recycled Paper Products
Q: What becomes of recycled paper once it is processed and shipped?
A: Paper processed by Lewis Clark Recyclers is used in a wide range of new manufactured paper products (once ink and coatings are removed) by various secondary industry consumers. These recycled paper applications include the following:
- Cardboard and linerboard boxes
- Newspaper, magazines, catalogs & books
- Telephone and trade directories
- Paper sacks, packing and wrapping paper
- Printing and writing papers
- Tissue and hand towel products
- Hydro-seeding, blow-in insulation
- Sound proofing and ceiling tile
FAQ’s on Related Services
Other Ways to Dispose of Recyclable Materials
Q: Where can the public sell recyclable paper and cans?
A: Pacific Steel and Recycling of Lewiston, Id or Moscow Recycling of Moscow, Id or Spokane Recycling of Spokane, Wa. Call them for price quotes.
Q: Where can the public recycle appliances bicycles, clothes and furniture?
A: The Asotin County landfill and The City of Lewiston solid waste transfer station. Sutton Salvage and Pacific Steel and Recycling accept Freon-free appliances. Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army and St.Vincent DePaul collection centers accept old clothes, house wares and furniture that still have useful life.
Q: Where or how does the public dispose of (or) recycle old automobiles, trucks and other unwanted motorized equipment?
A: Call Forrest Auto Wrecking or Sutton Salvage. Depending on the vintage, location and condition there may be a fee for acceptance and/or removal.
Q: Where can motor oil, paint, household hazardous waste, Antifreeze, batteries and old tires be properly disposed of or recycled?
A: City or County operated solid waste transfer stations and landfills have such facilities. Always call before you go, as different sites or facilities have different requirements.
General Factoids About Product Recycling
Q: How many times can items like tin, aluminum, plastic and paper be recycled?
A: Depending on the base material and secondary applications up to 20 times.
Q: What happens to the 300,000+ gallons of used motor and gear oil generated and collected within 150 miles of Lewiston, ID each month?
A: It is picked up by various licensed companies and then shipped to refineries to be processed for fuel oil in homes and businesses and/or power steamship vessels.
Q: What happens to the ink and coatings removed from recycled paper?
A: In most cases, it is used as fuel in waste to energy cogeneration plants. In others it is disposed of in only certified landfills.
Q: How long does it take to complete the circle of life for recyclable products?
A: From the time processed recyclables leave a processing facility such as LCRI, they find their way back in use as secondary products within 30 to 120 days.
Q: Why do secondary manufacturers prefer to use recycled products over consuming new resources?
A: They take less energy, cost less to purchase, sources of their supply are becoming more readily accessible over virgin resources and it adds desirability to their manufactured products.
Q: Just how big is the regional recycling industry?
A: Within an 80 mile radius of the City of Lewiston there are 16 firms involved in recycling, accounting for more than 130 primary jobs which subsequently adds over 4 million to the regional economy each year. LCRI is the largest!
Q: Just how big is the independent recycling industry in Idaho?
A: According to a 2000 report released by the Idaho Small Business Administration. There are more than 156 recycling firms in Idaho, which account for over 1,500 primary jobs in the state and subsequently adds over 16.5 million to Idaho's annual economy.
Q: Just how big is the recycling industry in the United States?
A: In a 2001 nationally recognized report sponsored in part by the EPA. There are 56,600 recycling and reuse establishments in the US. The industry employs approximately 1.1 million people and generates a gross of $236 billion in annual revenues.
Q: Just how big is the export of recyclables to foreign countries?
A: The off shore shipment of recyclable goods and scrap represents the largest commodity group by weight sent to foreign counties from the US.
Q: How much recyclable volume continues to end up in area landfills?
A: Over 45% of what is currently buried in area landfills could be recycled for reuse.
Q: Does government regulate the recycling industry?
A: Yes, governmental agencies including the DEQ, EPA, DOT, OSHA, local Fire and Health Departments all regulate various facets of recycling, processing, hauling and remanufacturing to ensure the ongoing protection of life safety and environmental health.
Q: Does government support the recycling industry?
A: Our various levels of government also mandate increased recycling measures and use of recycled products for manufacturers, federal & state agencies, municipalities, school districts, their suppliers and contractors to ensure increasing levels of recycling nation wide.
