🚛 The Journey of Your Junk: How Recycling, Donation, and Disposal Work in Coeur d’Alene
Sorting · metal · wood · e‑waste · local charities · a cleaner community
When your junk is hauled away in Coeur d’Alene, its journey is just beginning.
Professional haulers like JTC Hauling don't just dump everything in a landfill.
They sort materials, partner with recyclers and local charities, and ensure responsible disposal.
This process conserves resources, supports the community, and protects the beautiful North Idaho environment.
Metal
Steel, aluminum, copper are magnetically separated and sold to scrap processors like Inland Metal in Spokane. Melted down and reused in construction and manufacturing.
100% recyclable
Wood & yard waste
Clean wood is chipped for mulch or biomass fuel. Painted/treated wood is separated. Yard waste goes to composting facilities, reducing methane.
Mulch, compost
E‑waste & appliances
Electronics are dismantled by certified recyclers; precious metals recovered. Appliances have refrigerants safely removed before recycling.
95% recovery
Donatable goods
Furniture, appliances, and household items in good condition go to local nonprofits: Goodwill, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul.
Second life
The Sorting Process: Behind the Scenes
- Initial Triage at the Transfer Station: Trucks unload at facilities like the Kootenai County Transfer Station (10140 W. Hauser Lake Road). Items are visually sorted into categories: metal, wood, e‑waste, concrete, cardboard, trash, and donations.
- Metal Separation: Large magnets pull ferrous metals (steel). Non‑ferrous (aluminum, copper) are hand‑sorted or separated by eddy currents. These are baled and sold to mills.
- Wood & Yard Waste: Clean wood is ground into mulch for landscaping or biomass. Painted or treated wood is disposed of separately. Leaves and grass go to composting.
- E‑Waste & Appliances: Certified recyclers dismantle electronics. Refrigerators, freezers, and AC units have refrigerants recovered by EPA‑certified technicians before the metal is recycled.
- Donation Pipeline: Usable items are inspected, cleaned, and transported to charity partners for resale.
Local Charities & Community Impact
Coeur d’Alene has a strong network of organizations that benefit from your donations:
- Goodwill Industries – Job training and employment services. Accepts clothing, furniture, electronics.
- Salvation Army – Provides social services; sells donated goods in thrift stores to fund programs.
- St. Vincent de Paul – Direct assistance to local families; accepts furniture and household items.
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Spokane Valley) – Accepts building materials, appliances, and furniture.
60–70% average diversion rate
24/7 JTC Hauling service
Protecting Lake Coeur d’Alene & the Aquifer
Every item recycled or donated instead of landfilled helps keep toxins out of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer and Lake Coeur d’Alene. Responsible junk removal is a direct investment in the region's clean water and natural beauty.