Residential Permit Holder Recycling

When using a permit issued by either the City of Helena or the Scratchgravel Solid Waste District, please declare “recycling” on the inbound scale before the scale operator enters your permit information.  Recycling is not deducted from your yearly weight allowance.   Should the permit holder have both recycling and trash in the same load, there are two options.

• Option 1 – the permit holder can make one trip, dispose of the trash and recycling; the weight of the entire load will be deducted from the permits weight allowance.
• Option 2– the permit holder can make two trips thru the scale, one trip to dispose of recyclables (weighing in and out)  and one trip to dispose of the trash (weighing in and out).

Cash Recycling 

Anyone who does not have a residential permit for the transfer station can recycle by paying cash.  There is a $6.00 minimum charge which allows you to drop up to 200 pounds.  Anything over the 200 lbs will be assessed at the current tipping fee of $56.75 per ton. Please let the scale operator know you are a cash recycler upon arriving at the scale window.  Your vehicle will be weighed in and payment will be collected after weighing out on the outbound side.

Renters Recycling Permits

If you are a renter within the City Limits, you may be eligible for a recycling permit if you rent in a 4-plex or smaller.  Call 447-8086 for more information about renters recycling permits.

Aluminum - Beverage cans, TV dinner trays, foil and good containers. All aluminum must be clean and dry.

Corrugated Cardboard -  Remove packing and break boxes down flat. No lightweight cardboard or paperboard, please.

Magazines - Nothing thicker than a Reader's Digest (about ½" thick). 

Container Glass - Please do not put anything into the glass container except glass containers, bottles, jars, etc. If unsure please ask scale attendant or recycling attendant. (No windows, plastic bags, six pack holders, etc.  These items will contaminate the load.)  

Newspaper - Loose newsprint. Do not bundle. Inserts and advertisements do not need to be removed.  No plastic bags in with newspapers.

Office Paper - White or pastel office paper is accepted in the same bin as the newspaper and magazines, stapled paper is okay. Envelopes with windows are also accepted.

Plastics - The City of Helena accepts Type #1 Clear & Tinted Plastic Bottles, Type #1 Clear Trays (Fruit & Baked Goods Trays), Type #2 Natural Color Plastic (Opaque, Translucent, Milk Jugs) Type #2 Solid Color Plastics (Laundry, Juice, Soap Bottles). Effective immediately Plastics # 1 and #2 will be mixed and can be thrown into the same container. As before we are only accepting Plastics #1 and #2. No BLACK #1 or #2 PLASTIC accepted !!

Steel Cans - Tin and steel food cans. Labels are okay. Please rinse well.

E-Waste Recycling -  Residential permits are required. For customers without a residential permit, E-Waste Recycling is a cash transaction. The weight of E-Waste items is deducted from the permit's allowance.  As of July 1st, 2020 the Transfer Station will NO longer accept any type of monitors, printers or televisions for recycling. These items must be thrown in the pit. Tipping Customers will pay the current disposal fees for E-waste Recycling. Commercial customers and Out of Area E-Waste recyclers will pay the current Transfer Station rate on the weight brought in.

Car Batteries - Please store in an upright position and place in designated container, in the Recycling are, next to the oil structure

Waste Oil - Accepted from residential users in quantities of 5 gallons or less per visit to the Transfer Station, pour oil in designated spot, or leave oil jug in marked area for attendant to empty.

Antifreeze - Accepted in quantities of 5 gallons or less. Do not mix with other liquids.

E-Waste Recycling Options - Old Town Computers; contact Joe at 443-3072 for more information. NO CRT'S

No PLASTIC OR GLASS is accepted at the offsite locations. If you would like to ensure these items get recycled, please bring them to the Recycling Area at the Transfer Station. Bags of plastic and any items other than cans, paper and cardboard left at our Off-site recycling locations will not be recycled.

Off-Site Recycling Locations:

• Safeway – 611 N Montana Ave
• Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds – 98 W Custer Ave
• Boeing – 3200 Skyway Dr, just past the Airport.
• Across from Dale Harris Park (Dale Harris Park Address is 279 S Cruse Ave)
• Starting March 17 - Grub Stake, 1450 Lincoln Rd West
• Starting March 17 - Canyon Ferry Mini-Basket, 3012 Canyon Ferry Rd

The above locations accept steel and aluminum cans, newspapers, office paper, magazines and corrugated cardboard. Glass and Plastic are not accepted at these sites. These containers are provided for household recycling. If you have a large amount of cardboard or if you are a large quantity generator (such as a commercial business), please direct haul your cardboard directly to Pacific Recycling. (Recommended to call first) This will ensure the containers are not overfilled and there is room in the containers for household recyclers. 

The Transfer Station accepts all of the above as well as used motor oil, container glass and Plastics #1 and Plastics #2. Permits or payments are required when recycling at the Transfer Station.  

If containers are NOT at these locations - they are probably being serviced and will return soon. Please check back.