Community pitches in to recycle

Pam Renaker was up bright and early Saturday morning, delivering e-waste, cardboard and paper collected at a Rudyard school to the Recycle Hi-Line collection center at 1st Street and 5th Avenue Saturday.

She was ecstatic that Recycle Hi-Line had started its monthly program to encourage people to bring stuff that would otherwise be headed toward the landfill.

Renaker is a science teacher at North Star High School in Rudyard. She didn't know what to expect when she started a recycle program at the school. Students and teachers have jumped at the opportunity, she said. Recycle baskets have been placed in various locations at the school, and lots of people have taken advantage of them, she said.

As she delivered her waste products, people from all walks of life were delivering used computers, newspapers and cardboard. Recycle Hi-Line volunteers and Pacific Steel and Recycling employees took the materials and threw them into the proper recycling containers.

"I think this is just awesome, " Renaker said. "This is something we need. "

People started coming with waste as early at 8 a. m., when the center opened. There was a steady line of people coming all morning.

Some people came early.

Blaine County workers came in with a large stash of waste — especially old computers — on Friday afternoon, said Candi Zion, Recycle Hi-Line chair. Bear Paw Development, Havre Public Schools and Triangle Communications soon followed.

The volunteers will be on hand to collect recyclables the first Saturday of the month henceforth, Zion said.