What Everyday Items Are Illegal To Dump Under The Big Sky?

I grew up in the glory days where you just threw EVERYTHING in the trash without a second thought.

In fact, we just had a big oil barrel that we threw everything in and then burned; sadly, today it's not that easy, simple, or safe to do that.

Waste And Recycling Under The Big Sky

One of the biggest reasons we can't just throw everything in the trash is the way in which things are made these days.

So many items you buy today have rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs in them that are dangerous and need to be disposed of properly.

Electronics aren't the only items that would benefit from being recycled and not thrown in the trash here in Montana.

The words Reduce, Reuse, Recycle with the recycle logo
Canva
loading...

Is Recycling Mandatory In Montana?

While recycling is not mandatory in Montana like in other states such as California, Washington, or Oregon, the Montana Integrated Waste Management Act, passed in 1991, looks to reduce the amount of solid waste in the state along with increasing recycling and composting goals as well.

The biggest hurdle to recycling is the logistics of distance and our low population. It's hard to put up a plant that can service enough people and have enough materials that are both economically and environmentally sustainable and desirable.

According to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, only about 19% of the waste generated in Montana is recycled.

So while we might not be able to recycle our garbage, we also can't just throw the following items in the trash either.👇

11 Things Montanans Should NEVER Toss in the Trash

It's important to ensure that none of these items end up in your regular household trash. Certain items are toxic and known to cause health hazards. Here's how to properly dispose of those items.

Gallery Credit: jessejames

KEEP READING: TOP 12 TRASHIEST MONTANA TOWNS & SLEAZY CITIES

Montana is a beautiful place for the most part, but there are a few cities and towns that have earned a reputation for being dirty or trashy. Using search results on Google, we put together a list of the 12 trashiest places in the Treasure State using factors such as crime, unemployment, drug use, and the overall rundown appearance of the town.

Gallery Credit: Jesse James

LOOK: 30 Items That Montana Goodwill Will NOT Accept

Gallery Credit: KC

More From 94.5 Max Country