How to help make a difference in Great Falls

I have never been a huge fan of recycling. Sure, as a kid I saved pop cans to turn in for extra cash. I even saved them with my son so he could have those extra coins to buy his favorite video game. But in recent years, I have come to realize I have a ton of stuff that isn't really good anymore. I need to get it out of my house, basement and garage to make room for more useless crap. But where to take it in Great Falls?

Recycling In Great Falls Is Really Rather Easy

I have always thought it was a pain to try and keep recycling material. Different bins for each of the waste items. Having a place to store items until it was time to turn them in was always taking up more space that any monetary relief would never cover. After a quick look, I realized I had been wrong. It's actually pretty easy to drop items off at several different locations, depending on what you are wanting to get rid of.

Where Can I Go to Get Rid of My Junk? It's Easy with These Locations

Great Falls has several locations that can recycle your items. Some only accept certain items however, so make sure you are heading to the right location for your items.

From the City of Great Falls website, here are places to drop off select recyclables:

For used oil types, head to these locations:

Auto Zone
3300 10th Ave. S. 416 Smelter Ave. N.E.
(406) 268-9388 (406) 770-6224
Hours of Operation: Monday – Saturday, 7:30 am – 9 pm, Sunday 9 am – 8 pm.
What they accept: oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid and gear oil. Drop-offs should not contain water or antifreeze. No Charge.
Pronto Auto Parts
217 Vaughn Rd
(406) 453-6509
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8 am – 6 pm, Sunday 9 am – 2 pm.
What they accept: oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid and gear oil. Drop-offs should not contain water or antifreeze and can be no larger than 5 gallons. No Charge.

What about propane bottles that are outdated?

Breen Oil Company
1201 3rd St. N.W.
(406) 453-4104
Hours of Operation: M-F 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
What they collect: propane bottles/containers free of charge.

Have a bunch of old ink cartridges? Maybe plastic bags?

Target
2000 10th Ave. S.
(406) 727-9281
Hours of Operation: Monday – Saturday, 8 am – 10 pm, Sunday 8 am – 9 pm.
What they accept: plastic bags and ink cartridges. Recycling containers are located at the front of the store, near the photo department.

What about your electronics?

Staples
207 NW Bypass
(406) 453-0900
Hours of Operation: M-F 8 am – 9 pm, Saturday 9 am – 9 pm, Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
What they accept: Free tech recycling year-round, everything from computers to camcorders to CD players.

Used batteries and more? Yes!

Batteries and Bulbs
900 10th Ave. S. Ste. 3
(406) 761-1238
Hours of Operation: Open 7 days a week, Monday – Friday, 8 am – 8 pm, Sat. 8 am – 7 pm, Sun. 9 am – 5 pm.
What they accept: used/old batteries such as – lead acid (Pb) batteries – cars, trucks and emergency lighting; Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries – cordless phones, tools and two way radios; Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries – camcorders, cameras and bar code scanners; Lithium ion (Li-ion) & Lithium Polymer (Li-Poly) – cell phones and laptops. They also accept portable electronic devices such as cell/smart phones, laptop/net books, MP3’s, PDA’s, portable tools, and CFL bulbs (prefer you bring the bulbs in the boxes they are contained in when you buy them so they can be shipped out for proper destruction).
Pacific Steel & Recycling
1624 12th Ave. N.
(406) 791-8550
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm, summer hours includes Saturday 8 am – 12 pm.
What they accept: scrap steel, stainless steel, magnesium, titanium, nickel, alloys, lead, batteries, aluminum, aluminum cans, copper, insulated copper, brass, scrap cast iron, radiators, corrugated cardboard, newspaper, office paper, magazines, deer & elk hides (seasonal), cattle hides and deer/elk antlers. Some appliances are also accepted including washers, dryers, refrigerators (if the Freon is evacuated properly by a certified tech) and ovens. Pacific accepts electronic scrap (except CRT’s and flat screens which are not accepted). No glass is accepted, and no plastic is being accepted at this time due to export market issues.

Other recycling locations across Great Falls:

Republic Services
3201 15th St. N.E.
(406) 761-2545
Curbside recycling picked up two times a month for their residential customers within the City limits. Additional $2 per month (in addition to residential sanitation fees).
What they accept: cans, (aluminum/tin), corrugated cardboard, newsprint, magazines and junk mail. No plastic or glass.
Filipowicz Brothers Salvage
3120 Rainbow Dam Rd
(406) 727-0535
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm, Saturday 8 am – 12:00 pm.
What they accept: all metals
Steel Etc.
1408 52nd St. N.
(406) 761-4848
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 7 am – 5 pm, Saturday 8 am – 12 pm.
What they accept: copper, aluminum, brass, lead, lead acid batteries, aluminum cans, tin, appliances, radiators, vehicles, iron, stainless steel, insulated copper wire. If it is made of metal, Steel Etc. will buy it. Refrigerators and freezers with Freon removed (Freon removal cost is $25). No glass is accepted, and no plastic is being accepted at this time due to export market issues.

If you are located in the county:

County Recycling Drop-off Locations
(406) 454-6810
Cascade County provides recycling drop-off locations at their staffed rural collection sites throughout the County. Call for more details, or you can learn more from the Cascade County Solid Waste division.

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