“It shows that you can do things for others and not just yourself,” said Brooke Bennett of the Keuterville Livestock 4-H Club about volunteering at the Idaho County Recycling site in Cottonwood on Saturday, March7, 2026. Brooke and seven other 4-Hers/friends (plus two parents) pitched in to help as part of 4-H’scommitment to community service.
Before we got started for the morning, we discussed where our local trash normally goes (either to Missoula, MT or Payette, ID) and why diverting items that could be reused or repurposed helps in so many ways. These 4-Hers had all helped with recycling before so they knew all about safety and customer service skills. First and foremost, they knew to stand back when recycling customers drive up/leave the site. They also practiced their people skills (greeting customers, asking how they could help, asking customers if they want their outer containers back, and thanking them for recycling).
Here are some other ideas expressed by these hard-working and uncomplaining youngsters: volunteering spreads the work around and makes it easier for everyone; it is good to use things again and not to waste them; recycling saves money and sometimes you can get money from recycling; we appreciate the money put into the recycling donation bucket; separation of items makes it easier for the volunteers as does breaking down all boxes so they are flat. During the bits of downtime between customers, the youngsters discussed their 4-Hprojects for this year which included pigs, sheep, dogs, canning, shooting, and Legos.
Both the Keuterville Livestock and the Greencreek Active Workers 4-H Clubs have once again agreed to volunteer one Saturday per month this year. Since this 4-H/Recycling collaboration began in the spring of 2022,the two 4-H clubs have donated an impressive total of 932 hours to the recycling program. Please thank them when you get the chance.
As a reminder, the program accepts cardboard (corrugated and chip board - like cereal boxes, etc.), cans (rinsed aluminum and tin cans – labels OK – no loose lids), newspapers/magazines/catalogs, AND as of the first of this year we take Mixed Paper (office paper, mail, colored paper, greeting cards, paperback books, shredded paper, wrapping paper, tissue paper – no foiled paper). The Cottonwood site is on Broadway across the street from the grain elevators and is open every Saturday from 9-11 AM (closed for major holidays and the county fair). Note that we are supported solely by donations from those who recycle with us.