SHORT STORY: Warning; the LRI recycle yard waste dump site located on Sales Road near Lakewood IS CLOSED.
LONG STORY: I just learned something the hard way and thought I would try to help our The Suburban Times readers learn my harsh lesson the easy way.
For decades many of us have enjoyed the benefit of running a short across Lakewood over to LRI located at 10308 Sales Road, Tacoma, Washington where we could dispose of our yard waste. We could do so knowing that LRI would cleverly recycle our discarded gardening products into helpful yard care materials that we would then buy back from LRI paying them yet more money to once again own our old yard waste in a different yard freindly form.
A neighbor of mine recently complained that he had driven over to LRI on a Sunday to drop off a load of recyclable old deck lumber only to find the gate closed and locked during posted business hours. We thought maybe there was an emergency like a death in the family. My friend ended up transporting his load over to the Tacoma City Dump located off Center and Mullen streets. He had to wait in a long line 3 times before he was able to offload his material legally instead of illegally dumping it in the City of Lakewood City Hall parking lot. He did the right thing, but now that LRI is closed, we will probably see an increase in illegal dumping from other less responsible individuals.
My neighbor, being the optimist that he is, drove over a second time to LRI to pick up a load of gardening soil only to find the business locked up tighter than a drum. (Tighter than a drum is an old saying. We could write a new saying, “Tighter than a Pierce County Jail cell.).
That is twice. Not knowing my neighbor had found LRI closed twice during regular business hours I ventured over, with some degree of fear and trepidation, with a trailer load of ivy and laurel hedge trimmings only to find LRI closed tighter than a bongo drum.
So I talked to this no-information guy at the front gate, and managed to barely tell me, “We are closed to the public.” He could not tell me why other than he thought LRI was losing money on residential customers.
I took my trailer load over to the Pierce County dump on South Hill, Puyallup rather than dumping it in the parking lot of Lakewood City Hall. Usually, it would have taken me less than 1 hour to take care of this dumping project had I been able to use LRI sight on Sales Road. As it turned out, it took me 4 hours to make my way through all the traffic to South Hill, wait in a long line at the dump, and finally be allowed to download my vegetation.
My main message is, know this. If you have a history of using the LRI vegetation recycle dump site where they use to charge a reasonable amount of money to dump off your yard waste and then cleverly charge you a second time to buy back your old yard waste in a newly recycled and enriched soil product form, do not waste your time or gas. The location is closed 24-7 / 365.
Because I naturally focus on problem-solving, I plan to contact the Utilities and Transportation Commission that oversees such matters to ask if LRI, that operates a monopoly, should be obligated to provide Pierce County citizens with a reasonably located dump site?
Wish me luck with my effort to ask my dumb question.
In the meantime, trust me. LRI closed. I have to be honest. This bad news that will not improve with age, really has me down in the dumps.
This Public Service Notice has been provided by The Suburban Times at no extra cost to our 24,000+ readers.
Thank you for the information, Joe.
FWIW, next closest LRI vegitation recycling is Anderson Island.
Just a short ferry ride away, sounds like fun!
P. Rose,
Thanks for your informative, creative, and fun comment. Last time I was on Anderson Island, I believe they had a great coffee shop too.
Do you know for certain LRI has not closed the Anderson Island location? I would hate to learn another lesson the hard way by using the ferry to transport my vegetaion dump material onto the island and then back off again.
Joseph Boyle
As far as I know the LRI Purdy Recycling Center is still open and free for yard waste disposal for Pierce County residents.
We discovered the closure in the same accidental — and disappointing— way, also receiving no info from the not helpful front gate guardian.
We decided to add a second yard waste bin. We have room in the yard to “store” the clippings and cuttings as we parcel it out into blue cans for pickup.
Rebecca Bianco,
Thanks for commenting. Your ideas are good for problem solving now that life is over as we have known it, dump-wise.
I completed a considerable amount of research related to LRI garbage tote options and prices. I even arranged for a site visit at my home to help learn what all my remaining creative options might be.
You have inspired me to write a column where I can share what I have learned so that other victims of the dump closure will have maximum options to choose from.
Thanks for your ideas.
Joseph Boyle
THANKS Joe for your report. This closure is a real service benefit loss to community after years of dependable accommodation at reasonable rates. Accordingly, folks with property offering a curb-side appearance of spare access may want to consider a fence or barrier, lest they find themselves in the recycle business. Meanwhile, with increasing urban density, and rising costs for transport and transfer, perhaps some “Uber” alternative for annual brush whackers will emerge. Good luck. But don’t sell your pick-up.
Bob Warfield,
I appreciate your having read my report and I enjoyed your comments which are both serious and humorous.
During what turned out to be a 5 hour dump failure experience, I did decide to sell my dump trailer since the recycle dump is closed, I have retired from rentals, and I have come up with creative alternatives for disposing of my vegetation refuse.
I will take your advice to keep my pick-up which I purchased new in 1991.
My Ford F150 already has 38,000 originall miles which has caused 9 guys, on an every day basis, to watch for my name to pop up in The Suburban Times Obituary.
Joseph Boyle
I, too, was disappointed to find the Sales Rd. facility closed.
I usually wait until I’ve got enough to fill my pick-up with either limbs and/or trash bags of yard waste. Then I drive out 512 to Canyon Rd. and turn right, go down to 176th, turn left and proceed to Meridian and take a right. Then get in the left lane so I can get into the turning lane to take a left into the LRI facility at the bottom of the hill.
Yes, it’s a long distance (about 22 miles, one way from DuPont). But I enjoy the drive, the view of “the mountain” on a clear day at the weigh station is just plain spectacular, and dumping yard waste is FREE. Sometimes I have to wait in line, but I don’t mind that either; I’m in no hurry. They have a “honey-bucket” on both ends of the yard. They also provide a can for plastic bags (the large ones) that are no longer usable. The women who run the scales have always been cordial.
If I need some grocery items, I usually stop at the Winco store on the way back. As stated earlier, it’s an enjoyable ride for me; thinking about getting a dog to keep me company, though.
Dave Shaw,
Thank you for sharing your favorite option with the readers of The Suburban Times. It is an option that merits consideration as dump customers consider their options..
Joseph Boyle
Thank you for the heads up. I personally do not use the Sales Road station anyway as one has to pay to dump the yard waste there. I must admit though by the time I drive all the way out to Graham I have also spent a fortune on gas. I would be thrilled to have a local site as all of our cars and trucks sitting on Meridian isn’t helping the environment much either.