COEUR d’ALENE — Kootenai County plans to create a "self-dumping" area for small loads at the Ramsey Transfer Station, which could dramatically decrease congestion at the site.

“It could prolong the life of the transfer station,” Solid Waste Director John Phillips told county commissioners Tuesday. He first floated the concept in January.

Phillips said a self-service area could reduce traffic flows by 30% to 50% on some days.

The idea is for residents to come to the transfer station at 3330 N. Ramsey Road in Coeur d’Alene, as usual, but rather than going through a scale house, they would bring small loads to a self-service area built on top of the old landfill site.

Residents would be permitted to dump loads of garbage weighing up to 200 pounds. Though residents will be able to come and go without ever passing through a scale house, Kootenai County Solid Waste will weigh the dumped material for tracking purposes.

Solid Waste is evaluating other possible improvements to the Ramsey Transfer Station, including increasing the size of the commercial loading area to allow for more commercial disposal.

Phillips said his department will evaluate whether the county can prepare the self-service site independently or whether the project will have to be put out for bid.

“I feel like we could do it if we have the staffing,” he said.