Boundary County officials said waste in the county will soon be enclosed, as the Boundary County Solid Waste Department is building a fence around the county landfill. The project, which began Oct. 6, is expected to be completed in around two weeks. 

The landfill, located at 611 Hillcrest Road, remains open during construction. The work is not negatively impacting day-to-day operations, according to Richard Jenkins, superintendent at Boundary County Solid Waste. The fence is being built by an outside contractor hired by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and will not cost the county. 

Jenkins said the fence offers several benefits for the surrounding area.  

“(It will) prevent illegal dumping of waste, prevent public exposure to hazards, and preventing vehicle traffic,” he said. 

A future project is planned to improve the landfill after construction of the fence is completed. 

“Over time, once funding is available, there will be a beautification of the landfill,” Jenkins said.  

Beautification will include vegetation, but no date for the beautification project has been set. As of now, most of the posts have been set and the actual fencing has started, Jenkins said.  

Looking ahead, land owned by the county directly west of the landfill could potentially become developed for a second landfill, according to a member of IDEQ during a Boundary County commissioners meeting.