Recycling Centers in East Helena, MT
Find drop-off recycling locations in East Helena, Montana. View hours, addresses, and phone numbers for each facility.
East Helena has 2 recycling centers listed in this directory. Each listing includes the address, phone number, and opening hours where available. Call ahead to confirm accepted materials before making the trip.
Recycling in East Helena: A Local Guide
East Helena, a small Lewis and Clark County city adjacent to the Montana state capital, has two facilities for waste disposal and recycling. They operate on opposite ends of the spectrum — one is a free, round-the-clock community recycling drop-off, the other is a fee-based permitted landfill that also buys scrap metal.
Helena Recycling at 3 Industry Loop is a locally owned operation serving the greater Helena area since 2009. Its outdoor drop-off containers are free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — no appointment, no residency requirement, no fee. Accepted materials include aluminum cans, tin/steel cans, plastics #1 (PETE) and #2 (HDPE), paper, corrugated cardboard, and paperboard. Note that glass is explicitly excluded from the outdoor containers (no glass signage on site) and is only handled through the company's subscription curbside pickup service for eligible Helena city residents. The company's office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Tri County Landfill at 17 Powertrain Road — operated by Republic Services since its 2023 acquisition but still branded Tri County — is a Montana DEQ-permitted non-hazardous solid-waste disposal site, not a conventional recycling center. It accepts municipal solid waste and C&D debris at $39/ton ($7 minimum), plus tires ($5–$25 each), wood waste ($42/ton), mattresses ($10 each), and refrigerant-containing appliances ($20 each plus tonnage). The facility's recycling operation also purchases scrap metal (steel, copper, brass, aluminum, radiators, lead batteries) — call 406-603-0114 for current pricing. The scale house is open Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM. East Helena city-limits residents may apply for an annual dump pass covering up to 2,000 lbs at the $39/ton rate.
All Recycling Centers in East Helena
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Frequently Asked Questions — Recycling in East Helena
Is the Helena Recycling drop-off really open 24/7 and free?
Yes. Helena Recycling maintains outdoor containers at 3 Industry Loop, East Helena that are free to use and accessible at any hour, every day of the week. No appointment, fee, or residency proof is required for the outdoor drop-off.
Can I drop off glass at Helena Recycling's East Helena site?
No. The outdoor drop-off explicitly excludes glass — the official drop-off page states 'NO GLASS.' Glass is accepted only through Helena Recycling's curbside subscription service, currently limited to eligible City of Helena residents.
Does Tri County Landfill accept scrap metal for recycling?
Yes. Tri County's recycling operation purchases scrap metal including steel, copper, brass, aluminum, radiators, and lead batteries. Call 406-603-0114 for current pricing. Commercial cardboard bin service is also available for businesses.
Do East Helena residents get any discount at Tri County Landfill?
Yes. The City of East Helena covers up to 2,000 lbs of disposal per fiscal year at the $39/ton rate for city-limits residents. A dump pass is required — apply through the city and present it at the scale house. Specialty items such as mattresses, tires, and refrigerant appliances are billed separately and are not covered by the benefit.