Are you tired of breaking up big boxes and stuffing cardboard into your recycling bin or having to drive to the dump to get rid of your car battery or office supplies?
So why not let WECYCLE IT, a telecommunications company in Kootenai County, do it for you?
“We started the business in January,” said Doug Cannon. “The garage at our house in Post Falls was full of plastic bags and shipping boxes—Costco boxes and Amazon boxes.” My wife, Carey, and I were looking at him and scratching our heads, thinking this is a sad point.
So, Doug started talking to other business owners he knew, explaining his recycling business idea to them.
He said: “They didn’t know of any business that comes out and takes recyclables that are difficult to get rid of, without waste management.” “Things like car batteries – plastic bags – tires and wheels – boxes – rubbish removal.”
Doug said he researched the EPA standards for Kootenai County Solid Waste materials accepted at its landfills and adjusted his business accordingly.
He said Carey came up with the name of the business.
“He’s very artistic,” said Doug. “I was kicking around the word – and Carey said – ‘that sounds like a bike shop – how about going around it.’ He’s amazing – he’s my rock.’
Carey said she’s not surprised there will be a demand for the service she and Doug provide.
“Not everyone has a car that’s big enough to take a bunch of cardboard and other packaging to the landfill — and they might even wonder if it’s recyclable,” Carey said. Now – where does it go – probably shoved in the rubbish bins. ”
They believe their business is unique.
Doug said: “My insurance underwriters looked all over the country and couldn’t find a business like this that existed – that was specific to what I do.”
WECYCLE IT currently offers phone services in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden and Rathdrum.
“People have asked me about other places within Kootenai County,” Doug said. So, if the needy people that live in Cougar Gulch or what have you, we can talk to them.
WECYCLE is essentially a one-man operation at this point, though Doug says Carey has been instrumental in getting the business off the ground. But that could change if the business gives permission.
“My bank job – and a few other people have asked me if that’s something I’d like to do,” Doug said. “If business takes off like we hope it will, we’ll be open to it.”
Fees for his services start at $25.
“That’s for half a trailer load – my trailer is 7-feet by 14 feet. The rate increases to $50 for a full trailer load,” Doug said. “I show up with a Sawzall blade on a DeWalt, a bunch of knives and start cutting up boxes and folding them into plastic bags and putting them in the trailer. It’s completely enclosed, so nothing explodes on the highway.”
While the business is thriving, Doug’s other goal is to give back to the community he loves.
“The people of Coeur d’Alene have been great to me,” Doug said. “After multiple surgeries due to having a T-boned Northwest Boulevard and Ironwood in June 2021, I am now in a position to be able to work with my hands again and start this business. Man, I feel good.”
Doug’s printer at Allegra Printing gave him ideas on how to achieve his goal.
Joel told us that if we could get 500 pounds of plastic bags and take them to Trux Decking, they could make a park bench out of it, and we could give it to a Cub Scout or Girl Scout group.
WECYCLE Operates Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are several ways to reach Doug to schedule a pickup date.
“We have a Facebook page we’re working on – and Hagadone Technologies is building a website for us – www.wecycleit.com – which should be live soon,” said Doug.
Content: [email protected] and 208-277-8722.
Now it’s TidBits
New and Coming
• River & Rye will open soon at 424 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene. The menu will include “a variety of flavors from Spain, France and Italy, as well as other PNW flavors,” as well as craft cocktails. River & Rye is a new concept from the owners of Crickets Bar, which has reopened in the back of the restaurant, with an entrance on Fifth Street. Crickets’ is currently open Thursday through Sunday.
• Sneva Affordable Cars, 2929 N. Government Way, closed.
• Jitterz Espresso is coming to Athol, with crew breaking ground earlier this week at the corner of East Howard and Athol Crossing Road, near Dollar Tree and Grease Monkey/Monkey Shine Car Wash.
• Grain & Gather Mercantile is a new store at 6288 N. Government Way, Dalton Gardens. Offerings include furniture, home decor, clothing, apothecary, snacks and more; hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• A second Jersey Mike’s unit is listed as “under development” at 201 W. Neider Ave. in Coeur d’Alene, while Chipotle is in the planning stages at 167 W. Neider Ave. Both will join the new Raising Cane’s as the Lake City Marketplace continues to grow.
• NextGym, a new fitness center at 2120 Northwest Blvd., Suite C in Coeur d’Alene, will celebrate its grand opening on April 2. The gym offers one-on-one training as well as advanced technology for recovery and performance, including ARX adaptive resistance, Vasper, Hugo Pro PEMF, Power Plate, complimentary lights and red therapy.
Ongoing Projects
• Super 1 Foods will take over Prairie Crossing, a large retail and mixed-use complex being developed at Highway 41 and Prairie Avenue.
• Spill the Tea and Benzo Box will soon open a brick-and-mortar joint at the southwest corner of Greensferry Road and Seltice Way in Post Falls.
• A new Syringa Dental and Implants location is under construction at 7533 W. Prairie Ave. Their current location at 1850 E. Seltice Way, Post Falls, is fully operational.
• Coeur Dance Arts is a new dance studio under development at 4131 Early Dawn Ave. Suite 105B, Post Falls. Classes are due to start in May; check out coeurdancearts.com.
• A five-story, 173-room Hilton Dual Brand hotel is planned for a 2.71-acre site off Lee Court and Appleway Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. The start and completion dates of the project have not yet been determined.
• The new One Place Church building is under construction at Prairie Avenue and Huetter Road.
• American Universal Storage is slated for Spirit Lake near Highway 41, across from the Jifi Stop.
• Crunch Fitness is taking over the former Big Lots location at 101 E. Appleway Ave., Coeur d’Alene.
• A new location for The Man Shop, a local barbershop, is under construction at Highway 41 and Prairie Avenue.
• A franchise is under construction at 5231 W. Riverbend Ave., Post Falls.
• Ross Point Gas Station, a gas station and convenience store, is planned for 310 N. Ross Point Road in Post Falls.
• An Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) branch is slated to open later this year across from Super 1 Foods along Highway 53 in Rathdrum.
• A new commercial building is planned for the Riverstone development at 1570 W. Tilford Lane and will bring at least one new dining option to the area. The completion date for the 7,500 square meter building is this summer.
• El Jefe’s Grill in Coeur d’Alene is expanding with a new business in Post Falls, called Jefe’s Tacos and Tequila. An opening date is unknown, but the restaurant is located in the former Bullet Bar and Grill.
• Les Schwab Tires is under construction at the northwest corner of Highway 41 and 16th Street in Post Falls.
• The 33-unit, mixed-use “Nonna” building across from Post Falls City Hall on Spokane Street is expected to be completed by October 2026.
• Construction is underway at the Rooted Social House at 310 N. Spokane St. The project is described as “a high-end venue offering food, coffee, tea and entertainment in a community housing environment.” Rooted’s completion date has not been announced.
• A Jiffy Stop is under construction at Highway 41 and Lancaster Road in Rathdrum.
• A state-of-the-art pickleball joint called The Flying Pickle is coming to The Pointe at Post Falls at 140 N. Beck Road. Opening is expected in mid-2026.
• An AutoZone auto parts store is under construction at US 95 and Dakota Avenue in Hayden, next to Dirty Birdy Car Wash.
• Spokane’s Golden Rule Brake is under construction at 3627 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene.
• The Habit Burger & Grill is replacing the former Pizza Hut at 212 W. Appleway Ave. The chain, known as “Charburgers,” is looking to open sometime in late spring or early summer 2026. The location will be the first for North Idaho.
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Do you have any tips on what’s happening in your local business? Contact Bob at [email protected].
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