Landfill & Recycling Frequently Asked Questions
Questions concerning collection or collection crews?
Please call Whaley's at 682-1700. To request a recycling bin, call this number too.
If it is raining or snowing or looks like it might, "What do I do with my recyclables?"
You have three options: 1) hold your recyclables until the following week, 2) bag your paper items, like newspaper, magazines, catalogues and paper board in see-through plastic bags and tie them shut, or 3) personally bring your recyclables to the Recycling Center.
I have a refrigerator to dispose of, "Who do I call?"
You no longer need to call to make appointments to have bulky items collected. Recyclable items like refrigerators, are collected on Tuesdays throughout the city. For more information on bulky item collection, see page 9 of this handbook.
Monday is a holiday. "When will my trash be picked up?"
If a holiday occurs at anytime during the week, the trash and recyclables will be picked up the following day. For example, if the holiday is on Monday, then the collection will be on Tuesday. Bulky items that are regularly collected on Tuesday will be collected on Thursday. View the Holiday Schedule for details.
"Why can't I recycle wet newspaper, magazines & catalogues or office paper?"
There are several reasons why wet paper can not be recycled. One reason is that paper fibers only hold so much moisture, an if the paper is already wet when it gets to the mill, it will not absorb enough of the chemicals used to recycling the paper, to make the recycling process successful.
I have some latex paint. "Can I recycle it?"
The Recycling Center takes usable latex paint, in quantities of a half gallon or more. The paint cannot have been frozen, and the can must be in good shape. If the paint has separated or is partially dry, it must be completely dried out and then thrown in your regular trash. For more information on proper paint disposal see page 15 of this handbook or contact the Recycling Center and request a paint information brochure.
"I have heard that paperboard beverage containers aren't recyclable. Why?"
Paperboard beverage containers, typically used for 12 packs of beer and pop, have been treated with a chemical to prevent them from falling apart when they become wet. This makes them very difficult to recycle.
"Why can't we recycle more types of plastic?"
Plastics are created to serve different purposes. For example, some plastics are filled with hot things and then have to be sealed to hold carbonations, like pop bottles. Other plastics have to have the ability to bend and seal with a heat application, like frozen food bags. Each of these plastics is created in a different way, making it impossible to recycle them together.
"I am cleaning out my garage and have found a lot of old pesticides and other things that say they are hazardous. What do I do with these things?"
Those items should not be disposed of in your regular garbage. You can contact the Recycling Center for assistance with this situation. Options can include taking advantage of the next Toxic Clean-up Day, either in Wapello County or in another county in Southeastern Iowa or contacting the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. To avoid this problem, remember to use what you buy, and only buy what you can use.
"Whaleys have left my recycling bin on my curb today. Why?"
There are several reasons why this might have happened. If your bin was placed on the curb prior to 5:00 AM, then you need to check your bin for an orange note. This note should indicate why your recyclables were left. Common reason for this include: broken glass in the bin, office paper not properly prepared, wet newspaper (see above) or your recycling were in black bags. If you feel that your bin was left in error or there was no note, please contact the Recycling Center.