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Recycling Info

Recycling Basics

The following guidelines are designed to help make recycling in your home as simple & easy as possible:

  • Be sure items placed in the recycling bin are recyclable.
  • Non-recyclable items cannot be accepted for collection.
  • Always remove ALL remaining product reside from glass,plastic or metal containers by rinsing them out with water. This will keep your recycling bin clean and eliminate odors. You DO NOT need to remove paper labels.
  • As your bin fills, it may help to crush or flatten plastic containers to conserve space.
  • Do not place broken glass in the recycling bin. This is a hazard to the collection and sorting crews, and the bin will not be collected.
  • If it is raining or snowing, please place your paper products in plastic bags and tie them shut to prevent your paper from becoming wet.
  • DO NOT put your recyclables in black plastic bags. The collectors can not identify what items are in black bags.
  • Any recyclables in black bags will not be collected. Please use light-colored bags, like plastic grocery bags.

If you have any questions about how or what to recycle, or about how to improve recycling, please give us a call!

Drop-off at the Wapello Recycling Center

The Wapello Recycling Center has a drop-off area for items that are not picked up at the curb. These items include used motor oil, antifreeze, automotive batteries, transmission fluid, used oil filters, textiles, hardback books and usable latex paint in quantities of 1/2 gallon or more. The Recycling Center also has a drop-off area for all of the items that are collected at the curb, including grass clippings and leaves. The Recycling Center does not accept limbs and branches. These may be taken to the Landfill at no charge.

Bulky Item Collection

Bulky Items are large items such as appliances or furniture. These items are collected at the curbside either on Tuesday or on your regularly scheduled collection day. All items need to be placed on your curb for collection.

Examples of items that are collected on your regular trash day and go to the landfill for disposal include:

  • Televisions
  • Box springs/mattresses
  • Windows/Doors
  • Porcelain bathroom fixtures
  • Fiberglass bathtubs/Furniture
  • Electronic equipment
  • Carpet (cut in 6ft. widths & tied)

Examples of items that are collected on Tuesdays and go to the Recycling Center for disposal include: (You do not need to call for an appointment)

  • Refrigerators/Freezers
  • Lawn mowers
  • Washers/Dryers
  • Air conditioners
  • Metal Sinks
  • Bikes
  • Water Heaters
  • Car Parts (weighing less than 50 lb.)
  • Tires (with a limit of 5 per household per collection)

Bulky Item Collection WILL NOT INCLUDE any items generated by a household business or any other business. This includes:

  • Hobbies (including auto racing)
  • Auctions and Rummage sales
  • New construction or Demolition debris
  • Concrete
  • Brick
  • Asphalt roofing
  • Toxic
  • Hazardous or Infectious Wastes
  • Explosives
  • Liquids
  • Waste oil and batteries

Other restrictions may apply. Set all bulky items on the curb prior to 5:00AM on the collection day to ensure pick up.

What Can Be Recycled?

NEWSPAPER, CATALOGUES, MAGAZINES & PHONE BOOKS

Old newspapers such as the Ottumwa Courier and The Des Moines Register can be recycled. Remove all plastic bags and/or rubber bands. This material must be clean and kept dry. Place this material in stacks, bags or bundles in you recycling bin.

  • NO yellowed, stained or wet newspaper
  • NO plastic coated paper
  • NO food contaminated paper

CORRUGATED CARDBOARD & PAPERBOARD

Old boxes, both corrugated, (with the wavy middle layer) and paperboard are recyclable. This would include cereal and gift boxes; old packing boxes and boxes that were received in the mail. Please flatten or nest all boxes, or place along inner side of your recycling bin.

  • NO gable-top waxed cartons (milk and/or juice)
  • NO food contaminated boxes (e.g. pizza boxes)
  • NO paperboard beverage cartons (pop and/or beer 12 pack cartons)

OFFICE PAPER

This would include junk mail, envelopes with or without windows, white and pastel paper, greeting cards, post cards, fax paper, self adhesive note paper, notebook paper, receipts, carbonless forms, business forms and file folders. Office paper MUST be placed in a plastic see-through bags (grocery bags will work) and tied shut.

  • No food contaminated paper
  • No tissues or hand towels
  • No Tyvek envelopes or carbon paper

PLASTIC CONTAINERS

The Recycling Center accepts ALL plastic bottles and jars. Please rinse and remove the lids. Acceptable bottles include milk jugs, pop bottles, shampoo and conditioner bottles, dish detergent or water bottles. The Recycling Center is NOT a buy-back facility.

  • NO lids
  • NO molded plastic containers
  • NO toys
  • NO plastic storage containers
  • NO laundry baskets
  • NO stryofoam
  • NO plastic bags or wrap
  • NO oil containers (motor even if there is a 2 on the bottom)

ALUMINUM AND STEEL CANS

This includes coffee cans, beverage cans, soup cans and empty aerosol cans. Please rinse and remove the lids prior to placing them in your bin. Paint cans can be recycled if they are completely empty -- please remove the lid and place the lid in your regular trash. Large metal pieces or small appliances can be set out on Tuesday for bulky item collection. The Recycling Center in NOT a buy-back facility.

  • NO aluminum foil wrap or pans
  • NO aluminum pet food cans
  • NO propane tanks or cylinders

GLASS FOOD CONTAINERS

The Recycling Center accepts only green, brown and clear glass that contained food or beverages. This includes pop bottles, wine and liquor bottles, juice containers, ketchup bottles and beer bottles, Please rinse all containers and remove the lids. Throw the lids in your regular trash. DO NOT place broken glass in your recycling bin, as it is a hazard to the collectors.

  • NO mirror or window glass
  • NO drinking glasses or dishware
  • NO pyrex or similar ovenware
  • NO ceramics
  • NO safety glass
  • NO light bulbs

Additional Recycling Services

Business & Industrial Recycling

The Recycling Center is happy to assist with all waste reduction efforts. Businesses that are wanting to establish recycling and waste reduction program are invited to contact the Wapello Recycling Center. The Recycling Center staff will develop a comprehensive recycling program, tailored to the individual business needs; there is not charge for developing the programs. Waste audits, employee training, educational material templates and troubleshooting assistance are also available free of charge.

Multi-Family Dwelling Recycling

Are you a landlord or building owner who wants to establish a recycling program for your tenants? The Recycling Center will gladly assist you in developing your program. Whether it is program design, handout creation or troubleshooting, the staff will be happy to help you.

Landscape Rocks

A large variety of landscape rocks are available at the Landfill. We invite you to come to the Landfill and choose one. The cost is $.05 per pound. Delivery is available; call 683-0644 for information.

Beyond Recycling....

As consumers we face many choices, each day, about the items that we purchase. Thinking about your choices from a "pre-cycling" point-of-view can help reduce the amount of waste that you and your family generate. Actions that you might take could include:

  • Buy in bulk and economy sizes.
  • Products purchased this way usually cost less too!
  • Avoid products sold in individual serving containers.
  • Choose products with the least amount of packaging.
  • Use cloth napkins and dish towels instead of paper products.
  • Use rechargeable batteries instead of single use batteries

Did you know?

Recycling really does help! Not only does recycling save valuable landfill space, creates jobs and helps protect our environment it also conserves natural resources.

  • 17 trees are saved for every ton of paper recycled.
  • Area residents recycled 1637.72 tons of paper through the Recycling Center in 1998.
  • Recycling that same ton of paper saves 7,000 gallons of water, 4,100 Kilowatt hours of electricity and produces 50% less water & air pollution than had a ton of paper been produced from scratch!
  • Recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy needed to make aluminum from bauxite ore.
  • A stack of newspaper ten feet tall saves one whole tree!