Author: Winneshiek Waste

Did you know that we cannot recycle wrapping paper at our facility? Wrapping paper has very little actual paper content and the coatings make it impossible to recycle. Even wrapping paper that says it is recyclable should not be placed in our recycling bins because recycling managers cannot easily distinguish between recyclable and non-recyclable papers. If a load of paper contains too much wrapping paper, the entire load will be rejected and sent to the landfill. We also cannot take foam packaging or bubble wrap.

Instead of using this non-recyclable material for your gifts this year, try alternatives like:

1. Newspaper: Give it a creative touch with twine or reusable ribbon.
2. Plain brown paper or brown paper bags: Recyclable and customizable for a personal touch.
3. Cloth bags: Perfect for gifts and reusable for shopping
4. Fabric scraps: Colorful and can be reused or repurposed.
5. Old maps

Always remember: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

This is a day to reflect on how we can all do our part to protect the planet and reduce waste. Here some things you can do to join the movement:

Recycle Right: Make sure you’re only recycling items accepted in our Winneshiek County program. When in doubt, please contact us!

Reduce Contamination: Ensure that there are no food reminants on your recyclables and please empty your beverage containers before placing them in a bin. Also, please don’t send us plastic bags.

Spread the Word: Share your recycling tips with friends and family and encourage them to recycle, too!

Questions about recycling rules in our county? Visit our “What Do I Do With” page or review our recycling guide here.

Keep up the great work, Winneshiek County! Have a fantastic weekend!

In observance of Veterans Day, the recycling center will be closed on Monday, November 11th. Thank you to all who have served. We will resume normal hours on Tuesday, November 12th.

If you are planning to drop off recyclable items this weekend at one of the recycling collection sites, please remember:

-Do not bag your recyclable materials. Place items loose in the recycling bins.

-Ensure beverage containers are empty before recycling.

-Do not leave items next to the bins, and please ensure they are placed in the correct containers.

Bagged items and liquids can contaminate recycling and slow down the process.

If you have questions on what you can and cannot recycle in Winneshiek County, please check out our recycling guide here. There is also a link to a printable recycling guide at the bottom of the page.

Thanks for your help, and keep up the excellent work!

We hope you all had a fantastic Halloween!

Please remember to consider composting your pumpkins instead of tossing them in the trash when they start to look spooky in the wrong way 🙂 Composting pumpkins helps reduce landfill waste and adds nutrients back to the soil.

Here’s what you can do:

-Remove any candles or decorations from your pumpkin
-Cut the pumpkin into smaller pieces to help it break down faster
-Add it to your compost pile

By composting, you are creating your own fertilizer at home and reducing the amount of trash created.

Here’s another option:

If you have farm animals at home, consider giving your pumpkins to them. Many animals enjoy eating pumpkins, and it’s a nutrious treat for them! Just be sure the pumpkins aren’t moldy and don’t contain any wax, paint, or other decorations before feeding them to animals!

Thanks for your help reducing the amount of waste going to our landfill!

Are you as excited as we are for Halloween!?

As we enjoy all those treats, remember candy wrappers do NOT belong in your recycling bin! Most candy wrappers can’t be recycled and can cause issues at our facility. Instead, throw wrappers in the trash to help us keep recycling safe and efficient!

Thank you for keeping our recycling clean! Keep up the great work and have a fantastic weekend!

Happy Friday all!

Important Recycling Reminder:

We wanted to remind you that plastic bags are NOT accepted at our recycling center. These bags are tanglers and get caught in our equipment, causing damage and delays in processing your recyclables.

For this reason, please consider using reusable bags! As we mentioned in a previous post, this is a great way to reduce plastic waste and keep our planet clean.

If you have any questions on what we accept at the recycling center, please check out our “What Do I Do With?” page or review our recycling guide by clicking here. A printable recycling guide is also available on this page.

Thank you and have a great weekend!