Author: Winneshiek Waste

No Rural Waste Collection on January 30 and 31

Good Afternoon!

We wanted to send out a friendly reminder about the new rural waste schedule that went into effect on January 1st of this year. In addition to some holidays, there will be no waste collection on any 5th Thursday or Friday of the month. For January this year, that means there is no collection on Thursday, January 30th and Friday, January 31st.

In addition to every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, rural waste collection only takes place during the first four Thursdays and Fridays of each month.

In addition to some holidays, there will be NO rural waste pick up on the following dates in 2025:

Thursday, January 30

Friday, January 31

Thursday, May 29

Friday, May 30

Thursday, July 31

Friday, August 29

Thursday, October 30

Friday, October 31

To see the 2025 rural waste schedule, please click here.

***IMPORTANT PRICING UPDATE***

As of Monday, January 13th, our price list has been updated. Please see the details below:

White Goods

A $20 fee per unit applies for the following items:

  • Refrigerators/Freezers
  • Commercial Coolers
  • Air-Conditioner Units
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Gas Water Heaters
  • Furnaces
  • Clothes Washers and Dryers
  • Dishwashers
  • Microwave Ovens
  • Stoves/Ovens

Electronics

A $20 fee per unit applies for the following items:

  • TV’s
  • Computer Monitors

Light Bulbs

A 50 cent fee per bulb applies for commercial fluorescent bulbs. An invoice will be sent out for the total amount due.

Ballasts

A $10 fee per ballast applies for PCB containing ballasts

Payments must be made with cash or check only, and cash transactions for the exact amount owed.

For any questions or further details, please feel free to email us at recycling@co.winneshiek.ia.us or call us at 563-382-6514. You can also message us on Facebook.

Thank you,

Winneshiek County Recycling

Don’t Recycle Wrapping Paper

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

Contamination at Decorah 48-Hour Municipal Parking Lot

We have been noticing more contamination in the recycling bins located at the Decorah 48-Hour Municipal parking lot. Please ensure your recyclables are placed in the correct containers. This is very important for our staff at the recycling center. The materials shown in the pictures were found in the paper bins.

Thank you and have a good weekend!

Plastic items in the paper bin.
Metal items in the paper bin.

Happy America Recycles Day!

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!

Veterans Day and Recycling Tips for the 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!

🎃Don’t Trash Those Pumpkins – Compost Them!🎃

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!

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