RECYCLERS BY MATERIAL TYPE
Primghar, IA 51245 and Nearby
Don't throw it away---THERE IS NO AWAY!!
Don't throw it away---THERE IS NO AWAY!!
In general--the yellow garbage cans provided by the city are only for recycle day pickup. The State of Iowa mandates that they NOT be emptied on regular trash pickup days (3/1/02). Please be considerate.
Also: You are allowed up to two 32 gallon trash containers of not more than 75 pounds per container of solid waste. If you have more, you must attach a Primghar Extra Container Tag to each trash container or bag. The tags are available at City Hall for $1.00. Containers requiring a tag will not be picked up unless tagged. (Feb. 15, 2002--by order of IA DNR)
ALUMINUM CANS-IA Deposit Redemption
Many want them whole, no more than 24 at a time, and in flats.
LOCALNEAR
- Music Boosters Benefit Bin (wire cage--NW corner of school--~180 N. Green Ave)
- Pro Go (redeem deposit)
- Shortee's (redeem deposit)
- Bob & Scott's Grocery (redeem deposit)
Other aluminum cans go in the yellow recycle garbage cans.
- Nickel Depot, 1721 1st Ave W # 1, Spencer.
- Hospice Benefit Bin (Sheldon HyVee parking lot)
- Retailers "everywhere"
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APPLIANCES, USED
LOCALNEAR
- No local recycling. Discard in late April when the Jaycees pick-up
(See Also Scrap Metals)
- Sioux City Poor's Services
Donate useful appliances for redistribution.- Whoever
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ASBESTOS
NEARBYTop
- Not recycled. Dispose of in trash wrapped in plastic and taped shut.
AUTOMOTIVE OIL (Other items, see Hazardous Materials)
LOCALTop
- Randy's Phillips 66: Has containers for moderate amounts of oil.
BATTERIES, RECHARGEABLE
DO NOT DISCARDNEAR
- (Some organization could sponsor recycling those little batteries. Maybe have a collection box at each of your public events. Please consider being a sponsor.)
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- Radio Shack (Sheldon, Spencer, etc.) accepts hearing aid, rechargeable, etc., batteries that shouldn't go to the landfill. By law, the sellers must arrange for recycling.
BATTERIES, AUTOMOBILE
LOCALTop
- Randy's 66 Service on Highway 59 ($1 to cover disposal cost)
CARDBOARD (boxes or flattened)
LOCALTop
- Corrugated cardboard will be picked up on recycling day (not rainy days, however). No single layer cardboard (cereal boxes, for example), please.
BICYCLES
NEARBYTop
- Living Word Outreach, Spencer, IA, 712.262.5409. Useable bikes are refurbished for donating as needed.
CARPET/PADDING
NEARBYTop
CLOTHING/HOUSEHOLD GOODS
LOCALNEARBY
- Every third month: Goodwill Industries truck in United Church parking lot, 540 4th St NE. See the notices in the O'Brien County Bell newspaper.
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- Every day except Sunday: Goodwill Industries Stores in Spencer; LeMars; Sioux City; Sioux Falls
COMPACT DISKS
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- Midwest Recycling and Mercury Recovery (has an Iowa route).
- For the cost of shipping the following company will accept, for no charge, compact and computer disks: Plastic Recycling, Inc. . . . . 317-780-6100
2015 S. Pennsylvania
Indianapolis, IN 46225
COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS
LOCALNEARBY
- Best Buy, Inc., Sioux City, will accept electronic trash for free disposal. TV's (32" or less), computers, monitors, etc. Good deal. (Trial service--still going about Sept. 10th. Call if worried about wasted trip:(712) 276-2841.
- Printer cartridges: some rebate programs --Staples, for example.
- Check vendor rebate programs ("Bring it in for a rebate!")
- Spencer: Iowa Lakes RC&D: 203 10th St SW.(Sometimes not in--calling's a good idea:712.262.2083) "CPU's that are functional Pentium I and above; monitors; individual parts--harddrives, cards, internal modems, cords; keyboards; and mice accepted at rates below. Drop-off only. Fees: cpu's (with keyboard and mouse)--$8; monitors-$12; deskjet type printers; scanners-$2; miscellaneous small components --$5 (per 12"x17"x8" boxfull). Hours M-F, 8:30-12:30. Refurbished computers are donated to schools or non-profit groups.
- Cell Phones: Bill Thompson, at Black's Farm Store, will take unwanted cell phones.
- Other "printed circuit boards" (in TV's, radios, watches) probably shouldn't go to the landfill. But I don't know who regularly accepts them. Email webmaster if you have info.
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- See Electronics recyclers--by state. (Twin Cities, MN, and Marion, IA but for their counties only). Try Goodwill Industries: LeMars, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, et al.
- Here is a complete story on recycling computers. And more from USNWR,5/20/2002:
- Find Salvation Army site that takes them.
- Find willing Goodwill Sites
- Try PC's for Schools
- Call IBM: 888.746.7426. $30 includes S&H for a boxful of whatever--pc-ish.
COOKING GREASE, FAT & BONES
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FOAM PACKAGING
(meat trays, egg cartons, solid shape molds)Top
- Not economically salvageable in this area. Discard.
FREON
LOCALTop
- This gas, used in older refrigerators, dehumidifiers, and home or auto air conditioners, harms the atmosphere.
- Shea's True Value Hardware
- Big D's Garage
GLASS
LOCALTop
- Use the yellow garbage cans (Please rinse. Do remove lids but not labels) Only clear and amber glass--discard other colors.
- BUT NOT Pyrex glass, window glass, light bulbs, mirrors, china, or colored glass--these cannot be recycled.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
The list is long but includes paints, pesticides, and many house, garden, and agricultural chemicals. Consider sharing or giving away the "rest of the can" so you use up the hazardous materials while they are fresh. If you can't use them up, please store safely at home until they can be properly disposed of.
LOCAL
- O'Brien County Emergency Management Office has sponsored a hazardous waste pick-up day. Local news sources may circulate information about future opportunities.
- Dried paint can go into the regular garbage--paint old newspapers to use up the paint and let the empty can dry in the air.
- "Household Hazardous Materials (HHM). May thru October. Mon, Wed, Fri: 11am - 3pm. Appointments only--Please call: 712.324.4026. NW IA AREA LANDFILL." 4540 360th St. Free** (HHM--Corrosive, Flammable, Toxic, Reactive like Degreasers, Waxes, Polishes, Solvents, Lacquers, Thinner, Caustic Cleaners, Spot & Stain Removers; Pesticides and Herbicides; Oil Based Paints. **Unuseable latex paint--$1/gallon.) OCBell, Oct 2, 08
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MEDICAL APPLIANCES
LOCALNEARBY
- First National Bank has a drop box for eyeglasses.
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- Lutheran Brotherhood, Sheldon, IA (712) 324 Annual collection drive, September.
wheelchairs, ambulance gear, ambulatory aids, etc.- Eyeglasses: The Lions Clubs
Walmart, Spencer, has a drop box for glasses.
NEWSPAPERS
LOCALTop
- Bundled and sacked newspapers may be dropped off in the old First National Bank lobby
(SW corner of 1st SE and Hayes Ave). Please do NOT include any plastic sacks! NOTE: Glossy pages, inserts, magazines are welcome but stored separately (on the right-north-side.)(- Expect the room to be open 7:00 am - 4:30 pm weekdays: closed evenings, holidays, and weekends.
PALLETS
NEARBYLOCAL
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- LeMars
PAPER (office, computer, etc.)
NEARBYTop
PHONE BOOKS
LOCALNEARBY
- See Newspapers--Phone books would go on north side of room.
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- The large telephone books can be left at....(TBD)
PLASTICS
(All plastics except #2-PET oil jugs) Please rinse then remove lids from all containers.
LOCALTop
- 1st and 3rd Wednesday Recycleables Pickup
POLYSTYRENE LOOSE FILL
(Packing peanuts)Top
- Discard
SCRAP METALS
(copper, brass, iron, steel, lead, aluminum, etc.)
LOCALNEARBY
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- Shine Bros Metal, Spencer
STEEL/BI-METAL CANS ("Tin" Cans)
Please rinse and remove labels. Please NO paint, insecticide or aerosol cans. LOCALTop
- Yellow recycling cans (1st and 3rd Wednesday Recycleables Pickup)
TIRES
NEARBYTop
- Wait for countywide Hazardous Materials Pick-up Days
TYPEWRITER/PRINTER RIBBONS
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VIDEOTAPES
NEARBYTop
- Alternative Community Training (ACT!) is a non-profit organization which employs adults with disabilities to clean and inspect used tape cassettes and return them to useful lives. For information on donating used videotapes call 1-800-359-4607.
CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS
LOCALTop
- Shingles--call Town & Country at 712‑472‑2493 for a dumpster (not recycleable).
- Concrete -- arrange to haul it to the city collection area.
- Most other--direct haul to the landfill--(excluding hazardous materials)
- Salvaged lumber-- TBD
YARD DEBRIS
LOCALTop
- Grass clippings: Mulching recommended; a dumpster at 175 S Roberts Ave (west of the storage units) is available for grass clippings only.
- Leaves in the fall: Burning from 15 Aug to 15 Nov is acceptable in O'Brien County unless there is a burning ban (as in fall, 1999).
- Storm damage-limbs, downed trees: The city will pick up debris brought to the front curb of your property on Fridays if you have previously telephoned the city clerk.
- Pruned limbs: Haul them to the salvage area by the airport. The city does not provide this service.
- Garden waste (rhubarb leaves, excess squash, etc.) can go in the regular garbage.
THE REST
This list of what we should be concerned about--and why--but will end up at the landfill by way of the local trash pickup. Someday there may be a method to economically collect these items for recycling or manufacturing changes that make them safe.
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- Fluorescent lights - mercury hazard
- Light bulbs - tungsten content
- Tire balance weights - lead
| RECYCLE | DON'T RECYCLE |
|---|---|
|
Plastics The classes of plastic are marked;1 - 4 are acceptable. Examples are milk jugs, dishwashing liquid bottles, laundry bottles, shampoo bottles, antifreeze jugs, etc. Paper and cardboard Newsprint, computer white ledger, brown paper shopping bags, and corrugated cardboard are acceptable. These can be boxed, bundled, or bagged in paper bags. Do not put out for collection on rainy days. Tin cans -- Most are recycleable. The containers should be rinsed and cleaned. Take the labels off. Aluminum -- Disposable foil containers such as foil wrap, foil pie plates, aluminum pans, lasagna trays, and foil TV dinner trays can be recycled. Rinse and clean the containers and crumple them. |
Glass -- Do not recycle (there is no market for it). Pyrex glass, window glass, light bulbs, mirrors, china, or colored glass could never be recycled. Plastics -- Plastic foam, plastic wrap, bread wrappers, shopping bags, fast food containers, rigid plastic, laundry bags and disposable diapers cannot be recycled. Paper -- Waxed paper, waxed cardboard, envelopes with gum address labels or plastic windows, shoe boxes, cereal boxes, toilet paper, pop and beer boxes cannot be recycled. Cans -- Aerosol cans and paint cans cannot be recycled. Medical wastes -- Medical wastes cannot be recycled and should not be in trash either. Some pharmacies have arranged to accept unwanted medicines for safe disposal. |
| Adapted from Northwest Iowa Area Solid Waste Agency & Recycling Center | |
Recycling at NW Iowa Landfill Adobe Acrobat
Hazardous Material and Swapshop Brochure Adobe Acrobat
Landfill times and rulesThe City usually does this community service in late April or May. Leave all throw-aways at curbside. See the Cleanup Day page for acceptability and cost.
NOTE: Curbside items are abandoned and can be picked up if you can put them to use.
The city and its citizens request that you learn and follow the guidelines about garbage management. Sometimes there are state and federal rules which, if not followed, can result in hefty fines. Garbage is a problem; we each need to be part of the solution.
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For more information and ideas on green living--see the Hennepin, MN Recycling page.
Complex, disorganized site but chock full of information: EHSO--for the green professionals.