Spencer Recycling Basics

06/02/2023

⚠️Reminder: The Recycle Bins located in Spencer at Hy-Vee and Walmart are not for garbage. Please use the bins for products that are recyclable only.

01/02/2023

12/30/2022

Reminder: Since City offices are closed on Monday, January 2, Garbage & Recycling pick-up will be pushed back a day.

12/29/2022

Didn't accomplish last year's resolutions? Forget losing weight or making a goal board. Why feel bad next year when looking back at your resolutions... Instead focus on ONE easy resolution:
Try to reduce your waste! Making small changes throughout the year can help reduce the amount you put into the waste stream. Here are some of our favorite ways to reduce the waste we make:
♻️ Carry a reusable water bottle
♻️ Bring your own travel cup when buying coffee
♻️ Refuse plastic bags at the store
♻️ Buy items in bulk to reduce packaging

12/28/2022

Leftover Recycling From the Holidays?
Please keep the following items you may have leftover from your Holiday celebrations OUT of your recycling bin:
🚫 Holiday lights
🚫 Electronics
🚫 Broken ornaments/other décor
🚫 Cookware and dishes (including disposable)
🚫 Clothing and other fabric
🚫 Batteries
🚫 Bubble wrap
🚫 Foam
Some of these items can be recycled, just not curbside! Please take any electronics and batteries to the transfer station's Hazardous Waste building (appt must be made prior to drop off). Textiles in good condition should be donated; if they are not in wearable condition, please try another recycling or reuse option. Bubble wrap usually can be recycled with plastic bags and other plastic film at many grocery stores. Foam can be taken to most shipping stores to be reused.

12/27/2022

You really have a knack for wrapping . Some may even say it's a . 🎁
As you unwrap the , remember:
🛍️ it's OK to regift or reuse gift bags
🚫 no bubble wrap, ribbons, bows or tissue paper in the
♻️ cardboard boxes and wrapping paper without foil or glitter are accepted for

12/19/2022

🍽️ Before hosting that perfect or dinner, remember:
🚫 food waste in the recycling cart 🍕
🚫 paper towels, napkins, and plates in the recycling cart
♻️ food cans, cartons, and boxes can go in blue bin 🥫
Only place empty and dry accepted items into your recycling container.

12/15/2022

While we encourage you to shop local we know many people this year are ordering gifts online. If you are cyber-shopping we encourage you to recycle all shipping boxes you receive.
HOW TO RECYCLE CARDBOARD:
1) Empty the Box. Please remember, no foam or plastic film is accepted. They go on Santa's naughty list.
2) Collapse the Box. Sit on it, tear it, cut the tape... whatever you have to do. We won't judge you!
3) Flatten the box. Make sure after breaking down your box that you flatten it. Again, we won't judge HOW you do that.
4) Put it in the Blue Bin. But remember not to overload. They might not release when the truck flips the bin.
WHY RECYCLE CARDBOARD? One of the most significant benefits of recycling cardboard is that it reduces the volume of waste sent to our local landfill. Landfill sites are notoriously harmful to the local environment through air and water pollution, so by recycling more cardboard, less ends up in landfill which thus lessens the damaging effects.
This is something we’re extremely passionate about here at Northern Plains Regional Planning Area. We are continually striving towards zero-waste-to-landfill through waste minimization, re-using and recycling methods.

12/09/2022

Holiday parties, decorations, cooking and gift-giving mean the average American household is producing about 1,000 pounds of waste during the holiday season. However, much of what is thrown away can be recycled or repurposed.
Follow these holiday recycling naughty-and-nice list to make it easy to correctly sort and recycle the right materials, so you can focus on holiday fun.

11/30/2022

Remember, glass goes in the large purple trailers at the Transfer Station, Hy-Vee and Walmart - not your blue bin.
WHY CAN'T YOU PUT GLASS IN YOUR BLUE BIN? You risk causing harm to equipment and staff when you put glass in your blue recycling bin as it typically breaks into shards. It makes our mixed recycling system dangerous for those who are sorting the recycled materials. It also contaminates all the recycled materials we are trying to save from the landfill. Bits of paper, metal and plastic get attached to broken glass in the mixed recycling stream, decreasing the amount of material that can be successfully recycled.
We've seen an uptick in glass in the blue bins in Spencer and are hoping to address the issues via education. Can you help by passing along this message by sharing it to your page?