MUSCATINE, Iowa — Muscatine neighborhoods have a problem and it weights as much as 12 African elephants.

A contractor hired by city officials to handle nuisance abatement hauled more than 50 tons to the Muscatine Transfer Station in 2007.

“And that’s after weekly pickup and cleanup week,” said Steve Boka, director of Planning, Zoning and Building Safety.

The contractor also removed 261 tires and 47 appliances from private property. The city dispatches a contractor when property owners are unresponsive to a notice to clean up a nuisance.

“The city has a good service for picking up trash and there is ... in my opinion no good reason we should be moving this much trash by private contractor to the transfer station,” said Ken Rogers, the city’s nuisance officer.

Solid Waste Manager Laura Liegois said residents have several options for disposing of their trash. In addition to weekly curbside pickups, Liegois said residents are offered three free pickups per year, and the opportunity to dispose of items such as appliances and furniture during Spring Clean Up week.

Spring Clean Up

The 2008 Spring Clean Up will be held Monday, April 21, through Friday, April, 28, in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful Month.

Residents should place items on their curbs the night before their regular trash day.

Items accepted include:

- Furniture, dismantled swing sets, small amounts of building materials and other large items

- Up to eight tires

- Up to four appliances (remove doors from refrigerators and freezers)

- Televisions, computers and monitors, printers and other electronic waste

- Yard waste in city bags.

- Brush tied in bundles no larger than 18 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length

Items that will not be accepted include:

- Car bodies

- Large trees

- Excessive amounts of concrete and building materials

- Paint and other hazardous chemicals (accepted at transfer station)

- Lead acid batteries (accepted at transfer station)

- Motor oil (accepted at transfer station)

- Camper refrigerators and air conditioners

Year-round cleanup

Liegois said the city offers services throughout the year, in addition to Spring Clean Up, to help residents dispose of different kinds of waste.

“Some of them are already built into your garbage fees; some aren’t,” she said.

Curbside pickup

The city offers residents three free curbside pickups per calendar year of many items accepted during Springs Clean Up, on top of the pickup during cleanup week. 

“Most cities don’t have that; you’re on your own,” Liegois said. “That allows for if they have that old couch.”

Tires and appliances are excluded from the pickup, unless they are paid for in advance.

Residents must call or stop in at the transfer station at least one day in advance to order the pickup with their regular garbage collection.

Drop-off/pay in advance

Appliances and tires can be dropped off or picked up curbside by paying in advance.

The cost to dispose of large home appliances is $10 each for stoves, refrigerators, water heaters, washing machines, fryers, freezers, microwave ovens, air conditioners, trash compactors, dehumidifiers and dishwashers.

Car tires cost $2 each to dispose of, and truck tires cost from $2.50 to $5 each.

Electronic waste

Residents can drop off computer scanners, digital cameras, VCRs, DVD players, cell phones, stereos and radios at the transfer station at no charge.

Monitors  up to 18 inches in height, laptops and computer printers cost $5 for disposal; large printers, copiers and televisions up to 18 inches cost $10; and televisions and computer monitors larger than 18 inches cost $15.

Recycling electronic waste prevents harmful chemicals from impacting the environment.

Hazardous waste

Cleaners, paint products, garden and pool chemicals, oil-base and latex paint, varnishes, automotive products, batteries, light bulbs and medical sharps are accepted without charge at the transfer station after filling out a form.

Yard waste

Residents can dispose of leaves, grass clippings, brush and trees for no fee at the compost site at the transfer station.

Recycling

No. 1-7 plastic food containers, tin cans, glass food jars, aluminum cans, foil and pans, newspaper and magazines, and cardboard are accepted at the recycling center, and processed by City Carton.

Containers for recycling are also located at Muscatine Mall, Fareway, Walmart, WFO, and the corners of Lucas Street and Knott Avenue and Fifth Street and Mulberry Avenue.

Reporter contact information

Jennifer Meyer: 563-262-0525

jennifer.meyer@muscatinejournal.com



Details

What: Muscatine Recycling Center and Transfer Station

Where: 1000 S. Houser St.

Hours: 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday; 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday.

Contact: Laura Liegois, solid waste manger, 563-263-9689, lliegois@ci.muscatine.ia.us