MUSCATINE, Iowa — Families who attended  America Recycles Day Sunday at the Muscatine transfer station, recycling center and compost site, learned some quality-of-life  lessons.

“If you don’t recycle, the earth will be dirty and full of trash,” said Sami Pratt, 10, a student at Muscatine’s Colorado Elementary School who came to the open house with her mother, Lisa Pratt.

The free event included hands-on exhibits, craft-making with recycled materials, free gifts with a recycling theme and games.

Approximately 100 people attended the event. Parents and grandparents  brought children to help them understand why recycling and thoughtful trash disposal is important.

Laura Liegois, the solid waste manager for the center, said recycling benefits everyone because it slows down the rate at which landfills are filled.

Area residents will have to pay more for trash pick-up if local landfills are no longer available because their trash has to be hauled further away, said Liegois.

Liegois said each person generates about 5 pounds of trash each day.

“We want people to be aware of how much waste their family is creating,” said Liegois.

The Muscatine facility operates as a city of Muscatine agency, but its services extend throughout Muscatine County.

Kim Hayes, facility supervisor for City Carton, a private company that

leases an office at the transfer station, said corporations and agencies can earn some extra cash when they send recyclables to the transfer station.

Hayes said agencies and businesses receive a fee, which is based upon the current market price for recyclable material, when they save their used paper for City Carton.

The transfer station also shares in the profit City Carton makes from selling bundled recyclables to processing mills.

In addition to saving landfill space, hazardous materials such as paints and cleaners also need to be recycled correctly for environmental reasons, said Liegois.

Mindy Strause of Fruitland brought her sons, ages 4 and 6 to the event.

Her children already had a concept about recycling because they go with her to deposit paper, plastic and cardboard in the recycle trailer drop stations stationed around Muscatine.

“We make it fun,” she said.

Details

What: Muscatine transfer station, recycling center and compost site

Where: 1000 S. Houser St., Muscatine

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

Contact: Laura Liegois, solid waste manager, 563 263-9689