Advertisement

Best practices for recycling

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

Kluesner Sanitation representatives presented to seniors at the meal site on Dec. 22. From left are Sarah Ambrosy, operations manager; Randy Kramer, route manager; and Craig Kluesner, owner/president. (Press photo by Shelia Tomkins)

By Molly Moser

Representatives from Kluesner Sanitation gave a presentation at the senior meal site in Guttenberg on Thursday, Dec. 22. Owner and president Craig Kluesner, Operations Manager Sarah Ambrosy and Route Manager Randy Kramer shared recycling guidelines and services offered by the company, and questions from seniors.

Kluesner Sanitation was formed two years ago as part of Kluesner Construction of Farley, and currently provides sanitation services in the cities of Manchester and Masonville as well as Guttenberg. The company offers dumpsters and roll-off containers, pick up of appliances, electronics and furniture, as well as garbage and recycling collection for commercial and residential customers. 

Garbage from Guttenberg is hauled to the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency Landfill, while recycling is taken to Dittmer Recycling in Dubuque. In order to safely and efficiently maximize recycling services, the redemption center has established guidelines Guttenberg residents must follow. 

Acceptable metal materials for recycling include tin, steel, and aluminum cans, metal jar lids, metal coat hangers, aerosol cans, Christmas tree lights, pots and pans, and empty paint/aerosol containers. Metal must be clean, rinsed, and if possible, flattened with metal lids inside.

Paper materials suitable for recycling are newspapers, magazines, and catalogs, corrugated cardboard (staples are acceptable; pizza boxes must be clean of food refuse), gray chipboard including cereal, cracker, and shoeboxes, junk mail and envelopes, paper bags, mixed office paper, phone books, paperbacks and hardcover books, paper egg cartons, paper towel and toilet tissue roll cores, and shredded paper strips. Paper products must be clean, dry, and flattened to conserve space.

Plastic items accepted for recycling include items numbered 1-5 and 7, milk and juice jugs, pop and water bottles, yogurt containers, ice cream tubs, cooking oil containers, shampoo and lotion bottles, dish and liquid soap bottles, bleach and detergent containers, and household cleaning containers. Residents should remove and discard all caps, lids, rings, and pumps from plastics, and flatten containers to conserve space.

Many residents are curious about why glass is no longer recyclable. “Most recycling redemption places don't accept glass in this area as there is no market for glass,” said Kluesner. Glass doesn’t decompose and is one of few materials that can be recycled time and time again, but it can also damage recycling equipment – and its heavy weight increases the cost of recycling. Those rising costs, concerns about contamination, lower international demand for recycled materials and falling oil prices have caused many cities to toss glass in the trash.  

Kluesner explained that if time allows, drivers will remove unacceptable items from recycling bins and place them in the trash. If too many unacceptable items are spotted in a recycling truck, the entire load could be rejected by the redemption center.  

For more information about Kluesner Sanitation, visit www.kluesnerconstruction.com. To find detailed information about what is acceptable and not acceptable for recycling, visit http://dittmerrecycling.com. To schedule pickup of appliances, furniture and electronics, or order a dumpster, call Kluesner Sanitation at 563-927-5977. Residents are reminded that live Christmas trees will be picked up by city workers Jan. 5-13 and should be left curbside. 

Rate this article: 
No votes yet