The City of Muscatine, along with Muscatine County, is participating in the Solid Waste Environmental Management System (EMS) sponsored by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The program is a voluntary alternative to comprehensive planning for solid waste planning areas and permitted facility service areas of which the Muscatine Landfill is one.
鈥淭his is an educational and outreach program that involves six different areas,鈥� David Popp, Solid Waste Manager for the City of Muscatine said. The six environmental components include organics management, greenhouse gas reduction, household hazardous materials collection, recycling services, water quality improvement, and environmental education. With the assistance of the DNR each participating agency develops their own EMS program.
Six different signs will be rotated on City of Muscatine refuse collection trucks over the next several months as part of their education and outreach program. 聽鈥淲e hope to catch people who are travelling or at home to see the signs and learn more about what services the City of Muscatine offers through the Solid Waste Division,鈥� Popp said.
Popp said that the City of Muscatine will be sending out a limited number of surveys to select residents to see how well the messaging has worked. 鈥淲e want to know if the program has been helpful or what we can do to make the program even better,鈥� Popp said.
The first sign informs the public about the recycling services available at the Muscatine Transfer Station. 聽Residents of Muscatine and Fruitland who have the Muscatine Refuse Collection service can drop off glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and jugs, paper and cardboard, and aluminum and steel cans. Containers should be emptied and rinsed while cardboard should be flattened.
Before dropping off material for recycling residents should park in the customer parking area next to the drop off center, and visit the Transfer Station office to fill out a form letting staff know what material you are dropping off. Once the form is completed, residents can return to their vehicles, remove the items, carry them inside the Recycling Center, and place them in the appropriate bins.