Public Works

2011 Recycling and Yard Waste

Printed versions of this information are available at City Hall and the Public Library.

Click here for a printable version of Route A.

Click here for a printable version of Route B.

On Wednesdays, every other week recyclables and yard waste are picked up. In an effort to improve the recycling program in the City of Fort Madison, the City and Great River Regional Waste Authority have partnered to make the following changes.

As of March 1, 2010 residents who participate in the recycling program will be required to place their recycling items in a GRRWA recycling bin. Residents can pick up their free 18 gallon recycle bin at the GRRWA at 2092 303rd Avenue (across from Tri-State Rodeo Arena).

Residents must present a current City of Fort Madison Water Bill in order to receive their free recycle bin. Each additional recycle bin will cost $7.00. After March 1, 2010, recyclables that are not placed in a GRRWA recycle bin will not be picked up. Plastic bags are no longer recyclable. Glass will no longer be picked up on residential routes. Glass can be left at the 24 hour recycling drop off site on GRRWA property or at the City’s glass collection site at 2201 Avenue M. If glass is left on curb for residential pick up, it will be left on the curb. Place your recyclable items and yard waste items where you normally place your trash for pick up. Yard Waste runs spring, summer and fall. Recycling is a year round program.

Recycling/Yard Waste Collection Division Line – 16th Street from North City Limits to Avenue G; from 16th Street to 27th Street; from Avenue G to South City Limits. Holidays effecting trash, recycling and yard waste pick up will be posted in The Daily Democrat and The Hawk Eye newspapers.

2012 Recycling and Yard Waste Collection Dates

Copies of the 2012 Recycling & Yard Waste Collection schedule are now available at City Hall and the Fort Madison Public Library

ACCEPTABLE RECYCLING ITEMS

Cardboard – Cardboard boxes, brown paper sacks, Cereal boxes (remove all liners), Chipboard, beverage containers, pizza boxes. Brown corrugated cardboard must be broken down and put underneath the recycling bin. All other cardboard is to be broken down and placed in the bottom of the recycling bin. Any boxes not broken down will not be picked up on the Residential Recycling Route.

Newspapers and Magazines – Newspapers, advertising supplements, unwanted residential mail, magazines, catalogs, phone books and paper back books. Please remove all plastic wrap around magazines and catalogs. Do not bind newsprint or magazines. All recyclable paper must be placed in the bottom of recycle bin.

Office Paper – Computer, typing, writing and photocopy paper, envelopes, and file folders. Do not bind or tie. All paper products must be placed in the bottom of recycle bin.

Carbon paper, blueprint paper, film, photographs or anything with a spiral binder or fastener are not accepted.

Tin Cans – All tin and aluminum cans are acceptable. They must be empty. Place in recycle bin on top of paper product.

Plastic Bottles & Jugs – Plastics accepted for recycling are #1 through #7. Check the bottom of the container for the recycling logo. The number identifying the type of plastic is inside the logo (i.e. food containers, milk jugs, detergent bottles, yogurt containers, soda, juice and water bottles, shampoo bottles, butter containers, bleach jugs, PET containers). All plastic must be placed in recycling bin on top of paper product.

Plastic toys, dishes, waste cans, laundry baskets, buckets, etc. are not recyclable and will not be picked up.

Glass will no longer be picked up on residential routes. Glass (bottles, jars, containers) can be left at the 24 hour recycling drop off site on GRRWA property or at the City’s glass collection site at 2201 Avenue M (starting March 1, 2010).  If glass is left on curb for residential pick up, it will be left on the curb.

Absolutely NO syringes (hypodermic needles) or medical equipment of any kind. You can obtain syringe containers and drop off full containers at the GRRWA offices. We do not accept Styrofoam, food waste, toys, insulations, house siding, clothes or household trash of any kind.

Plastic bags are no longer recyclable.

If non-recyclables are in the recycling bin, it will not be picked up. Any product left in plastic bags will not be picked up.

All residential recycling must be loose in bin and broken down cardboard under the bin.

YARD WASTE

Yard waste must be placed in biodegradable compost bags ONLY!  The cost for these bags vary and can be purchased at County Market, Hy-Vee, Kempker’s True Value, Huffman’s Farm & Home and City Hall. Grass clippings, leaves, garden waste, brush and tree prunings, bark, branches and flowers will be collected. There is no limit to the number of bags.

There will be NO Recycling or Yard Waste pick up on Wednesday, November 11 due to the Veterans Day Holiday and Wednesday, November 24 due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Last Yard Waste pick up for the season for Route A is December 15. Last Yard Waste pick up for the season for Route A is December 22.

The 2011 Recycling and Yard Waste collection dates schedule will be available on December 14. For further information contact the Fort Madison Public Works Department at 372-7700 ext. 274.

APPLIANCES

The City also operates a year-round appliance program where the home owner can purchase an appliance tag for $15.00 and the appliance will be picked up within 48 hours. These tags can be purchased at City Hall.

REQUEST TO BLOCK CITY RIGHT-OF-WAY

When filling out the Request to Block City Right-of-Way permit you will be required to complete the following information.

a.Name of event.
b.Date of street closing. How many days?
c.Name of street/location to be blocked. From (Street/Avenue) To (Street/Avenue).
d.Time (From/To)
e.Have neighbors been contacted?
f.Name of person responsible. Address. Phone.