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Oelwein Recycling

History -
The City of Oelwein began a recycling program in 1991 in response to the need to conserve space in the Fayette County Landfill. This was necessary to meet a state mandate to reduce the flow of solid waste entering their landfills by 50% by the year 2000. It would also save tax dollars.

Six recycling bins are placed around Oelwein where citizens can deposit cardboard, glass, plastic, food cans, and paper.

Some 17% of total solid waste was quickly eliminated from the Fayette County Landfill. Banned from the landfill was commercial cardboard, toxic waste and yard waste. In January 2001, all corrugated cardboard was banned from the landfill. Separate "cardboard only" bins were placed at several collection sites to accommodate the extra cardboard being recycled.

Since that time, Oelwein residents have continued to participate and the program has grown steadily.

Recycling bins are located at:
"Old Sale Barn" Parking Lot
Fareway parking lot
Pamida lot
East Side Laundry lot
L&M Redemption lot
Donaldson lot on 5th Ave. SW

All Recyclables collected are transported to the Fayette County Recycling Center where they are sorted and prepared for sales to various markets.

What can you recycle?
The following items can be recycled through Oelwein and the Fayette County Recycle Center:

  • PLASTICS - with triangle recycle symbol numbers 1 through 2 -- EXCEPT STYROFOAM!!! No vinyl siding!
  • CORRUGATED Cardboard and Paperboard Clean, dry and flattened; paperboard. Include cereal & kleenex boxes. Remove styrofoam and plastic packaging materials.
  • GLASS - all colors of container glass, ceramics, crystal or heat-treated ovenware. Remove lids, discard those not 1-7.
  • NO windowglass or lightbulbs, please!
  • METAL food cans, rinsed and flattened, aluminum foil, pie tins, beverage cans, pots, pans, and other metal no larger than 2' by 1'. Place in Tin section of roll-off.
  • NEWSPAPERS - include Readers Digest, phone books and paperbacks & wrapping paper, but no bows. Place loose in newspaper section of roll-off. Flyers can stay in newspapers.
  • MAGAZINES and catalogs. Place in handle-tie bags in newspaper section of roll-off. Keep TV Guides, phone books, reader's Digest and newspaper ads separate from magazines and catalogs.
  • OFFICE PAPER - white sheets/light-colored sheets and window envelopes. Place in handle-tie bag and place in newspaper section of roll-off.
  • HARDCOVER BOOKS - Place in handle-tie bags and place in Newspaper section of roll-off.

Fayette County Recycle Center
Filled bins are transported to the Fayette County Recycling Center where they are sorted and prepared for sales to various markets. Cardboard is flattened and bundled. Newspaper is shredded and sold to farmers as bedding. Plastics are sorted according to the recycling number in the embossed triangle on the pieces, then it is shredded and baled for resale. Other items are sorted and boxed or baled for resale.

About Household Batteries
Rechargeable household batteries contain heavy metals and should be disposed of properly. Some suppliers such as RadioShack and Staples will collect them. They are not recycled at the Fayette County Recycle Center.

Alkaline household batteries which are not rechargeable may be put in the trash to be taken to the landfill. They also are not recycled at the Fayette County Recycle Center.

Drop Off Electronic Equipment
Used whole computers, VCRs, stereos, radios, copy machines and certain other products with circuit boards may now be dropped off at the landfill for recycling for a fee. There will also be a charge to drop off TVs and separate computer monitors.

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It takes a village...

To assist businesses and individuals in their efforts to improve the outside appearance of their property, the Pride Committee was formed by the Oelwein Area Chamber of Commerce. 2007 marked their 17th year sponsoring "Pride Clean Up Days" for one special week each spring and fall. Residents are encouraged to make a special effort during those days to clean up their yards and dispose of unsightly and nuisance materials.

Brush & Tree Limbs (but not leaves) are collected in each part of the city on certain days free of charge.

The Yard Waste Site at the corner of 4th St. and 7th Ave. SW accepts yard waste at no charge.

A collection center is created at the Log Cabin parking lot for on a special Saturday in spring and fall to collect (for a small fee) tires, appliances, batteries, scrap metal, and used oil.

Watch the news for dates Thanks to the many volunteers who make the program a success!

Fayette County Recycling Center
18525 Lane Rd Fayette IA 52142
(563)422-3712
FAX: (563)422-6323
Mon.-Fri. 7:00-3:30

Kenny Meyer - Fayette County Landfill Coordinator
10275 Korn Hill Rd
Fayette IA 52142
(563)425-3037
Fx: (563)425-4155
Mon.-Fri 8-4
Sat. 8-11am


Joan Swenka, Coordinator Partnership between citizens & City Hall in Oelwein, Iowa
(319) 283-5440