Changes in Allamakee County rural dumpsites to take effect December 1

Starting December 1, the rural dumpster program in Allamakee County will see changes. The rural contracts for waste haulers have a duration of five years, with a new contract beginning December 1 of this year. With recessionary times and county budgets shrinking, the move to a more cost-effective system for the future will be put into place.
Other factors in the decision for the future were the closing of the Forest Mills and Dalby dumpsites in the recent past because of non-compliance with Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations and permits. With only three remaining open rural dumpsites in the county, and one of those presently being out of compliance, it was a matter of time before they would all be shut down due to non-compliance with permits.
The new program for rural residents will offer waste and recycling opportunities at five different rural sites around the county on a weekly basis. The sites will be manned during the hours of 3-7 p.m. one day a week at each of the respective sites (see accompanying schedule). These sites will also take larger items, such as furniture, free of charge from rural residents but are not intended for appliances, shingles or construction debris.
Service to all county residents will continue at the County's main site at 869 Hwy. 9 north of Waukon according to the accompanying schedule at left.
"As we know, there are always challenges with changing programs, and we are aware that out of 99 counties in Iowa the majority of counties have one site for rural residents to go to per county," Allamakee County Solid Waste Director Dave Mooney explained. "The County Supervisors and Solid Waste Department are trying to not only lower tax money spent on this program, but are also trying to supply a service to as many rural residents as possible."