Getting a new look; Mower County Recycling Center begins addition
Published 10:50 am Thursday, June 23, 2016
- Terry Wagner, left, and Paul Wagner of Wagner Construction set the concrete forms for the addition at the Mower County Recycling Center. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Mower County is continuing to retool its recycling program.
Construction is underway at the Mower County Recycling Center, 1111 Eighth Ave. NE, on a new addition which will allow recyclables to be unloaded by vehicles inside the building, as well as provide new outdoor drop boxes for use by the general public.
“Overall, it’s going to be a nice improvement,” Mower County Public Works Director Mike Hanson said.
In October, the county board unanimously voted to increase the average household recycling rate from about $16.10 a year to $25 a year to help fund improvements, including additions to the recycling center.
The total cost of the project will be around $300,000 and Wagner Construction will work on the addition.
Temporary drop boxes for weekends and non-office hours have been moved to the north side of the Mower County Recycling Center as work begins to renovate the building. — Jora Bothun/jora.bothun@austindailyherald.com
“I think people will be happy with the way it’s going to be,” Hanson said.
Earlier this year, the county board approved a contract with Zenk, Read, Trygstad & Associates Inc. out of Albert Lea for up to $5,000 in architectural designs for plans to build an addition onto the west side of the Mower County Recycling Center.
“It will be a more aesthetically pleasing finished product,” Hanson said.
Hanson believes the remodel will not only give the building a nicer look, but cut costs on heating the building as well now that the main door can remain shut in the winter while vehicles unload.
According to Hanson, construction is expected to continue into August. During that time, residents can drop off their recyclables indoors during business hours. Outside of that time, the public is requested to bring their recyclables to the drop off area that has been moved to the north side of the Recycling Center.
Continued work on recycling
All the work comes as a continued effort by the board to revamp its recycling program after it opted to continue its sorted recycling program instead of hiring a contractor to run a single-sort recycling program.
The county is working toward adding plastics Nos. 3-7 to the Nos. 1 and 2 currently accepted at the recycling center, and it will increase pickup from every other week to the first four weeks of each month.
However, the board and Cedar Valley Services, which contracts for curbside recycling pickup and to help staff the Mower County Recycling Center, negotiated a new contract. Cedar Valley also needs time to prepare for the changes.
