Winneshiek County approves recycling site monitors, considers earlier pickup hours and stresses battery recycling

At the meeting, the board approved the hiring of collection‑site monitors and part‑time fill‑in workers recommended by Recycling Supervisor Jeff Kuboushek. Kuboushek read the recommended hires into the record and the board "motioned and seconded" to approve; the motion passed unanimously.

Kuboushek also asked the board to consider a weekday schedule change for rural collection sites, proposing that staffed pickup hours shift from 7 a.m.–2 p.m. to 7 a.m.–1 p.m., with the change proposed to start in July. Staff said sites themselves would remain open as now and that the change would align crews better with other recycling functions and reduce overtime exposure. If approved operationally, the department planned to notify residents via social media and the county website.

Recycling and landfill staff discussed safety concerns with lithium batteries, which can ignite and cause fires if damaged. The county urged residents to bring rechargeable and lithium batteries to designated recycling locations rather than disposing of them in regular trash at the landfill. Staff noted recent incidents and near-misses and described how batteries can breach and generate extreme heat when damaged; county personnel said they accept many battery types at recycling drop‑offs and will take small batteries for free.

The department also announced upcoming public events and operational experiments: an Earth Day presentation at the Dana Lansing building on April 25 and a trial Saturday collection on May 16 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. to accept appliances, electronics and scrap metal (fees apply for certain items).