Cox Sanitation official defends recycling center, urges clearer Sigourney dumpster rules

Keya Cox, a representative of Cox Sanitation, told the Sigourney City Council on June 4 that the company follows state and DNR rules at the Keokuk County recycling center and disputed a council report that most materials the town sends are not recycled. "We do in fact recycle the cardboard pizza boxes," Cox said, adding that dirty or contaminated materials are rejected and may go to landfill.

The exchange began after Mayor Jimmy Morlan said he had mistakenly told the council at a prior meeting that 90% of Sigourney residents' recycled materials were not being recycled. Morlan apologized for the error and described threats and assaults his employees have alleged while working at the county facility. "I've had them be threatened to be shot. I've had two people chest bumped them," Morlan said, recounting incidents staff reported.

Cox described operational constraints that determine whether a load is recycled, saying the company must follow DNR rules and county requirements and that some materials (for example, oily or heavily soiled cardboard) cannot be accepted by mills. She also said county supervisors set the recycling center's access terms and that Cox Sanitation charges a monthly fee to the supervisors who, in turn, charge towns for use of the center. "The reason your town has to pay to use the center is because you're the only town in Keokuk County that does not offer recycling at the curb," she said, summarizing the county-level arrangement and telling the council the center has operated for 25 years.

Council members pressed Cox on visibility of the rules and on dumpster placements across town. Mayor Morlan and Cox traded explanations about why curb recycling was discontinued years ago (Morlan said scavenging and messy collections led to the change) and about local enforcement. Cox said some customers do not pay and that dumpsters can be overfilled; she also pushed back on a perception that her business was being singled out. "If you add that up, that's a lot of money that's coming out of my pocket," she said discussing permit fees, and later: "We might take your trash, but don't treat us like trash."

Council members asked Cox for usage data to better understand how many residents rely on the county center; Cox said making people sign in to the center draws complaints from customers. City Clerk Ashley Fry told Cox she would email follow-up questions and keep a communication line open.

The council said it will work on clarifying and updating local ordinances regulating dumpster placement and appearance to reduce eyesores and public-health risks while improving communication with local haulers. Council members emphasized the goal was not to single out one business but to bring town rules into consistent enforcement.

The council's discussion of solid-waste rules is expected to continue as staff compiles usage data and proposed ordinance language for future meetings.