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County recycling program starts accepting No. 5 plastics after new baler installed
Summary
Recycling supervisor Jeff Kabolzak reported the county's refurbished No. 5 plastic baler is operational, enabling acceptance of yogurt and butter containers (No. 5); initial bale size is about 500 pounds and the current buyer price is roughly 3 cents per pound.
Jeff Kabolzak, Winneshiek County recycling supervisor, told the board the county has installed and started using a refurbished No. 5 plastics baler and is now accepting No. 5 containers such as yogurt, cottage cheese and butter tubs. “Our new baler refurbished number 5 baler, we just got rolling with that, last week,” Kabolzak said, and staff intend to publicize the change so residents know which containers to keep.
Kabolzak said the first bales were smaller (about 500 pounds) and that market prices are volatile, noting that the current buyer price for No. 5 bales is about “3¢ a pound.” He urged residents to rinse containers where practical to reduce contamination and said the department is also reviewing local quotes for new loaders that were budgeted previously; the board discussed trade‑in options for existing equipment.
Staff will post guidance on accepted items and continue to monitor buyer markets and bale sizes as the program stabilizes.
