116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Homegrown: Recycling paint, chemicals and cleaners
Good news for those of us with half-used cans of paint or other unneeded items cluttering the basement or garage. The following is about a change to Linn County's Pollution Prevention Center that makes it more convenient to properly recycle those items.
MARION - The Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency is making it easier for Linn County residents to recycle household hazardous materials like oil-based paints, cleaners, and lawn and garden chemicals. Starting January 03, 2012, the Pollution Prevention Center, which accepts household hazardous materials for free from Linn County residents, is going appointment free!
Since 1996, Linn County residents have had to make an appointment to drop off unwanted paint, chemicals and cleaners. Now thanks to an increase of trained staff, those items can be dropped off whenever the Solid Waste Agency facility at 1954 County Home Road, Marion, is open. Hours are 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Saturday.
“We are glad to be able to offer this service to all Linn County residents,” said Karmin McShane, Solid Waste Agency Executive Director. “Going appointment free will make it easier for residents to use the Pollution Prevention Center whenever their schedule allows and helps the Solid Waste Agency's resource recovery efforts.”
All items that are dropped off at the Pollution Prevention Center are inspected. Those that can still be used are placed in the Swap Shop. All Swap Shop items are available free to Linn County residents and can be taken whenever the Agency is open.
The services offered by the Pollution Prevention Center are completely subsidized by the Solid Waste Agency. Despite being a government entity, the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency does not receive any taxpayer dollars. All services, programs, and operations are funded by landfill tipping fees.
What: Solid Waste Agency's Pollution Prevention Center going appointment free
When: January 03, 2012
Where: 1954 County Home Road, Marion
Who can use it: Available to all Linn County residents for no charge
When can they use it: 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday - Saturday
Cans of latex paint were sorted from oil-based paint in the pollution prevention center at the Solid Waste Agency's Site 2 on Monday, Dec. 5, 2011, in Marion. Latex paint that is not usable is safe for the landfill, while oil-based paint needs to be recycled. A new building will serve residential and commercial customers, and replace the current recycling drop-off, the pollution prevention center, the swap shop and an area to sort construction and demolition waste to remove recyclables. (Liz Martin/SourceMedia Group News)
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