Author: Rachel Evans

Summer Party Garbage and Recycling Guide

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Summer is just around the corner, which means it’s time for graduation parties, holiday BBQs, and family reunions! These events all include some waste, so we’re back with a summer garbage and recycling guide to what goes where!

Party Preparations

Waste can be created when getting your space party-ready! Propane tanks, pool chemicals, and lawn care items can all be disposed of at our Household Hazardous Material Facility.

Make recycling as easy as possible for your guests by placing recycling and garbage by placing your garbage and recycling carts next to each other or by making a reservation to use our event recyclers. Through our environmental outreach program, iLivehere, we loan portable recycling containers to use at events.

Reduce waste by decorating with reusable items like pots of flowers instead of single-use items like streamers or balloons.

Party Cleanup

Disposables make party cleanup easier, but they create a lot of waste! Paper plates, plastic silverware, straws, chip bags, and juice pouches all belong in the garbage.

Toss plastic cups, aluminum cans, water/pop bottles, and juice boxes into your recycling cart!

Planning a show for your 4th of July BBQ? Please soak fireworks casings, packaging, and wrappers in water, then throw them in the garbage. (And please be sure to follow your local guidelines and stay safe!)

Any Questions?

Did we miss something in this summer party garbage and recycling guide? We’d love to answer your questions! Use the “How do I Dispose of…” search tool located on our homepage. Just select your community and type the item. You could also leave a comment on our Facebook posts about summer-y garbage and recycling or fill out our Contact Us form!

One Billion Pounds Recycled at Scott Area Recycling Center

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The Waste Commission of Scott County is celebrating Earth Day with a big milestone… 1 BILLION POUNDS RECYCLED! One billion pounds of material from the Quad Cities and nearby communities has been sorted since curbside collection began in 1995. That’s enough to fill 68,626 recycling trucks!

Recycling conserves natural resources, and we’re grateful for the community’s help in taking care of our planet! Since curbside recycling launched, residents have saved over a billion kilowatts of electricity, over two billion gallons of water, and over a million barrels of oil. Thanks to resident participation, the community and environment are continuing to benefit from recycling efforts. 

The Scott Area Recycling Center opened as a dual-stream facility in 1995, sorting 7000-9000 tons of recyclables per year. In 2016, the facility underwent a remodel, and “Go All In” single-stream recycling was launched. Later in 2019 and 2023, a total of four optical sorters were installed to increase the sorting capacity and efficiency. Today, the facility accepts material from as far as two hours away and processes about 40,000 tons of material each year. Once sorted, these materials are shipped to other midwestern businesses for future processing. While technology has changed the way the Waste Commission of Scott County sorts recyclables and made the process more efficient, what can be recycled curbside remains the same.

What Goes in Your Cart?

  • Glass bottles and jars: Empty and rinse containers.
  • Plastic bottles, tubs and jugs: Labels and lids are OK.
  • Paper and cardboard: Flatten all boxes.
  • Aluminum and steel cans: Place all items in your cart loosely. No plastic bags!

Thank you for helping us reach this milestone and keep on Recycling Right!

Want to learn more?

Happy Earth Day!

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In celebration of Earth Day (and Earth Month) we’re sharing a bit about our iLivehere program and how you can get involved. Created in April 2008, iLivehere is the Waste Commission of Scott County’s environmental outreach program. As a Keep America Beautiful Affiliate, iLivehere empowers you to be a steward of our environment.

The program has a few different components:

  1. Provide free cleanup supplies – iLivehere provides supplies such as bags, gloves, and litter tongs to those helping to make the Quad-Cities a cleaner place to live, work, and play. If your neighborhood group, church group, environmental club, business, or family is planning a cleanup, we’re here to help! 
  2. Loan event recycling containers – iLivehere loans portable recycling containers for use at area events and festivals at no charge!
  3. Coordinate MAKE it YOURS – our adoption program – See a place in your community (within Scott County only) that needs a little TLC? Groups can MAKE it YOURS by agreeing to care for it at least twice per year. We’ll provide cleanup supplies and even post a sign recognizing your efforts!

Click here to learn more about the iLivehere program and have a Happy Earth Day!

Spring Cleaning Guide

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Time to start those spring cleaning projects! Here’s a helpful guide to figure out where to dispose of any items you’re ready to part with. First, consider reuse (donation, selling, etc.) for items that still have life left. Now, let’s go in the order our four facilities opened!

Scott Area Landfill

Have a microwave that no longer works? The Scott Area Landfill accepts tires, appliances, scrap metal, and shingles for recycling as well as waste from Scott County households and businesses to be landfilled. You can put garbage items into your curbside cart or bring it to the Scott Area Landfill for a fee based on the material and weight. Watch what to do when you arrive at the landfill.

Scott Area Recycling Center

Doing a pantry or office refresh? Recycle cardboard boxes, plastic bottles & jars, glass bottles & jars, paper, and aluminum & steel cans in your curbside recycling cart or at a Scott Area Recycling Center drop-off location. If your spring cleaning includes shredding sensitive papers, please help us keep it contained through the sorting process by putting the shreds into a paper bag labeled shredded paper.

Household Hazardous Material Facility

While cleaning your basement and garage, you may find items that should go to our Household Hazardous Material (HHM) Facility. Acceptable items at HHM include paints, pesticides, cleaners, chemicals, medical sharps, and fluorescent lightbulbs. This service is free for residents of Scott and Rock Island counties. Click here to view facility hours and to learn more.

Electronics Recovery Center

Saying farewell to that desk drawer of old cell phones? Our Electronics Recovery Center will accept e-waste like computers, televisions, cell phones, printers, cartridges, copiers, stereos, batteries, or any digital electronic device with a screen or circuit board for recycling. Watch what to do when you arrive at this facility.

Spring Cleaning

Any questions?

We couldn’t list everything in our spring cleaning guide, but we have more resources that can help! Not sure where an item should go? Use the “How do I Dispose of…” search tool located on our homepage. Just select your community and type what item you’re looking for.

Spring cleaning at your business? Click here to learn more about our services for businesses.

Keep batteries out of garbage & recycling carts

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Help prevent fires at recycling centers and landfills! Keep batteries out of your carts, and drop them off at the Electronics Recovery Center for proper disposal instead.

Lithium and rechargeable batteries — like those found inside electronics such as laptops and cell phones — have caused numerous fires at our facilities (including this one in June 2023, which was suppressed by our Fire Rover system until the Davenport Fire Department arrived) and around the country. These preventable fires can damage public and private property, harm workers and the environment, and even cause loss of life.

Disposal Options

We urge residents and businesses to drop off batteries at the Electronics Recovery Center, 5650 Carey Ave., Davenport, during business hours. There is no charge for residents of Scott and Rock Island Counties. Residents of other counties as well as businesses may drop off batteries for a small fee. Watch what to do when you arrive at our facility!

The Commission also offers three household battery recycling drop boxes located near the recycling drop-offs at Carey Ave, West Lake Park, and Scott County Park. Take damaged batteries, data-containing devices, and vehicle batteries to the Electronics Recovery Center for recycling. 

Alkaline (non-rechargeable) batteries are safe to throw away in household garbage, but we accept them as well. We know it can be hard to know what type of battery you have, so if you’re unsure, our staff can help.

Thank you!

Thank you for stopping the spark by keeping batteries out of your garbage and recycling carts!

Not sure how to dispose of something? Search the database.