Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-off in
Grimes (IA)

Very efficient staff. Second Saturday 8am-noon w/o appointment, otherwise by appointment. Very short wait, convenient option to dispose of paint, thinner, stains, 1 lb propane bottles, etc etc.

Metro Northwest Transfer station at 4105 Beisser Drive is operated by Metro Waste Authority & is labeled on a their map as a drop off for mixed recycling (plastic, glass, cardboard on the first driveway & "cans" further down.) Although plastics are probably the first thing the public might consider for recycling - & curbside paid pickup is offered for plastics - clarity on DROP OFF SITE FOR PLASTICS is murky at best. I did not want to wishcycle nor cause more sorting nor jam a machine & so several callbacks advising me to " just read the map" were not appreciated. But then the sun appeared & Jessica returned my call from the far away but legitimate "mixed recycling" site in Grimes. She is my new favorite person. And it is not the heat talking. Although the station is intimidating and a ways off the beaten path,there was quite a fast clip of locals making deposits. This site is several points south of its namesake Beisser Lumber & the first gate has an obvious set of containers, namely one glass standalone, three cardboard standalones & one huge cardboard drop off with four slots, two on each side. Parks by is not marked but the area was fairly neat & only a few pieces of broken glass were observed. As I had been kindly informed, NOTHING is labeled plastic because they apparently sort it themselves & don't mind doing so. I don't get that but ok. Also unclear is the controversy over lids which should also be clarified by whatever technical writer is on duty. For instance, I had eligible #1 plastic containers to recycle, most with a blue or red lid which (at least as I understood it in 90 degree weather was ok to toss in to any cardboard slot still attached or not. Lids on glass do not have a place to go) There is another part about butter tubs & lids being an exception but I have lost all interest at this point. Reduce Reuse Recycle!

Hazardous waste drop off is the second Saturday once a month. It's a well run organization, drive up (there may be a bit of a line), answer a couple questions, they pick up the cans or bottles of stuff out of your car, and off you go. Line was maybe ten minutes this morning but last time I visited there was no line, so it just depends on when you go.