Supervisors Share Plans to Expand Recycling Program to Accept Plastic No. 5

Your contribution today guarantees Decorah News is asking the questions tomorrow. Act now. DECORAH — Winneshiek County plans to expand its recycling program within the next two months to accept plastic No. 5 (polypropylene, or PP), a move supervisors say could reduce material currently being sent to the landfill. Plastic No. 5 is described by the Plastic Action Center as "one of the least recycled post-consumer plastics at a rate less than 1%." According to the center, the recycling process includes cleaning and reprocessing the material by melting it at approximately 250 degrees Celsius to remove contaminants. The plastic then undergoes vacuuming to remove residual molecules before being resolidified at about 140 degrees Celsius. Recycled plastic No. 5 is commonly used in automobile applications such as battery cases and signal lights, as well as in products including brooms, brushes, ice scrapers, garden rakes, oil funnels, bicycle racks, storage bins and shipping pallets. Supervisor Steve Kelsay said new sorting equipment, including reconditioned conveyors, has been acquired and is expected to be installed and operational within "a month or two." Once in place, the system will allow the county to separate plastic No. 5 from the broader recycling stream for market resale rather than disposal. Supervisor Shirley Vermace noted the material includes common household items such as yogurt containers, food tubs and some packaging. She said those items have historically been excluded from local recycling efforts due to limited processing capacity. "This is a big deal," Kelsay said during the meeting, noting plastic No. 5 represents a significant portion of the waste stream currently not being diverted. Under the updated system, collected plastics will be sorted more precisely, allowing staff to extract No. 5 items and bundle them for resale. Kelsay said a "small market" already exists for the material, making the effort potentially both environmentally and economically beneficial. Installation of the equipment is tentatively expected to be completed by July 1, though officials said the timeline could shift. Once operational, the county plans to issue a press release notifying residents that plastic No. 5 will be accepted. Fresh stories, delivered! Sign up for the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and stay informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve.