Misuse of redemption donation site threatens Charles City fireworks funding

To The Press

For years Charles City’s annual Fourth of July Fireworks Show has been funded in part by public donations of redeemable cans and bottles. The collection cages for those donations have also helped with the proper disposal of empty recyclable cans and bottles, keeping them out of the trash and ditches.

However, misuse of that collection site, especially in recent months, is threatening its removal if that misuse continues, according to Mark Wicks, Charles City community development director.

“Only redeemable cans and bottles are to be left in the collection cages located in the parking lot behind the former City Tap building at 813 North Main St.,” Wicks said.

Plastic water bottles, milk jugs or anything else – especially trash – is not permitted.

“This collection effort is volunteer-driven and directly benefits the fireworks fund,” Wicks explained. “Main Street Charles City took over the collection after the Jaycees club in town dissolved in order to maintain that valuable funding source for our traditional fireworks show on July 4th.

“All proceeds go to the Fireworks Fund, with the pick-up and sorting of those cans and bottles having been provided throughout the years, in part or in whole, by volunteers,” Wicks said, adding that the effort has been done as a community service.

That volunteer help has been greatly hampered by inappropriate items being put in or next to the collection cages, including water bottles and milk jugs, non-redeemable glass items (often broken and dangerous), cardboard, household trash, old furniture, ashes, and even pet and human waste, he said.

As a result, it was no longer safe or appropriate for local Boy Scouts who were assisting in the collection to help out anymore. Another issue is cans or bottles just being dumped next to the collection cages and not put inside, at times leaving an unsightly and disorganized mess.

“This is a community service, and one that will go away if it is continued to be abused and misused,” said Wicks.

“That would hurt all of us because of the impact it would have on our fireworks show and in losing an option of where we can take and dispose of our redeemable cans and bottles,” he said. “We need the public’s help in properly using this site and holding each other accountable in order to keep it.”

Main Street Charles City has recently worked out an agreement with new local redemption center, “Enjoy-Recycle-Repeat,” located at 1200 Fisher St., to pick up and process the donated cans and bottles.

“However, the dumping of inappropriate items at the collection site, including water bottles and milk jugs, will need to stop if this offering to the community is to continue,” Wicks said.

“This is a valuable service to our community, but the community will have to do its part to make sure it continues and continues to benefit us all,” Wicks said.