SOURCES & SAFETY GUIDANCE

MCG is committed to safe, responsible recycling. This page shares the safety guidance and source links behind our annual eCycle (e‑waste) events and year‑round battery drop‑off at all MCG office locations. Questions? Call 641-676-1000.

Quick Safety Facts

  • Lithium‑ion batteries and devices containing them should not go in household trash or curbside recycling bins because they can be damaged or crushed and may cause fires.[1] [2]

  • To help prevent sparks during transport, tape battery terminals or place batteries in separate plastic bags.[1] [2]

  • Proper battery drop‑off helps keep hazardous items out of the municipal waste stream and supports safer recycling. [3]

How to Prep Batteries for Drop-Off

  • Tape terminals (especially 9‑volt and lithium batteries) or bag batteries individually.[1] [2]

  • Keep batteries dry and protected from damage during transport.[1]

Protect Your Personal Data (Before Recycling Electronics)

Before dropping off phones, computers, tablets, or external drives:

  • Back up what you need (photos, documents, contacts). [4]

  • Sign out of accounts (Apple ID/iCloud, Google, Microsoft) and remove saved passwords when possible. [4]

  • Factory reset the device:

    • iPhone: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings. [6]

    • Android: Settings → System → Reset Options → Factory Reset (wording will vary by device). [7]

    • Windows PC: Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC → “Remove everything” (and choose drive cleaning if donating/recycling/selling). [8]

  • Remove SIM cards and any memory cards (SIM/microSD) before drop‑off. [4]

  • For businesses or sensitive data: follow an established media sanitization approach (e.g., NIST guidance) to render stored data infeasible to recover. [5]

MCG Programs (Quick Links)

MCG Recycling FAQ
Annual Oskaloosa eCycle Event Details
Annual Grinnell ecycle Event Details
Battery Drop-Off Locations & Hours
Contact us

Questions? Call 641‑676‑1000. Businesses are welcome.

Sources (Click to View)

[1] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — Used Lithium‑Ion Batteries:
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-lithium-ion-batteries

[2] U.S. EPA — Frequent Questions on Lithium‑Ion Batteries:
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/frequent-questions-lithium-ion-batteries

[3] U.S. EPA — Importance of Sending Used Lithium‑Ion Batteries to Proper Facilities:
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/importance-sending-consumers-used-lithium-ion-batteries-electronic-recyclers-or-hazardous

[4] Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — Remove Personal Information Before You Get Rid of Your Computer:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-remove-your-personal-information-you-get-rid-your-computer

[5] National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — SP 800‑88 Rev. 2: Guidelines for Media Sanitization:
https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/88/r2/final

[6] Apple Support — Erase iPhone:
https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/erase-iphone-iph7a2a9399b/ios

[7] Google Support — Reset your Android device to factory settings:
https://support.google.com/android/answer/6088915?hl=en

[8] Microsoft Support — Reset your PC:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/reset-your-pc-0ef73740-b927-549b-b7c9-e6f2b48d275e

Last Updated: March 2026