FAIRMONT — The Prairieland Solid Waste facility in Truman is preparing for spring and summer. Like many other businesses and organizations, they hope to be returning to a semblance of normalcy, according to Director Billeye Rabbe. Rabbe shares how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the facility, as well as where things stand now.

“Everybody expected that when businesses were slow and people were working from home, there was some concern about how our tonnage was going to be affected,” she said. “But our tonnage from last year was up by about 100 tons. So with being essential workers we weren’t closed.

“We did have to change some things. We used to have people come right into the office, and we did install a window in the entryway for people to use. We did have some COVID scares and some people here got it and we had to operate accordingly, but we were never shut down and we just kept on working.

“We’re just doing the best we can,” she said. “In February, 94 percent of what we took in went to be made into electricity. Our guys are doing a great job of processing and getting things accomplished.”

Rabbe also shared that winter weather took its toll on the facility, but stated she was optimistic about warmer months coming up.

“We went through some very cold times and we had some trouble with some loads freezing into our trailers, but we got through that.

“Things are loosening up here a little bit, and I think by June things are going to be okay to go out and at least have our collections. I want to try and get things back to normal as much as we can.

“But basically, if somebody has a load of garbage they can always bring it here,” she said. “We have a minimum charge of $40.48, which is pretty inexpensive for up to 1,000 pounds. So for things like couches and chairs, if people aren’t receptive to the Fairmont coupons, they can bring a load of products and things that don’t fit into a garbage bag.

In addition, Rabbe shares that off-site collections are planned for 2021, with proper safety precautions in place.

“We are going to start organizing our off-site collections,” she said. “A lot of the small towns, especially in Faribault County, take advantage of that.”

Rabbe said she would begin organizing those collections in June, rather than the usual month of May. She also shared that Fairmont coupons will also be coming out sometime in May.

“Everybody is always interested in those,” she said. “Then we’ll have the Fairmont collections on May 15 and 19.” She also noted there would be another collection date later this year.

When people do bring their coupons and items to Prairieland, Rabbe shares it is important for them to pay attention to the time frames for coupon items.

“For those items, we receive those from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and then from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. A lot of times they don’t get the right time frame.”

Prairieland will also begin taking hazardous waste on Wednesdays, beginning on the first Wednesday in May.

“Every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. we are open at the hazardous waste building here at Prairieland.”