Public Library:  River Valley District Library located at 214 S. Main Street in Port Byron and is free to Rapids City residents. 309-523-3440   www.rivervalleylibrary.org  email: rivervalley5@mchsi.com

Hours:  9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday

1:00 p.m.  to 8:00 p.m. - Tuesday

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Saturday

Library is closed on Sunday

Water, sewer and garbage collection bills:  The Village of Rapids City provides water/sewer service and contracts the garbage service.  Statements are sent by the 7th of each month payments are due in the Village Office by the last day of same month.  Payments may be made at the Village Office during regular business hours, by mail or by using the drop slot provided, for your convenience, at the Village Hall.  Slot is located to the left of the Village Hall main entrance.

Water and sewer:  Water meters are read once a month during the last two days of the current month or the first two days of the next month.  You will be billed each month for the previous month's usage.  There is a $50.00 deposit required on all accounts receiving water and/or sewer.   

The minimum charge per month for water is $20.50 for the first 2,000 gallons, $2.15 per thousand gallons for the next 23,000 gallons, $1.95 per thousand gallons for the next 25,000 gallons, and $1.85 per thousand over 50,000 gallons.

The minimum charge per month for sewer is $41.00 for the first 2,000 gallons and $4.25 per thousand gallons after the first 2,000 gallons.

Garbage service:  The Village of Rapids City contracts with Allied Waste for this service: www.alliedwastebettendorf.com   All Rapids City residents will have their garbage and recycling picked up by Allied Waste.  The following rates and rules apply:

The rate for weekly garbage pickup is $10.75 per month which also covers biweekly (every two weeks) curbside recycling and monthly large item pick up and administrative costs.  The cost of this service is billed on your water/sewer bill or separately for those without village water or sewer.  Charges are for the past month's service as are water and sewer.

Garbage is picked up after 7:00 a.m. on Friday of each week.   In the event of a holiday, garbage will be picked up on Saturday. Recycling is picked up every other Friday.  Allied Waste provides each household one garbage container and one recycling container. Recycling schedules are available at the Village office.

Curbside recycling is strongly recommended but not mandatory at this time.  We encourage all residents to participate in the recycling learning process.  It is predicted recycling will be mandatory in Rock Island County at a later date.  The cost of recycling is included in the $10.75 rate, whether you choose to recycle or not.

Monthly large item pickup will be on the first Friday of each month.  (Large items such as furniture, beds, etc.)  No tires or white goods, (large appliances of any type), and anything that contains refrigerants.

Yard waste must be placed in biodegradable bags and tagged with yard waste stickers.  Stickers are available at the Village Hall for $1.50 each.

Allied Waste can be contacted at: 1-800-233-9634 or www.alliedwastebettendorf.com

Household Hazardous Materials Disposal Services for Rock Island County is provided in conjunction with Rock Island County Waste Management Agency and Scott Area Solid Waste Management Commission. Residents may take Household hazardous materials to Scott County Area Landfill in Buffalo, Iowa.

Residents are asked to make appointments by calling (563)381-1300. The Service is being provided free of charge as a service of RICWMA. 

Feel free to call the Village Hall if you have any questions regarding the area and services available.

The following information was provided by Allied Waste

Due to Hazardous Waste Material regulations the following materials are PROHIBITED BY LAW to be taken to the landfills.

Paint (When in its liquid form)

Motor oils or any petroleum products (This is why lawnmowers can no longer be taken) Oil disposal site list available at Village Office.

Insecticides

Fertilizers

Tires

Appliances

Wire/Woven wire (Fencing)

Metal bed springs (Old style springs)

Because the cost of disposal for each city is based on the VOLUME of garbage produced, the following items are not included in the cost of REGULAR garbage pick up.  It is not, and would not, be fair to pass a rate increase on to those residents who do not have items of this type.

Construction or remodeling material is not collected.  This includes such things as plaster board, lumber, paneling, large amounts of carpet, windows, and doors (Small amounts of construction material may be taken if packaged properly)

Large amounts of furniture or materials from rental properties are not collected, as they are considered business related.

Allied Waste will not pick up items that are improperly packaged or over 4 feet in length, over 50 pounds in weight or cardboard boxes used as trash containers. If they get wet it causes a mess for the resident and the garbage collector.

CALL 1-877-934-5378, 8:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. - MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY for complete details to arrange pickup of white goods or drop off of white goods (refrigerators, stoves, water heaters, freezers, air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers & similar items) and washers and dryers.

Following is a set of the most commonly asked questions and the most specific answers we can provide to those questions.

Q.  When should I put my garbage out?

A.  By law, your refuse must be ready for pickup by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, Rapids City collection day is Friday.  You may put it out anytime after 6:00 p.m. the evening before.  Due to unforeseen scheduling demands we can not guarantee any particular time of the day that your truck will be around.  If you miss the truck, hold your trash until the next week.

Q.  What does it mean when they say "properly packaged refuse"?

A. Allied Waste provides a large capacity garbage bin to each household. Any additional garbage must be in containers made of rigid (durable) metal or plastic with secured handles and tight fitting lids.  Containers must be no smaller than 10 gallon and no larger than 33 gallon capacity.  Plastic trash bags are also accepted.  They should be intact, securely tied and within the container size guidelines of 10-33 gallons.  Containers should be kept drained of all liquids and kept closed or covered at all times.  The filled weight of any container or plastic bag should never exceed 50 pounds.

Q.  Why do sanitation crews leave certain things at the curb?

A.  Here are some common reasons:  You may have missed your "bulky item" pickup day.  Rapids City's large item pickup is the first Friday of each month.  A crew member may have spotted yard waste mixed in with your regular trash. Your trash may be "improperly packaged" (see above).  Also, they cannot take building materials or auto parts.  It may be possible that you did not have your trash out by 7:00 a.m. and you missed the truck when it came by.  It may also be possible that hazardous waste materials were put out for collection.  If none of these applies, please call your municipal sanitation contractor, Allied Waste at 1-800-233-9634.

Q.  What is bulky waste?

A.  Bulky waste items are things like couches, large chairs, tables, picnic tables, mattresses and box springs, or other large household items.  Construction materials and refuse from remodeling are NOT bulky waste.  They will NOT be removed except as a clean up job for a quoted fee.

Q.  What should I do with my bulky waste items?

A.  Sanitation crews will pick up bulky items at the curb on the FIRST FRIDAY of the month ONLY.  For the exact pickup day for any month call Allied Waste at 1-800-233-9634.

Q.  What items CANNOT be picked up?

A. Appliances such as stoves, washers, dryers, refrigerators, and air conditioners are not accepted.  E-Goods such as TV’s, monitors, CPU’s, copiers, fax machines, stereos, and printers are not accepted.  Any types of automobile oils, tires, liquid paint, chain link fence, or woven wire fence are also not acceptable.  These items are not accepted in an EPA approved landfill by State & Federal law.

Q.  How do I get rid of old appliances and tires?

A.  Rock Island County Waste Management Agency (RICWMA) now has a recycling program for appliances.  You can reach them at 1-800-917-1969.

Q.  Where do I take unwanted building material and auto parts?

A.  These items may be taken to the Landfill, a metal recycler or call Allied Waste for a roll-off box rental or to quote a fee for a clean up job.

Q.  What should I do with corrugated cardboard boxes?

A. If flattened boxes do not fit in Allied Waste recycling containers, residents can tie flattened cardboard in bundles and placed beside the garbage.  They cannot be "nested" (stacked within one another) or filled with trash and used as trash holders.

Q.  If I own rental property, what do I do with refuse left by old tenants including furniture, appliances, other household goods and trash?

A.  Rental property is considered income property and is therefore a business, profitable or not, and is exempt from residential bulky waste removal provided with the municipal services.  Allied Waste can provide additional containers for removal of such waste at an additional fee to the property owner.

Q.  What about yard waste?

A.  Yard waste will be picked up in bags, but they must have a sticker on them.  Purchase stickers for $1.50 each at the Village Hall during regular business hours.  Yard waste is picked up from April 1st to November 30th.

Q.  Why all the fuss about garbage?

A.  All towns in Illinois are facing new strict state requirements that call for us to reduce the amounts and types of waste that can go into the landfills.  In order to meet these requirements we will be looking for new and practical ways to reduce waste.  Development of those alternatives may cause more restrictions and changes in your garbage collection.

In order to preserve our natural resources and to contain our rising garbage costs as much as possible, Allied Waste encourages you to recycle WISELY. Reuse and reduce as much of your waste as possible and be aware of your trash habits. Rapids City recycling is picked up every other week. Recycling information and a recycling schedule are available at the Village Hall.

Q.  How can I reduce my garbage?

A. Refuse to buy products with excess packaging.  Limit your use of disposable and one-time use products such as paper napkins and paper towels.  Reuse packages such as glass jars, butter tubs and other containers.  Let merchants and manufacturers know that you want products that have less packaging and can be used more than once.  Save your grocery bags and return them to grocery stores to be recycled or use them to carry your groceries again.  Do not put them out for curbside recycling, as they cannot be taken.

Q. If I see someone dumping illegally, where do I report it?

A.  Report it immediately to your local police department.  Try to get a license number and description of the car and persons involved.

We hope this answers most of your questions, however, all conditions mentioned previously are subject to change as new rules and regulations are imposed upon us.  We encourage you to contact the Village Hall if you have any additional questions.