The City of Spencer started recycling in 1990 with the assistance of a volunteer committee including Al Schmidt, John Goede and Bill Campbell. Recycling falls under the Spencer Public Works Department.

The City – along with a larger volunteer committee – is currently working on expanding recycling in an effort to greatly reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill.

The goal of the committee follows the philosophy of University of Northern Iowa’s Ron Padavich: “Knowledge and concern drive behavior.” (Padavich is with the University of Northern Iowa's Strategic Marketing Services which is administering the first ever Iowa Energy Poll.)

The Transfer station is located at 3101 W. 18th St.