Fayette County's Recycle Center at 210 Svoboda Lane in La Grange publishes a fuller price list than most county sites, and one rule on it will stop you at the gate if you do not know it in advance.

Household rubbish must arrive in county bags. The county pays to dispose of solid waste, so it charges $3.00 for each Fayette County bag, and only bags printed “Fayette County” are accepted. Bags are bought from any employee at any of the county sites. Arriving with ordinary black sacks means a wasted journey.

Appliances split into two prices. Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners carry a $25.00 fee. Dishwashers, washing machines, hot water heaters and stoves are listed without one. Oil filters cost 50 cents each to dispose of, and there is no need to drain them first.

Recycling is where the site earns its reputation. Paper of most kinds, cardboard, glass in clear, green and brown, steel food cans, aluminium beverage cans, scrap metal, wire, old tin and lawn mowers all go in. Plastics are strictly grades 1 and 2, clean and sorted, caps in the bin. Motor oil, transmission fluid and antifreeze are taken in sealed containers no larger than five gallons. You unload everything by hand — there is no equipment on site.

Glass has limits: no light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, plate glass, glass blocks, ceramic or porcelain. No aerosol cans or propane cylinders either.

Hours are closed Sunday and Monday, Tuesday 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday to Friday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ring (979) 968-8446.

Double-ground hardwood mulch is sold here too, roughly $5.00 for a small scoop and $45.00 for a dump truck. Smaller collection stations operate at Fayetteville, Flatonia, Round Top, Schulenburg and Carmine on their own limited hours.