6th grade - what happens to those cans?!

On December 16, 2025, the 6th grade class toured Denny Sanitation in Rock Rapids, IA. The cans that we sort at school to earn money for our Des Moines trip goes there. 

The company started in 1984 with just two main parts, and later was sold to new owners. They added a 3rd part later. A lot of recycling centers closed because of the money shortage. Just sorting cans does not make much money. 

We toured all 3 parts of the Denny Sanitation Can Redemption center. The west side of the building is where they sort cans and plastic bottles. They sort cans and bottles by categories like Pepsi, Coke, etc. They always need to know exactly how many cans and bottles come in and leave their building. Instead of counting each can or bottle they sort, they count one bag and then put a line in their box for how many cans or bottles it is. This then averages how many cans and bottles they have in each bag. 

The middle of the building is where they put their already sorted bags of cans. Their cans are either sent to the product places or Des Moines. They also have cardboard that they smoosh and make into bales. They smash glass in the middle section too. The smashed glass is then brought to Des Moines, and they crush the glass even more there. 

The far east side of the building is where they sort glass bottles. These also are sorted by categories. They have to sort the glass by its brands and if the bottle is clear or colored.

Thanks to everyone who donates to our trailer for us to sort! We hope to sort again on January 22, 2026. 

Enjoy some pictures from our tour and from one of our can sorting (sticky) days!