Metro Waste Authority (MWA) is now using recycled construction materials to build roads at landfill sites, a decision that has already saved the agency hundreds of thousands of dollars. Construction and demolition debris plays a significant role in landfill waste and results in tens of millions of dollars’ worth of recyclable materials ending up in Iowa dumps each year.
MWA is a regional government service that manages trash and recycling services for more than a dozen central Iowa communities. Construction material waste such as concrete, wood and metal has been accepted for recycling at the Metro Park East Landfill for years, often at no cost. In late 2022, the agency started saving some of the concrete and other crushable materials for its own uses.
The program was expanded last year to accept more co-mingled loads using a process to separate materials for recycling. The Boone County Landfill recently directed its construction and demolition to MWA to extend the facility’s lifespan by as many as 30 years, the Ames Tribune reports. The program has accepted nearly 30,000 tons of materials and recycled more than 21,000 appliances since 2022.