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Take a virtual tour of the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center to get a better idea of the different services and areas.
The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center (3900 Hebl Avenue SW, Iowa City) serves Johnson County, Kalona and Riverside, and is used by both residential and commercial haulers. The landfill cannot accept waste or other materials from outside of this service area.
Each year, the landfill takes in about 135,000 tons of trash. Trash is landfilled according to stringent federal and state regulations to ensure that environmental protection is in place. The landfill has been at its current location since 1971. In total, the landfill is about 400 acres in area, about half which contains buried trash. Remaining land is used for wetlands and as a buffer for surrounding properties.
On windy days, especially in the spring, the Landfill may close early to prevent and contain blowing litter. Please check this page or call 319-356-5185 to see if the landfill is closing early.
These items are not allowed to be landfilled, and must be properly recycled and handled through programs offered at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center:
On this web page, find information on residential and commercial waste hauling, compost and wood chips pickup, and educational opportunities. Also, learn about the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center's Environmental Management System, a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) program.
All loads with trash MUST STOP at the scale. No trash disposal is free.
When you visit the landfill, separate trash from appliances, electronics, yard waste and recycling. Be sure to cover/secure loads so that items do not blow out. Haulers with unsecured loads will receive one warning without charge. Each subsequent violation will carry a $50 cost.
Use lane 2 at the landfill, pull up to the window (in the silver silo), and let the scale master know what you have for materials.
The landfill accepts cash, checks, and credit cards (Mastercard, Visa and Discover).
No charge for the following:
(Visit icgov.org/recycle for other recycling locations for paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and metal.)
Fees to dispose of the following:
No charge. For a list of accepted materials, visit the Hazardous Material web page.
Businesses can bring materials to the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center and will incur the following fees. Be sure to cover/secure loads so that items do not blow out. Drivers with uncovered/unsecured loads will receive one warning without charge. Each subsequent violation will carry a $50 cost.
If your Johnson County business generates hazardous material, you may be eligible for the Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) program, which allows businesses that generate less than 220 pounds of hazardous material per month, and store less than 1,000 pounds, to safely dispose of hazardous material.
To participate in the program:
The Iowa City Landfill's Compost Facility is out of finished compost. It will be announced when more becomes available.
Compost
Iowa City Community Compost, made from local yard and food waste, is sold in large or small quantities. When available, the compost costs $20 per ton with a $2 minimum. Landfill staff can load your truck or trailer with an endloader. For smaller amounts, bring a container and a shovel to self-load.
Wood Chips
The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center has coarse-ground wood chip mulch available at no cost. Landfill staff can load your truck or trailer, including semi trailers. For small quantities, bring your own container and a pitchfork or shovel.
Construction and demolition waste results from remodeling, construction, and demolition projects. Some examples include roof shingles, concrete, lumber, and fiberglass insulation.
Over 3,000 tons of construction and demolition materials end up in the Iowa City Landfill every year. By recycling, composting, and reusing materials as much as possible, we can preserve landfill space, save natural resources, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Use the Construction and Demolition Waste Guide to learn what you can do with common construction and demolition materials once you are done with them. While some materials need to be landfilled, many materials can be recycled, composted, or reused.
For more information, contact the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center at jennifer-jordan@iowa-city.org or 319-887-6160.
The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center is designated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources as an Environmental Management System (EMS). Being an EMS includes setting an Environmental Policy Statement, goals and targets. The EMS framework focuses on continuous improvement in six key areas set up by the Iowa State Legislature:
Looking for educational materials, or a speaker to talk about waste reduction or recycling? Resource Management staff are available to offer educational materials or presentations.
For more information, contact the Recycling Coordinator at jane-wilch@iowa-city.org or 319-887-6110.