Iowa Has More Landfills Than You Think and More On the Way

Our trash has to go somewhere and that somewhere is usually a landfill. Why don't we do that at our homes? If you want to get rid of your trash, dig a hole and cover it up right? That's the way a landfill works, or so I thought.  Well, it kind of is but not exactly.

What Goes Into a Landfill?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says landfills are where trash goes to live out the rest of its life.  Landfills are engineered structures built into or on the ground. See, I thought random holes in the ground would be fine. They are subject to regulations from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and other agencies. Are you aware that there is more than one type of landfill? 

How Many Types of Landfills Are There?

There are several types of landfills such as

Hazardous waste: So, imagine a landfill that’s like the VIP section for hazardous materials—welcome to the hazardous waste landfill! It’s got all the fancy upgrades: double liners, leachate collection systems, and even leak detection systems. Basically, it's the Fort Knox of waste disposal, built to keep those nasty chemicals locked up tight and away from the environment.

You know that stuff you can't toss in your regular dumpster? Yep, that’s going straight to this landfill, where they have run-on and runoff controls—because we don’t want any uninvited guests crashing the party! These landfills are inspected more times a year than a celebrity’s wardrobe malfunction, ensuring they’re always up to code.

And hey, if you hear folks calling it a Subtitle C landfill, that’s just the EPA's way of saying, No solid waste allowed here! So, if you’ve got something that’s a bit too hot to handle for your curbside trash, this is where it’ll end up, keeping the environment safe and sound. Think of it as the eco-friendly bouncer of waste!

Municipal solid waste: In the world of landfills, there is a star of the show and that is the municipal solid waste landfill—let’s call it the MSW landfill for short! This is where your curbside trash takes its grand tour after you toss it out. Think of it as the ultimate junkyard party, where just about anything goes—well, almost anything!

Of course, there are some house rules. These landfills come with a few safety regulations, like their own VIP guest list. They need to be located just right, have a fancy lining, and keep an eye on the groundwater—because we don’t want any surprises, right?

Now, here’s the fun part: MSW landfills are built in layers! It’s like making a giant trash cake. You’ve got the liner, a drainage system, a gas collection system, and then—drumroll, please—the trash itself! All these layers are monitored like a hawk to make sure everything stays safe and sound for the environment and the hard-working folks there.

Some MSW landfills are so exclusive they don’t let the public in.  Just be aware that some spots only roll out the welcome mat for contractors and dumpster rental companies. And if you hear them refer to it as a Subtitle D landfill, just know that’s the EPA’s fancy way of categorizing it. It’s all part of the landfill lingo!

So next time you toss that trash, just picture it on its way to a cozy layered paradise—living the landfill dream!

How Much Trash Does Iowa Generate?

Did you know Iowans are busy generating a whopping 2.8 million tons of solid waste every year? Keeping all that waste in check is super important for protecting Iowa’s beautiful land, water, and air—after all, we don’t want to turn our state into a giant dumpster, right?

To help keep everything tidy, the DNR steps in, regulating solid waste facilities like landfills. These are usually managed by the local cities and counties.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting: local governments have to come up with comprehensive plans. They need to outline their solid waste management systems, which sounds fancy, but really just means figuring out how to keep things organized. Plus, they’ve got to offer alternatives like recycling and composting—because who doesn’t love giving trash a second chance at life?

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And let’s not forget about setting waste reduction goals. It’s like making a New Year’s resolution but for trash! So next time you’re tossing something out, remember: you’re part of a big plan to keep Iowa clean and green!

How Many Landfills Does Iowa Operate?

The EPA keeps all that info and they say as of September 2024, there are 48 landfills in operation.

What Happens When a Landfill Is Full?

Cedar Rapids took their landfill and made it a public space called Mount Trashmore.  Cedar Rapids is not the only municipality to do such a thing.  Virginia Beach also made a landfill into a public space even giving it the same name as Cedar Rapids, Mount Trashmore!