City of Waterloo Sanitation Department Sustainability Efforts Win State Award
City of Waterloo Sanitation Department Sustainability Efforts Win State Award(October 3, 2022) – The City of Waterloo Sanitation Department was honored with the Iowa Recycling Association's (IRA) Community Award. The award was presented in Bettendorf at the annual Iowa Recycling and Solid Waste Management Conference on October 3rd, 2022.
Over the past three years they have undertaken several projects to improve the quality and quantity of recyclable materials collected. “Under the leadership of Public Works Director Randy Bennett and Sanitation Director Scott Brunson they have shifted from a program that was on the verge of cancellation because of contamination issues to one focused on improving its curbside and drop off programs,” said John Foster, Administrator of the Black Hawk County Solid Waste Commission.
In addition, the city modified signage at drop-off recyclables collection stations to reinforce standards and instituted a campaign to identify violators, including the installation of cameras. After the grace period of notifying violators of the sites of their discrepancies, enforcement began and the contamination rates went from over 20% to virtually zero. While maintaining an average of 55-60 tons per month from these sites.
“Ultimately, it is the cooperation of the residents of Waterloo and their will to reduce and recycle that make the program a success,” says Bennett, “ Together we are moving in the right direction.”
City of Waterloo’s Sanitation Department’s award was one of three presented by the IRA. Other awards presented in Bettendorf were given to the Hart Smart Products - Small Business Award and Metro Waste Authority - Infrastructure Award. Winners were selected by a committee of industry professionals.
Contact:
Beth MacKenzie, Iowa Recycling Association President, 319-384-3415
elizabeth-k-mackenzie@uiowa.edu
Scott Brunson, City of Waterloo Sanitation Director, 319-291-4455, scott.brunson@waterloo-ia.org
For more information about the Iowa Recycling Association Awards visit: www.iowarecycles.org/awards.