The Garbage Grapevine is a bimonthly newsletter about solid waste and recycling in the ECICOG Solid Waste Comprehensive Planning Area.

This newsletter is sponsored by the Solid Waste Commissions in Benton, Iowa, Jones, and Tama Counties .

STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION

Jennifer Fencl
Solid Waste &
Environmental
Services Director
319-365-9941 
Ext 131
Alicia Presto
Solid Waste Planner & Iowa Waste Exchange Resource Specialist
319-365-9941 
Ext 121

Nicole Van Nelson
Public Information 
Specialist & Media
Contact
319-365-9941 
Ext 125
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN APPROVED
An update of the Regional Comprehensive Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan for the ECICOG solid waste planning area was approved on July 6, 2016 by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. ECICOG updated the plan through a yearlong process that involved public meetings with the solid waste commissions in Benton, Iowa, Jones, and Tama Counties. 

An important measure of progress documented in the plan is the waste diversion rate. The ECICOG solid waste planning area is currently diverting 38% more waste from the landfill than it's comparison year, which is 1988. Since the State of Iowa's landfill diversion goal is 50%, the new plan includes strategies each solid waste facility can pursue to increase their diversion rate.

The plan is available online on our Plans page at www.ecicog.org/plans For more information, contact Jennifer Fencl at [email protected] or 319-365-9941.
LANDFILL COMPACTOR TRAINING
Jason Todaro of
Blue Ridge Services
ECICOG is hosting a landfill compaction training August 24 to 25 at the Benton County Landfill. The workshop includes both classroom and hands on training where participants will learn efficient waste compaction techniques and safe equipment operation. The training will be provided by Jason Todaro of Blue Ridge Services, which is an industry leader in landfill operation and safety.

Because ECICOG was awarded a USDA education grant, landfill staff in Benton, Iowa, Jones, and Tama Counties will attend the training free of charge. The training is open to other solid waste facilities for a fee. If you're interested, contact Alicia Presto at [email protected]
or 319-365-9941 ext. 121.
LOCAL GOVERNOR'S ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS
Congratulations to all the Governor's Environmental Excellence Award winners. The award winners in our region include Weikert Iron and Metal Recycling providing services to our local solid waste facilities, Price Creek Watershed Project and Iowa County Soil and Water Conservation District in Williamsburg, Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency in Marion, Hy-Vee Food Stores, and ITC Midwest in Cedar Rapids.

For more information on the awards, visit