HomeMy WebLinkAboutA035 - Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus Location UpdatesITEM #:38
DATE:01-14-25
DEPT:PW
SUBJECT:RESOURCE RECOVERY AND RECYCLING CAMPUS
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
The City is pursuing a new approach for the disposal of solid waste. This approach involves
establishing a facility, a transfer station, to receive solid waste, recyclables, and yard waste. Under this
new approach, the solid waste would be consolidated and transported to a landfill for disposal;
recyclable materials would be forwarded to recyclers; yard waste material would be either composted
on site or hauled off-site for disposal. Staff is exploring the inclusion of equipment that would allow for
solid waste to be minimally processed in a way that would allow for recyclable metals to be removed
before the remainder is landfilled.
To assist the City Council in visualizing what a modern facility, such as the one proposed might
look like, staff has attached a document containing photos, descriptions, and articles related to
similar facilities.
As presented at the December 2024 City Council meetings, staff is continuing to work with Carroll
County Solid Waste Management to draft a long-term partnership agreement to address the largest
portion of these activities, which is landfilling. A Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR)
grant application has been submitted to EPA to assist with the development expenses for the new
Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus operation.
The next key step is to identify a preferred site to operate the Resource Recovery and Recycling
Campus (transfer station). Selecting an effective location to construct the transfer station will be
key in the success of the new solid waste management and recycling operations. A number of key
characteristics must be considered for any potential site:
1. Adequate space/topography – The site will need to accommodate a building, scale, outdoor
storage areas for equipment and yard waste, and maneuvering areas for large trucks. Between
eight and fifteen acres of relatively flat property would be needed to accommodate these uses.
2. Convenience for haulers and individual customers - It will be important for the site to provide
convenient access for the waste haulers and individual customers, including those coming from
rural Story County and neighboring communities.
3. Compatibility with surrounding area – The transfer station operation will result in
approximately 2-3 dozen truck trips per day, including hauler trucks depositing materials and
tractor-trailers taking consolidated loads to the landfill or recycling facilities. Although the solid
waste must be contained within a building, the operation is industrial in nature and may produce
some noise and odor.
4. Access to US 30 – Minimizing the distance that semi trucks would need to travel to transport the
solid waste to the landfill will be a key aspect of the financial feasibility of the operation.
Therefore, a location close to US 30 and near western Story County is preferred.
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5. Access to utilities - Water and sewer service are necessary for site development. Additionally, a
location within the Ames Electric service territory will result in the lowest cost electric service for
the operation. Locating outside the Ames Electric service territory would result in increased costs
which would need to be accounted for in fees and charges.
6. Land/development costs and timing – The property will need to be acquired at a reasonable
cost to avoid an excessive cost from being passed on to users. Additionally, it will be important to
be able to proceed without lengthy delays.
Over the past several months, staff has evaluated a number of potential sites. These have included sites
already owned by the City, along with several other sites owned privately.
The two City-owned sites are the Power Plant Coal Yard (308 East Avenue) and the Public
Works West Yard (309 Carnegie Avenue). Aerial photos of the sites are attached. A discussion of
these sites is provided below:
Power Plant Coal Yard:
The Coal Yard contains approximately 3.5 acres on a site that is relatively flat. As a City-owned
property, it would not require acquisition costs, but remediation of the remnant coal and removal of
obsolete buildings and structures has not yet taken place and is expected to cost in excess of $1.2
million. It is adjacent the existing Resource Recovery Plant, resulting in no change in convenience from
the current facility’s location. Access to US 30 involves some travel on local streets and approximately
6.1 miles of driving to the Story/Boone County line. The area is adjacent other industrial type uses and
has good available utilities.
The challenge with this potential site relates to the anticipated need for development of future
electric utility infrastructure at this location. The site is appropriately positioned for installation
of future critical electric generating resources and integration into existing electric infrastructure.
Therefore, staff does not believe this site should be considered as a future transfer station
location.
Public Works West Yard:
The West Yard contains approximately 12 acres. The site is relatively flat, but contains stockpiles of
materials including soil, asphalt and concrete rubble, sweeper truck tailings, and electric distribution
supplies. Many of these materials would need to be relocated or disposed of, and Public Works and
Electric may incur costs to develop new future sites for these materials if they cannot remain. As a City-
owned property, it would not require acquisition costs, but relocation of the materials may result in
costs of up to approximately $75,000. The site is within one block of Lincoln Way and two blocks of
Dayton Avenue, making it reasonably convenient for vehicle and truck access. Access to US 30 is
relatively direct along Dayton Avenue and there is approximately 7.6 miles of driving to the
Story/Boone County line. The area is adjacent other industrial type uses and has good available utilities.
This site contains two primary challenges: 1) the adjacent streets (Pullman and Edison) are not
fully paved. Additional costs would need to be incurred to pave these roads to accommodate the
truck and vehicle traffic that would occur. 2) The property is located over a dump that was in
operation approximately 50 years ago. It is likely that considerable construction expense would be
incurred to create a stable foundation for the transfer station building (including significant
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excavation and special footings).
Based upon the challenges that have been identified above, staff has identified privately owned
properties that it wishes to explore. Staff will be requesting that the City Council discuss the
potential acquisition of this property in closed session, as allowed by law.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve a motion to enter into Closed Session pursuant to Section 21.5(1)(j), Code of Iowa, to
discuss purchase of particular real estate.
2. Direct staff to discuss a proposed Transfer Station facility site in open session.
3. Direct staff to pursue development of a Transfer Station facility on City-owned property.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The City Attorney has determined there is justification to enter into closed session. Therefore, it is
the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No.1, as noted above.
ATTACHMENT(S):
City-Owned Sites Aerials.docx
CS - Transfer Station and Recycling Facility Pictures.pdf
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Factoria Recycling & Transfer Station
Bellevue, WA
King County Washington
HDR Engineering, Omahahttps://www.jrma.com/projectsdetails/factoria-recycling-transfer-station
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Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center
Tacoma, WA
1400 tons per day
84,000 square foot facility
LEED Gold
https://www.jrma.com/projectsdetails/tacoma-recovery-transfer-center
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Pomona Valley Transfer Station
Pomona, CA
https://www.jrma.com/projectsdetails/pomona-valley-transfer-station
JRMA worked with the owner and the City of Pomona to create a fully enclosed facility
with odor control and ventilation systems that ensure the facility is a pleasant, as well
as an attractive, neighbor.
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APPEARANCES COUNT
https://www.wastetodaymagazine.com/news/waste-transfer-stations-design-appeal-nuisance/
People who see the 2017 SWANA Transfer Station Award of Excellence winning facility only
from the outside can be “surprised to discover its use.” That observation is included in the
award nomination document prepared by Valley Vista Services, operators of the Pomona
Valley Transfer Station in Pomona, California.
The nomination claims the “contemporary, two-story administration building entrance
would look at home in an upscale office park,” and the warehouse-sized facility behind the
building has been designed to be spacious enough to keep all municipal solid waste (MSW)
indoors at all times.
The design points to an emphasis on aesthetics that helps bolster the facility’s standing in
the community. The facility, which has been designed to look clean and orderly enough as
though it may simply be storing retail merchandise rather than piles of MSW, is likely to
attract far less negative attention.
“The building’s architecture was intentionally designed to look more like a high-end
commercial office building rather than an industrial facility,” according to the SWANA
nominating document. “The outside was painted a cream color with muted blue-gray and
sage green accents to match the sky and mountains in the background.”
The exterior design is just a part of how the facility’s operators shield the public from the on-
site activities, however. In Pomona, “All waste handling activities are conducted inside the
enclosed transfer station, which provides a more controlled area for the facility to implement
practices that minimize their impact on human health and the local environment,” Valley
Vista Services writes of its transfer station.
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While there may be aesthetic limitations as to just how attractive a transfer station can look,
the Pomona facility demonstrates that some small steps can make a big difference.
South Utah Valley Solid Waste District Spanish Fork, Utah
https://gallowayus.com/project/suvswd/
120,660 square foot, total five buildings. 108,130 sf warehouse, 3,155 sf. Maintenance
building, 5,895-sq. admin building, 3,070-sf household hazardous materials building and a
410-sf scale house.
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Metro Waste Authority 4105 Beisser Drive, Grimes IA
Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency
1954 County Home Rd, Marion, IA
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MIT Transfer Station Auburn, WA
15,054-sf building includes an operations office, tipping floor, and a drive through scale.
https://northwayinc.com/project/mit-transfer-station
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