HomeMy WebLinkAboutA009 - Resolution accepting Resource Recovery System 2025 Annual ReportITEM #:11
DATE:02-10-26
DEPT:PW
SUBJECT:RESOURCE RECOVERY SYSTEM 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
At the beginning of each calendar year, the City distributes to partner agencies in the
Resource Recovery System an annual report, which is attached for your review. The
following is a summary of some of the information that is contained in this report.
The Resource Recovery System (RRS) is entering a significant transition in how the City
handles solid waste. Efforts are underway to shift away from the current waste-to-energy
model to a transfer station model, which is anticipated to be operational before July 1, 2027.
Staff is developing the Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus (R3C) as a modern
transfer station and waste processing facility. The R3C will receive solid waste and recyclable
materials separately. Solid waste will be minimally processed to recover recyclable metals
before being transported in consolidated loads to the Carroll County Landfill. Recyclable
materials collected through the facility and across the community will be marketed to end users
based on the best available market conditions.
As the move away from waste-to-energy begins, diverting materials from the waste stream is
now more important than ever. City staff is working toward implementing single-stream
curbside recycling for eligible households throughout the city in the coming months. As part of
this rollout in Ames, optional recycling pricing for the RRS member agencies has also been
requested and will be shared with each agency once a contract has been approved by the
Ames City Council.
The recycling drop-off center at the current Resource Recovery facility has now been
operational for over two years, providing residents with a “one-stop shop” for recycling.
Accepted materials include cardboard, mixed paper, plastic bottles with twist-off lids, metals,
clothing and shoes, glass, and organics at no charge. Drop off of separated recyclable
materials will continue to be offered at the new R3C for member agencies and their residents.
New 28E agreements have been prepared and presented to each member agency. These
agreements extend the partnership an additional 20 years, which will cover the time period of
the debt service the City of Ames is undertaking to finance the R3C project. The 28E
agreements also indicate that member agencies will be required to implement efforts as
required by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to meet waste diversion goals
and limit the amount of waste being landfilled.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The City of Ames held several open houses and presented at meetings providing information
regarding the R3C project, new 28E agreements, and waste diversion efforts in October and
November of 2025. An electronic newsletter, The R3Cycled Report, has been developed and
published several times per month to all member agencies and haulers with updates on the
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R3C project and other topics of interest as the transition away from waste-to-energy
continues.
2025 STATISTICS:
The partner communities and agencies generated 53,076 tons of municipal solid waste
(MSW) during 2025, with approximately 41,202 tons received at the plant and processed to
create 24,736 tons of refuse derived fuel (RDF). An estimated 1,338 tons of metal and 236
tons of glass were recovered for recycling.
Additional items diverted from the landfill included 14 tons of Household Hazardous Materials,
63 tons of organics, 573 appliances, and 632 tires. Rummage RAMPage was held once again
in 2025, finding new uses and homes for approximately 66 tons of household items that would
have otherwise been destined for the landfill.
RATES AND FEES FOR FY 2026/27:
The per capita rate charged to member agencies will remain at $10.50 and will be billed
according to the results of the 2020 census. There will be a tipping fee increase to
$85.00/ton on July 1, 2026.
RATES AND FEES AT THE NEW R3C:
City of Ames staff has recommended to City Council that the per capita rate charged to
member agencies remain at $10.50 once the R3C facility opens. As reported to each
member agency in October 2025, the tipping fee is expected to increase to $95.11/ton
once the R3C is operational. The effective date is currently unknown due to construction
timing. However, it is anticipated to be effective as early as spring 2027, but in no case would
it be implemented later than July 1, 2027. It is possible that this tipping fee may change
depending upon the results of the construction bids which will be due in early March
2026.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Accept the attached Resource Recovery System 2025 Annual Report and authorize
distribution to the member agencies.
2. Request further information from staff.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Activities in 2025 marked several major milestones for the transition away from waste-
to-energy in the RRS. New landfill partnerships, the development of the R3C, and
planning for further waste diversion efforts through residential curbside recycling all
will help shape the future of solid waste and recyclable materials in Story County.
Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that City Council adopt Alternative
No. 1, as noted above.
ATTACHMENT(S):
2026_Annual_Report__CY_2025_.pdf
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Thank You to our partners in Sustainability!
Nevada, Story City, Huxley, Slater, Roland,
Gilbert, Maxwell, Cambridge, Zearing,
McCallsburg, Kelley, Story County,
Iowa State University
Table of Contents
Letter from the Superintendent
Service Highlights & Objectives
Materials, Revenues & Expenses
Resource Recovery System Fiscal Report
Resource Recovery System Annual Billing
Population- Percentages-Charges
Resource Recovery Plant Volumes
Resource Recovery System Fee Schedule
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ANNUAL REPORT 2025
ARNOLD O. CHANTLAND— RESOURCE RECOVERY SYSTEM
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System Improvements Update
Resource Recovery Plant (RRP) staff continues to focus
on maintenance and sustainable technologies within facili-
ty operations to maximize landfill diversion. These im-
provements enhance system reliability, maximize recovery
of refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and reduce the amount of
material sent to the landfill while ensuring the highest
quality RDF is delivered to the power plant. Many of these
improvements were completed by the highly trained and
professional staff at RRP. Recent system improvements
include:
Replacement of the primary shredder door, rotor, hy-
draulic gear pumps, and gearbox.
Replacement of bearings, sprockets, rollers, and
chains on the secondary disc screen.
Installation of new liners and blades on the rotary air
lock feeder.
Service Highlights & Objectives
Program Updates
Resource Recovery operates many landfill diversion pro-
grams and initiatives throughout the community. The fol-
lowing program updates show highlight the success in
these programs in 2025.
• More than 23,432 pounds of televisions, computer
monitors, cathode ray tube (CRT) devices, and other
electronic waste were collected in 2025 and properly
managed through certified recycling and disposal pro-
cesses.
• The glass recycling program has received more than
3,530 tons since its inception. Collected glass is pro-
cessed into usable materials for remanufacturing new
glass products, insulation, and other materials.
• Waste oil collection efforts have recycled more than
3,245 gallons, which were converted into bituminous ma-
terial for asphalt roads or refined to produce new consum-
er oil products.
• A total of 632 tires were collected for recycling in 2025.
Recycled tire materials are processed into rubber mulch,
rubberized flooring, and athletic surfaces.
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Service Highlights & Objectives, continued
Program Updates
• Participation in the Food Waste Diversion (FWD) program contin-
ues to increase significantly. Since the pilot program began in 2019,
a total of 235 tons of food waste has been composted.
• A total of 252 tons of Household Hazardous Materials has been
diverted from the landfill and properly recycled or disposed of since
collection began in 1998.
• The Great Pumpkin Disposal program continues to grow in popular-
ity and provides a fun, seasonal opportunity to divert organic materi-
als. Since the program began in 2017, more than 142,000 pounds of
pumpkins have been used to feed local farm animals, with the
remaining material sent to the City’s contracted food waste collector
for composting.
• More than 87,100 tons of ferrous and non-ferrous metals have
been recycled rather than landfilled.
• The City of Ames offers four no-charge residential yard waste drop-
off days in the fall and one day in the spring. These events diverted
5,113 cubic yards of material from the landfill in 2025.
• Collaborated with Iowa State University on the community Stash
the Trash event, engaging local businesses, residents, and commu-
nity organizations to clean parks, neighborhoods, and other public
spaces.
• Partnered with Project Aware to process materials collected during
river and stream clean-ups that were not suitable for recycling but
could still be recovered as refuse-derived fuel.
• The City’s Storm Water Management Team coordinated a clean-up
of Ioway Creek, with non-recyclable materials processed at the Re-
source Recovery Plant.
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Service Highlights & Objectives, continued
Resource Recovery System Public Education and Outreach
The Rummage RAMPage continues to be a highly successful event that supports
community engagement, sustainability efforts, and landfill diversion. In 2025, the
event raised more than $72,641 and repurposed over 66 tons of material, diverting
these items from the landfill. This diversion helped conserve natural resources, re-
duce greenhouse gas emissions associated with landfilling and new product manu-
facturing, and extend the operational life of the landfill.
Resource Recovery continues to educate the public through facility and operations
tours offered to individuals and groups of all ages. Residents, students, engineering
professionals, and visitors from communities across the state, country, and world
have toured the Resource Recovery Plant to learn how non-recyclable materials are
processed into refuse-derived fuel.
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*Reflects tons to Boone County Landfill from planned and unplanned shut downs, and non-beneficial MSW
** Closed for one month for air knife installation ***Closed for 6 weeks for power plant upgrades
**** Power Plant off for repairs for 164 days ***** Power Plant off for repairs for 227 days
MATERIALS, REVENUES & EXPENSES
RESOURCE RECOVERY SYSTEM
Year Total Re-
fuse (Tons)
*Refuse Not
Processed
(Tons)
Refuse Pro-
cessed
(Tons)
% of Total Pro-
cessed
Metals
(Tons) Glass (Tons) RDF (Tons) RDF (% of
Processed)
% Total
Diverted Revenue Expense
**2006 CY 55,500 4,511 50,989 92% 2,229 54 30,180 59% 64% $4,250,337 $4,449,985
2007 CY 57,333 4,513 52,820 92% 2,102 96 34,182 65% 69% $4,392,686 $4,531,663
2008 CY 57,470 4,754 52,716 92% 2,068 115 36,060 68% 73% $4,632,493 $3,725,904
2009 CY 53,395 6,748 46,647 87% 1,987 130 31,040 67% 71% $3,956,279 $5,507,045
2010 CY 58,756 1,262 57,494 98% 2,347 129 37,865 66% 70% $4,937,018 $4,605,121
2011 CY 55,270 4,659 50,611 92% 2,166 150 34,422 68% 73% $4,697,573 $3,729,248
2012 CY 53,106 3,725 49,381 93% 2,177 145 32,329 65% 70% $4,641,704 $4,089,447
2013 CY 54,159 10,066 44,093 81% 1,873 171 28,262 64% 69% $4,062,010 $4,196,226
2014 CY 55,698 8,204 47,494 85% 2,104 173 29,595 62% 67% $4,501,455 $4,555,974
***2015 CY 54,394 6,641 47,753 88% 2,201 177 25,194 53% 58% $4,205,529 $4,342,664
2016 CY 52,210 8,953 43,257 83% 1,947 159 24,135 56% 61% $3,818,109 $4,086,378
2017 CY 51,254 7,997 43,257 84% 1,804 131 21,005 49% 53% $3,650,063 $4,545,420
****2018 CY 52,863 19,087 33,669 64% 1,199 149 15,656 46% 51% $3,300,699 $4,383,878
*****2019 CY 53,684 32,030 21,554 40% 759 191 12,475 58% 62% $3,289,071 $3,785,963
2020CY 50,061 9,622 40,162 80% 1,419 246 23,486 58% 63% $4,265,167 $4,120,399
2021 FY 51,223 11,053 40,040 78% 1,307 256 23,598 59% 63% $4,514,203 $4,254,055
2022 FY 52,561 9,471 43,096 82% 1,459 250 27,979 65% 69% $4,718,211 $4,016,792
2023 FY 52,377 7,438 43,847 84% 1,414 261 28,622 65% 69% $4,898,595 $5,035,401
2024 CY 53,652 11,069 42,583 79% 1,343 269 26,095 61% 65% $5,051,598 $4,654,904
2025 CY 53,423 12,504 40,561 76% 1,338 236 24,736 61% 65% $5,264,555 $4,388,201
20 Years 1,078,389 184,307 892,024 83% 35,243 3,487 546,916 61% 66% 87,047,355 87,004,669
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City of Ames, Iowa
Resource Recovery System
System Fiscal Report Calendar Year 2025
2021/22 2022/23 2024 CY 2025 CY 2026 CY
Service Accomplishments:
Actual Actual Actual Actual Projected
Tons of refuse available 52,561 52,377 53,698 53,423 53,000
Tons of refuse diverted to Boone landfill 8,221 7,438 11,404 12,504 13,000
Tons of refuse processed 43,096 43,847 42,583 40,561 39,000
Tons of RDF to Electric Utility 27,979 28,622 26,095 24,736 24,000
Tons of glass recycled 250 261 269 236 250
Tons of metal recycled 1,459 1,414 1,343 1,338 1,290
Pounds of HHM* collected 28,454 23,019 27,313 28,045 27,000
ISU tons into plant 2,935 2,909 2,909 2,905 3,000
Pounds diverted from landfill to Rummage
RAMPage 92,126 154,843 132,782 131,434 135,000
Pounds of Organics Diverted 87,060 76,840 90,200 146,800 125,000
Average # of vehicles/free yard waste day 641 460 675 606 600
Efficiency and Effectiveness:
% of available materials processed 85% 87% 82% 79% 76%
Reject disposal rate/ton (Boone County) $52.00 $54.00 $57.00 $63.00 $65.00
% of processed materials that are sent to the
landfill as rejects 32% 31% 36% 36% 35%
Reject transportation rate/ton $15.15 $15.67 $19.50 $20.48 $21.50
* Household Hazardous Materials
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City of Ames, Iowa
Resource Recovery Annual Billing
For Calendar Year 2025
REVENUES:
Per Capita $ 912,450
Refuse Derived Fuel-
Electric $ 901,688
Sale of Metals $ 179,785
Recycables $ 16,994
Public Fees $ 175,310
Regular Customers $ 2,745,659
Reimbursements and
Refunds $ 35
Other Governmental
Agencies $ 8,630
Out of County Revenue $ 40
ScrapTires $ 5,636
I.S.U. Solid Waste
Share $ 267,163
Interest Revenue $ 51,166
Sale of Glass $ -
Sale of Equipment $ -
Damage Claims $ -
Total Revenue $5,264,554.97
EXPENSES:
Operations 4,388,201.33
Debt Service 110,468.35
4,498,669.68
Net Income/
Expense $765,885.29
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City of Ames, Iowa
Resource Recovery System
Population, Percentage, Charges
Annual Billing - Calendar 2017 at $9.10
Annual Billing - Calendar 2019 at $10.50
Population
Percent of
Population Per Capita Charge
Ames 56,427 64.93% $592,484
Story County 8,965 10.32% $94,133
Nevada 6,925 7.97% $72,713
Huxley 4,244 4.88% $44,562
Story City 3,352 3.86% $35,196
Slater 1,543 1.78% $16,202
Roland 1,362 1.57% $14,301
Gilbert 1,211 1.39% $12,716
Maxwell 859 0.99% $9,020
Cambridge 827 0.95% $8,684
Zearing 528 0.61% $5,544
McCallsburg 353 0.41% $3,707
Kelley 304 0.35% $3,192
TOTALS 86,900 100.00% $912,450
Based on 2020 U.S. Census
Ames is 66,427 minus I.S.U. 10,000
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City of Ames, Iowa
Resource Recovery Plant Volumes
Calendar Year 2025
Generator 2025 TRIPS
2025
WEIGHT
PERCENT OF TOTAL
WEIGHT
Non-Scale Refuse
(Car line) 6,214 1,427 2.7%
Commercial Haulers/
Contractors/Govt 7,258 36,586 68.5%
Iowa State University 1,225 2,905 5.4%
Directly to Boone 2,111 12,504 23.4%
TOTALS 16,808 53,422 100.0%
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City of Ames, Iowa
Resource Recovery System
Fee Schedule
CARLINE
YEAR PER CAPITA TIPPING FEE CARS PICKUPS
2006/07 $10.50 $52.75/TON $8.00 $22.00
2007/08 $10.50 $52.75/TON $8.00 $22.00
2008/09 $10.50 $52.75/TON $8.00 $22.00
2009/10 $10.50 $52.75/TON $8.00 $22.00
2010/11 $10.50 $52.75/TON $8.00 $22.00
2011/12 $9.10 $52.75/TON $8.00 $22.00
2012/13 $9.10 $52.75/TON $8.00 $22.00
2013/14 $9.10 $52.75/TON $8.00 $22.00
2014/15 $9.10 $52.75/TON $8.00 $22.00
2015/16 $9.10 $52.75/TON $8.00 $22.00
2016/17 $9.10 $52.75/TON $8.00 $22.00
2017/18 $9.10 / $10.50 $55.00/TON $10.00 $25.00
2018/19 $10.50 $55.00/TON $10.00 $25.00
2019/20 $10.50 $58.75/TON $10.00 $25.00
2020/21 $10.50 $58.75/TON $10.00 $25.00
2021/22 $10.50 $58.75/TON $10.00 $25.00
2022/23 $10.50 $62.50/TON $10.00 $25.00
2023/24 $10.50 $75.00/TON $15.00 $30.00
2024/25 $10.50 $75.00/TON $15.00 $30.00
2025/26 $10.50 $75.00/TON $15.00 $30.00
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