Local News
Help with flood debris may be on the way
SWC will vote tonight on waiving landfill fees
OTTUMWA — If the vote goes as expected, help with flood debris is on the way.
The Ottumwa/Wapello County Solid Waste Commission has scheduled a special meeting for 6:15 p.m. tonight in council chambers at City Hall. The only item on the agenda is “request to waive landfill fees for 2008 flood debris.”
To the casual observer, the SWC meeting is brief so most likely that means a unanimous vote in favor of waiving the fees.
Such a waiver is a “normal thing for city staff to request,” Recycling Center Coordinator Janice Bain said Monday.
If approved as requested, the waiver will allow residents affected by the 2008 flood to bring in flood debris at no charge. But, residents will be asked to separate wood, metals, appliances, tires and household hazardous materials from the rest of the flooded trash before disposal.
The Ottumwa/Wapello County Landfill serves Wapello and Davis counties and within that area the waiver is “strictly for people who are flooded,” Bain said.
Currently, landfill space is very limited and that makes “source separation” necessary. Bain said tires, appliances, wood waste, metal and HHMs must be separated from the rest of the flooded trash before disposal.
“It’s illegal for the landfill to take appliances and tires. Even though the property was flooded, those things can’t go into the landfill,” Bain said.
Basic household trash and other items will be accepted at the landfill at no charge and appliances, metal and tires will go to the Recycling Center at no charge.
HHMs like cleaners, pesticides, paint thinners and caustic chemicals will be collected by solid waste staff. For collection, call (641) 683-0699.
The collection staff will have a list of residents who’ve been flooded and citizens may be required to show identification.
“If it’s not flooded stuff, we won’t take it,” Bain said. “It’s expensive to get rid of flooded stuff and we hope the Federal Emergency Management Agency will help us.”
SWC members discussed landfill options during the June 18 meeting of the Ottumwa/Wapello County Solid Waste Commission. Principal Engineer Tim Buelow of Barker Lemar Engineering Consultants, West Des Moines, had updated members on expansion possibilities.
Buelow said better compaction creates higher density and that means more capacity in the landfill. Members indicated every bit of room is needed and inquired about current loads of debris coming in.
Gates said the debris she’s concerned about is due to flooding.
Ottumwa City Councilman Keith Caviness asked if the debris is from construction projects. Gates said it’s “probably” all kinds.
Landfill Supervisor Steve Jones said the staff is already seeing “stuff out of basements” and building debris coming to the landfill.
Residents still need to “separate” items as usual, according to Gates.
Councilman Mitch Niner said a lot of sheds had been torn down.
Gates said workers “do demolish houses and take them apart.” Wood, metal and appliances can be easily sorted out before going to the landfill.
“Appliances can go to the Recycling Center and so can household paint,” Gates said. “I think we should target flood people.”
Supervisor Greg Kenning asked how the landfill staff can make sure someone’s load resulted from flooding.
Gates said the staff will be asking for addresses.
“The stuff that’s coming in now — you can tell it’s from the flood,” Jones said.
Gates said she’s “concerned about houses in the county” because contractors won’t want to sort out everything.
Following the SWC meeting, members of the Ottumwa City Council will convene at 6:30 p.m.
Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.
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