Supervisors approve 6-month pilot MOU allowing City of Burlington temporary use of county recycling containers

Des Moines County supervisors voted Sept. 30 to approve a memorandum of understanding allowing the City of Burlington to use county-owned recycling containers on a six-month pilot.

Under the MOU the county retains ownership of the containers while the city accepts responsibility for insurance, maintenance and transport of the units, according to county staff. The city will provide monthly updates on use and volumes, and the board will reassess the arrangement after the six-month trial.

Why it matters: the agreement is a short-term pilot intended to test whether shared use of county recycling infrastructure can expand access to recycling in downtown Burlington and near larger apartment complexes without transferring county ownership.

Details: Staff said the county retains ownership and that the city will coordinate with area recyclers if needed. Staff did not identify final container locations but said two containers were proposed for downtown and that the city would work with downtown partners and Main Street to determine final siting.

Vote and next steps: A motion to approve the resolution passed on a roll-call vote of three in favor, none opposed. County staff said they would return with usage reports following the trial.