Ames City releases 60% design for Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus; staff outline costs, operations and timeline

City staff presented a 60% design update on Nov. 25 for the Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus that will replace and expand Ames’ existing transfer and processing operations, saying the facility is designed both to improve operations and to plan for future growth.

“We are at a 60% design phase,” Justin said, summarizing key site features including a raised transfer station to avoid flood elevations, a half‑height transfer tunnel, separate routes for commercial haulers and resident car‑line customers, and a larger operations and education space.

Staff described several major equipment and configuration decisions. The team recommended purchasing a new shredder rather than reusing the current machine after finding stress fractures and noting the existing unit has more than 30,000 hours of use. Justin said staff estimated the current shredder would need about $500,000 in refurbishment, while a new unit would cost roughly $1,000,000. The…