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Iowa City advances compost expansion, reports jump in shingle recycling
Summary
City recycling coordinator Jane Welch reported the compost facility expansion moving into construction, a reusable food-container grant, an art-and-craft reuse pop-up, and an increase in roof-shingle recycling from 335.1 tons in FY24 to 428.89 tons in FY25.
Jane Welch, Iowa City’s recycling coordinator, gave the commission a comprehensive update on waste-reduction work and near-term projects, including a compost-facility expansion that has moved into the construction phase.
Welch said the city’s curbside composting program, home-composting education and a compost-bin bulk-buy partnership continue to grow; an AmeriCorps team is helping promote discounted bins for residents who lack curbside service. The city is “tentatively writing a children's book” about food-waste reduction and plans seasonal campaigns that align with local food cycles.
Welch described a reusable food-containers and dishware grant launched to assist restaurants, theaters and nonprofits in shifting away from single-use items; the program is paired with resource-management funds so the city and department share grant costs.
On construction-and-demolition diversion, Welch said staff renewed a shingles-recycling contract and are pursuing an RFP for a feasibility study into a regional construction-and-demolition recycling facility and a potential municipal recycling transfer station. The city aims to increase the tonnage of roof-shingle recycling by at least 10% over the FY24 baseline (335.1 tons); Welch reported FY25 shingle recycling at 428.89 tons, surpassing that goal.
Welch also noted the landfill-diversion work: a donation-drive program diverted roughly 15,000 pounds of material in 2025, and a new art-and-craft supplies pop-up diverted more than 3,000 pounds and connected items to more than 30 local organizations. She highlighted ongoing coordination with local haulers and housing inspection staff to update signage and ensure proper single-stream recycling access at apartment complexes.
Staff additionally reported that the wastewater treatment plant has broken ground on a methane-capture system and, pending contracts and pipeline arrangements, expects to produce usable pipeline gas by 2027; staff are exploring energy brokers and legal counsel for sales arrangements.
Commissioners asked operational questions — such as contamination in shingle loads and whether asbestos is an issue — and staff said some loads are rejected for contamination while markets for materials vary. Welch said the city's strategy is to pilot programs and build partnerships that can scale regionally.
The commission did not take formal action on any of the waste items at the meeting but acknowledged the expansion of the compost facility and multiple pilot programs as significant operational developments.
