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Metro Waste Authority tells Clive council contamination down, lithium batteries remain biggest risk
Summary
Metro Waste Authority presented an annual update: contamination at the MRF is about 11% (below the 25% national average), recycling and composting programs are expanding, and lithium‑battery fires at facilities are frequent—MWA is pushing for drop‑off programs and legislative changes to address the risk.
Clive — Michael McCoy of the Metro Waste Authority briefed the City Council on the authority’s operations, contamination rates and safety risks, highlighting ongoing efforts to expand recycling, composting and household hazardous‑waste services while managing frequent lithium‑battery fires.
McCoy told the council that the MWA’s contamination rate — the portion of material in recycling bins that should be in the trash — is approximately 11 percent, well under a cited national average of 25 percent. "It's a small number, but it's a huge victory," McCoy said, adding that cleaner material drives higher prices in commodity markets and benefits member cities.
McCoy also said lithium‑ion batteries are a persistent safety threat: "We have fires probably every 2 days at some facility," he said, and he described a September 2023 recycling‑facility fire that caused $2.5–$3 million in damage and put the facility out of service for about two and a half months. He said MWA has expanded battery drop‑off sites and is advocating for state legislation to better control rechargeable batteries.
MWA highlighted several program expansions: new curbside household‑hazardous-waste pickup pilots that will include delivery and pickup of bins, expanding the compost product into retail stores and pursuing organics certification, and investments in robotics and AI at the recycling facility to improve sorting. McCoy said the authority is pursuing microturbines and methane capture projects that could both reduce costs and provide on‑site energy to support processing and leachate evaporation.
Councilmembers asked about contamination rates, homeowner yard‑waste pickup timing, and the authority’s contingency planning for leachate and PFAS issues. McCoy said MWA’s contamination rate compares favorably to other facilities and mentioned the ability to geofence and target education to neighborhoods with higher contamination.
The update concluded with council gratitude for the work; several members invited tours of MWA facilities for new councilmembers.
What to watch: the authority’s push for battery legislation and the planned microturbine and wastewater treatment investments that could materially change MWA operations and costs.
