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Muscatine council approves $655,000 shredder purchase, advances landfill design work
Summary
The council approved a $655,000 purchase of a Doppstadt Inventhor slow-speed shredder for the transfer station and awarded $51,210 for design and bidding documents for cell six at the county sanitary landfill; staff said the shredder will improve compaction and reduce hauling and disposal costs.
The Muscatine City Council on June 9 approved a $655,000 purchase order to Road Machinery and Supplies Company for a Doppstadt Inventhor slow-speed shredder to use at the transfer station tipping floor and also authorized a $51,210 agreement with SCS Engineers to prepare plans and bidding documents for cell number six at the Muscatine County Sanitary Landfill.
City staff explained the slow-speed shredder shreds waste into smaller pieces to improve compaction, reduce voids and lower hauling costs and trailer wear. "It shreds it up into smaller pieces, making it easier to handle," a staff presenter said, noting safety and cost benefits and an estimated 20-year life span if maintained.
Councilmembers asked about safety, congestion control and maintenance. Staff said the machine will occupy the southern portion of the tipping floor with concrete Jersey barriers separating loader operations and that current dumping operations would be moved north to create room during a learning curve. On maintenance, staff described the drum with replaceable carbide-tipped teeth and said the city plans to re-weld teeth in-house to save costs when wear occurs.
Councilmember Lewis and others said the machine’s benefits—improved compaction, lower hauling costs and reduced third-party tire disposal—make it a worthwhile investment despite the upfront cost.
Separately, the council approved a $51,210 contract with Stearns, Conrad and Schmidt (SCS Engineers) to prepare designs and bidding documents for landfill cell number six at the Muscatine County Sanitary Landfill, a planning step ahead of construction.
Both actions were approved by voice vote; staff said savings on hauling and disposal and extended life of landfill cells factor into the city’s cost-benefit analysis.
