2015 Iowa Recycling and Solid Waste Management Conference

1. Transforming Assets for Valued
Use by the Public and Agency
Master Plan - Site 1
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Neil Carney, P.E.
Supervisor – Environmental Services
Ayres Associates Inc

2. Project Background
• Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste
Agency
• Provide Master Plan for Site 1
• Develop Plan to:
– Improve Operations at Active Facility
– Provide Options for Development of
Closed Landfill
– Maintain Level of Service During and After
Construction

3. Site 1 Description - Location
• Located two (2) miles SE from
downtown Cedar Rapids
• 75 acres - Closed Landfill
• 30 acres - Composting, Yard Waste &
Recycling Facility
• Site overlooks downtown Cedar Rapids

6. Closed Landfill
75 Acres

7. Site 1 – Closed Landfill
• Mt. Trashmore – 200 ft. elevation
change
• Open from 1962 to 1994 for MSW
• Re-opened in 2008 to accept debris
from flood damage
• Closed since 2011
• Clay cap with active flare/blower
system ~ 700CFM

8. Site 1 – Composting & Recycling Facility
• Material Collection and Recycling
• Composting and Yard Waste Facility
– Wood Waste – 6,700 tons/year
– Yard Waste and Leaves – 22,500 tons/year
- Waste Oil - Glass - Batteries
- Appliances - Used Tires - Electronics
- Scrap Metal - Fluorescent
Bulbs
- Shingles

9. Closed Landfill
75 Acres
Composting and
Recycling Facility
30 Acres
Site Access
Scale House and
Operations
Buildings
Composting
Windrows
Yard Waste and
Wood Stockpile
Areas

11. Compost, Recycling, and Wood Recovery
Facility Improvements

12. Challenges For Customers at
Composting Facility
• Traffic bottlenecked by one (1) scale
• Lack of defined travel routes
• Lack of clear signage
• Same pick-up and drop-off locations for
residential and commercial users
• Restricted access for drop-off at
recycling building

13. Challenges For Agency at
Composting Facility
• Outdated Buildings
• Access roads do not allow equipment
travel
• Legacy structures and functions on-site
– WWTP Clarifiers
– Woodchip Stockpile Area
• Inefficient Layout of Stockpile Areas

15. Challenges For Public Access to
Landfill Cap
• No parking or access point
• No trails to reach top of landfill
• Lack of secured gas well heads
• Requirement to control access
• Improvements cannot impact cap
integrity
• Long-term maintenance and
inspections

16. Master Site Plan Process

17. Master Site Plan Process
Vision
Community
Redevelopment
Stakeholder
Input
Operations
Review
Master Plan
Preparation
Site
Planning

18. Facility Improvement Goals
For Customers
• Separated Residential and Commercial
Traffic Flows for Improved Safety
• Clearly Marked Routes for Improved
Circulation
• User Friendly Stations for Efficient
Drop-offs and Pick-ups

19. Facility Improvement Goals
For Agency
• Configure Site for Full Use of All Areas
• Optimize Site Layout for Efficient
Operations
• Provide Buildings That Meet Needs
• Improve Safety – Reduce Liabilities
• Beneficial Reuse of Existing Assets

20. Facility Improvement Goals
For Public
• Space needed for parking and trailhead
• Create access to landfill cap
– Recreational Use
– Planned Events
• Expanded area for community use
• Family Pavilions

21. Development Themes
• Three Themes Developed:
– Enterprise Focus
– Agency Focus
– Community Focus
• Provides a Range of Development
Options

25. Facility Services Selection
• Agency Subcommittee Ranking and
Selection
• Revised Site Layout
Expanded Composting Operations
New Operations Buildings
Consolidated Stockpile Locations
• Development Considerations
Photovoltaic (PV) array
Landfill gas boiler system - heat recovery
Commercial greenhouses

27. New Site Entrance
• New Site Gate
– Lighted at night for visibility and security
– Can be automated
• New Signage
– Identifies Landfill Access Parking Lot and
Trail Head

29. New Scale House and Site Access
• Scale House
– Designed for one staff person
– Restroom and custodial closet
• Site Access
– Two Scales
– Main entrance and exit lane
– Gates controlled by landfill staff

33. Residential and Commercial Loop Structure
• Dedicated service loop structure
• Clear signage
• Recycling Building – drive through
• Separated areas for material drop-off,
stockpiling, and pick-up
• Areas sited to improve operations and
reduce costs

38. Landfill Redevelopment Features
Walking and Biking Trails
• Trails throughout the landfill
• Different routes for difficulty and distance
variation
• 12-foot width crushed stone surface
• Connection to Cedar River Trail
• Walking/bike trails – 11,200 LF
• Mountain bike Trails – 9,300 LF

41. Landfill Redevelopment Features
Overlook Decks at Landfill Summit
• Unique viewpoint destination
• Two separate decks at summit
• Interpretive and educational plaques to
provide history of Cedar Rapids
• Interpretive artwork and sculpture placed
near summit

43. Landfill Redevelopment Features
Vegetative Plantings
• On-contour plantings
• Native and prairie grass species
• Species planted to target desirable insects
(i.e. butterflies) and birds

45. Construction Phasing
• Maintain current level of operations
• Provide space for construction of new
site elements
• Allow for a planned approach to
budgeting and capital outlay

46. Construction Phasing Schedule

47. Site Walkthrough

48. Master Plan Goals Met
1) Improve Operations at Active Facility
2) Maintain Level of Service During and After
Construction
3) Explore Options for Development of
Closed Landfill
4) Provide improved public access to landfill
cap
5) Identify Funding Opportunities

49. For Additional Information
Neil Carney, P.E
Ayres Associates
Direct Phone – 608-354-6311
carneyn@ayresassociates.com