Local Waste Management Study (Update)
Click here to read the final report
The League is undertaking in 2019 a Local Waste Management Study. This is, in part, an update of earlier League studies and also a broader examination of alternatives for the future of Waste Management in Ames and Story County. In 1973, the League of Women Voters of Ames completed a Solid Waste Management Study, which was one of the driving forces behind the conversion of the City of Ames from traditional solid waste disposal to the development of the Arnold Chantland Resource Recovery Plant. And in 1981, the local League completed an Ames Municipal Electric Utility Study, which was updated in 1988 and amended in 2004. From the perspective of 2019, an update and broadening of the earlier studies is in order.
Meeting Schedule:
- Meetings are planned for the second Monday of each month, but please check for changes in the schedule as needed.
- Monday, November 11, Ames Public Library. 3-4:30 pm
Conclusions of the 1981 study of an Ames Municipal Electric Utility Study, which was updated inn 1988 and amended in 2004:
• Support for a municipally owned electric facility for the city of Ames. The League of Women Voters supports interconnection of power systems including possible expansion of the use of regional power pools; buying and selling of power; emphasis on the use of renewable resources (i.e., the utilization of refuse-derived fuel from the Solid Waste Recovery System and by-product steam for heating purposes, and wind generated power); a continued high level of reliable service; direct citizen access to the decision making process; a system of financial reporting that is accurate, accessible and understandable to the general public.
• An electric utility is a part of the total energy-planning picture. This planning must consider the economic consequences to the community. Continued priority should be given to conservation efforts, including use of energy audits and exploration of load management techniques.
Resource Materials
- List of acronyms used in Solid Waste Management Study Update
- City of Ames Resource Recovery System
- SCS Engineers, Waste Diversion Enhancement and Recommendation Report (Report to City of Ames, 2019}
- Ana Baptista, "Is Burning Trash a Good Way to Handle It? Waste Incineration in 5 Charts," The Conversation, June 20, 2019
- Lucas Nielsen, Center for Rural Affairs, Capacity for Change: The Role of Transmission Infrastructure in Energy Transition
- David Timmons, "How to have an all-renewable electric grid," The Conversation, August 22, 2019
- Amendments to Code of Iowa, Chapters 331 (County Home Rule) and 364 (City Home Rule) enacted in 2019, regarding sale of consumer merchandise
- Summary of Waste-to-Energy Research, June 15, 2019
- Waste Management International Presentation
- Most Americans would pay more to avoid using plastic, poll says (PBS News Hour Story, 11/26/2019)
- "The Mattress Landfill Crisis" (Guardian article about problem of disposing of mattresses in Britain and worldwide, February 12, 2020)
For further information or to suggest or provide information to the committee, contact: Mary Richards, Co-Chair by e-mail at
maryrich [at] isunet.net.
Web page created 10/16/2019; Updated 10/17/2019 mrc
