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The Future of Trash Q&A
 You may have heard about some major upcoming changes to how our community handles waste, and we’re here to answer your questions.
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Why is the City moving away from waste-to-energy (W2E)?
While W2E has been effective at diverting waste from the landfill for 50 years, it is no longer a cost-effective model to dispose of waste or generate electricity. Infrastructure maintenance, natural gas for the power plant, and limited capacity at the Boone County landfill are the main drivers. This transition will also change how we generate electricity and will enable more investment in renewable energy.
Where will our trash go instead?
We’re currently working to finalize an agreement with Carroll County to accept the community’s waste at its landfill. By mid-2027, we’ll consolidate and shred waste at a new facility, the Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus (R3C), before transporting it over to Carroll County.
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What is an R3C?
The new R3C facility will be a transfer station, or a central hub for waste. All kinds of waste, including municipal solid waste, recycling, construction waste, and hazardous waste will be collected, minimally processed, and consolidated there before being transported to a final disposal or recycling site. See the recent presentation to City Council for more details on the R3C: Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus (R3C) Conceptual Design and Financial Analysis Results
What about recycling?
The R3C will greatly expand our local recycling infrastructure and capacity to handle drop-off and curbside recycling. Stay tuned for a City Council discussion on curbside recycling later this summer.
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City Updates
Meet our new Energy Services Coordinator, Layne Fober
Hello! My name is Layne Fober. I am an Iowa native and graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. I am very excited to join the City of Ames as the new Energy Services Coordinator. I am looking forward to expanding our programs to create more opportunities for customers to become more sustainable and reduce energy costs. Outside of work, I enjoy running and birdwatching. My fiancé and I also enjoy playing with our golden retriever.
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Climate Action Grants
We are excited to support community-led initiatives through the Climate Action Grants program. See our recent press release about the first round of grants awarded to local organizations for projects including solar panels, composting, bicycle repair, and a heat pump.
It’s time to start thinking about projects for our next round of grants! Applications are due Friday, October 3. Learn more at CityOfAmes.org/ClimateActionGrants.
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Solar Farm Open House Recap
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Solar Farm Open House on June 18! From the sheep and bees that sparked curiosity to tours that shed light on how solar power works, the day was filled with positive energy. Unfortunately, we had to pack up early due to weather, but stay tuned as we plan more sustainability-themed events like this in the future.
Interested in participating in the SunSmart community solar program? Learn more on our website here: SunSmart
Interested in installing solar on your home or business? Take advantage of our increased solar rebate, now $500 per kw(dc).
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 Electric Summer Peaking
Did you know that the City of Ames Electric Utility is a summer-peaking utility? New peak demands will require the City to invest in new generation capacity, which is a high-cost and long-term endeavor. Hitting a new summer peak means more capacity is needed to cover just a few days a year, while the rest of the year that capacity would be unused. In addition, the greater the demand for electricity, the greater the impact on our natural resources and our environment. Keeping the system peak down is not only economically desirable, but environmentally important. For more information on how Ames works to reduce summer peak, visit the City’s peak alerts webpage.
Annual Climate Action Plan Progress Report
Follow the City Council meeting on July 8 at 6 p.m. to hear how we've been making progress on the community Climate Action Plan. Viewing a City Council Meeting
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Smart Business Challenge
Danfoss Sustainability Spotlight
Smart Business Forums
On Wednesday May 14, the City hosted its first annual Smart Business Challenge Forum, highlighting anticipated changes to the challenge, and providing a space for Ames organizations to provide feedback on changes. Organizations in attendance discussed sustainability tips and included: Danfoss, Clayton Farms, Iowa Home Crafters, and McFarland Clinic. The Smart Business Challenge team is looking to host more forums in the future. For more information on the challenge, visit our website.
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Upcoming Events
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Date: Tuesday, July 22
Time: 7 - 8 p.m.
Location: Ames Public Library (515 Douglas Ave.)
Join gardeners and nature enthusiasts for deep discussion of books in connection with the Ames Seed Library.
July Book: Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden by Camille Dungy
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Dates: Friday, July 25 to Saturday, August 2
Time: See schedule
Location: 129 Hayward Ave.
Rummage RAMPage is a week-long community garage sale that sells donated items and is staffed by volunteers representing non-profit organizations. All proceeds from the sale are distributed back to the non-profit groups who send volunteers. More than 50 area non-profit organizations have signed up to assist in this year’s event. Anyone is welcome to donate or shop.
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What We're Reading
EPA’s research shows that, on average, a family of four spends almost $3,000 per year on food that never gets eaten. 😲
Ames Sustainability in the News
Any questions? Reach out to us at sustainability@cityofames.org.
Enjoy this newsletter? Want to see other topics covered? Let us know. Complete this short 3 questions survey.
 Sheep grazing at the Ames SunSmart Community Solar Farm
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