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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2017
MEDIA CONTACT: Tom
Anderson, DNR, at 515-725-8323 or tom.anderson@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES — A recently released study shows what Iowans are
throwing away, and what could be spared from the landfill.
That includes a lot of wasted food – 556,313 tons, to be
exact. Wasted food accounted for 20 percent of the landfilled materials in the
2017 Iowa Statewide Waste Characterization Study, a 50 percent increase from
the last study in 2011. The study, conducted about every six years, looks at
what types of trash, recyclables and compostables Iowans send to the landfill.
For the study, materials received at 15 Iowa landfills and
solid waste transfer stations were sorted into 61 separate categories within
nine separate material types, with distinctions made between residential trash
and industrial and commercial waste.
The second most landfilled item, plastic film, wrap and
bags, increased by 15 percent over findings from 2011. However, the amount of
corrugated cardboard reaching the landfill dropped by about 50 percent since
the last study.
The study also looked at the economic impact of increased
diversion of recyclable paper, plastic, metal and glass that are commonly
collected through curbside and drop-off recycling programs. Based on regional
market prices at the time of the study (October 2017), the value of the common
recyclable paper and containers Iowans are landfilling is more than $60 million.
“Should these materials be diverted, processed and sold to
the manufacturing sector for the production of new products, it’s estimated
nearly 6,000 jobs could be created,” said Tom Anderson with the DNR’s Land Quality
Bureau.
Findings from the reports are used to identify potential
initiatives and programs to reduce the amount of waste generated and to reduce
the amount of waste headed to landfills. Funding for the study comes from a
portion of the solid waste tonnage fee through the Solid Waste Alternatives
Program.
The full report can be found at www.iowadnr.gov/FABA under Studies &
Reports.
MEDIA CONTACT: Kelli Book at
515-725-9572 or Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES
MOINES – Counties interested in evaluating construction permits for proposed animal
feeding facilities must adopt and submit a construction evaluation resolution
to the DNR between Jan. 1 and 31.
About
87 counties pass a resolution each year, which allows them to review construction
permit applications required for larger totally roofed animal feeding
operations (confinements).
Producers
in counties that file the resolutions must meet higher standards for a
construction permit than sites in other counties. They must earn points on a master matrix by
choosing a site and using practices that reduce effects on the environment and
the community.
The
Master Matrix development, submittal and approval process allows applicants and
county supervisors to discuss options for site selection, facility type and
management. The county submits a recommendation to the DNR on the permit
application after reviewing the master matrix items the applicant selected.
Counties that participate in
the master matrix process may accompany DNR on site visits to proposed locations.
The county board of supervisors may also appeal the DNR’s preliminary approval
of a permit to the Environmental Protection Commission.
County
boards of supervisors may approve the resolutions at any time, but must submit
resolutions between Jan. 1 and 31, 2018. Send resolutions to Kelli Book at DNR,
502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319, email to Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov or fax to
515-725-8201. Sign-ups in January apply to permit applications received from February
2018 through January 2019.
For historical
information on counties that adopted resolutions, check the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/afo and search for master
matrix.
More information
is available from the Iowa State Association of Counties at www.iowacounties.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Tim
Hall, 515-725-8298, Tim.Hall@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES
MOINES — For the first time since September, abnormally dry conditions have
returned to the state following a dry November, according to the latest Water
Summary Update from the Iowa DNR.
Iowa received only
0.43 inches of precipitation in November, much below the normal of 2.05 inches.
However, streamflow levels are running at close to normal across much of Iowa.
Groundwater conditions remain good in most locations, with the exception of
southeastern Iowa, where levels are rated in slight drought conditions.
"This ranks as
the 15th lowest November total for precipitation among 145 years of records and
the lowest calendar month total for any month since November 2007,” says Tim
Hall, the DNR's Hydrology Resources Coordinator.
For a
thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.
The
report is prepared by technical staff from Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of
Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the
U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with Iowa Homeland Security and
Emergency Management Department.
MEDIA
CONTACT: Jim McGraw at 515-725-9543 or Jim.McGraw@dnr.iowa.gov.
WINDSOR
HEIGHTS—After 21 years in Windsor Heights, the DNR’s Air Quality Bureau is returning
to the Wallace Building near the state capitol.
Find the
bureau on the second floor of 502 E Ninth St, Des Moines IA 50319. Visitors
will need to check in first on the fourth floor at the reception desk.
The bureau
works to protect public health and grow Iowa’s economy by working with
regulated facilities to ensure they meet state and federal clean air
requirements.
Staff phone
numbers and emails will remain the same after the move but staff availability
will be limited during the move Dec. 19 and 20.
Starting
Dec. 21, call the DNR general reception number of 515-725-8200 instead of the disconnected
Air Quality mainline. The Air Quality fax number, 515-725-9501, and the toll-free
permitting hotline, 877-AIR-IOWA, are still available.
DNR’s Des
Moines area field office, Field Office 5, will remain at 7900 Hickman Rd. Some Environmental Protection Commission
meetings and larger stakeholder meetings will meet at the Hickman location.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ed Tormey, DNR, at 515-725-8373 or Ed.Tormey@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES – DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and
communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state
and federal laws. This approach is very effective. In the few cases where
compliance cannot be achieved, the DNR issues enforcement actions. The
following list summarizes recent enforcement actions. Find the entire, original
orders on DNR’s website at www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/AboutDNR/EnforcementActions.aspx.
Consent Orders
A consent order is issued as an alternative to issuing an
administrative order. A consent order indicates that the DNR has voluntarily
entered into a legally enforceable agreement with the other party.
Calhoun
County
Jeff Kirchoff
Revocation of drinking
water and wastewater certifications.
Dallas
County
City of Linden
Pay $1,000 penalty for failure to timely file for renewal of
NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System) permit.
Administrative Orders
Responsible parties have 30
days to appeal the order or 60 days to pay the penalty.
Muscatine
County
Cheryl & Terry Honts
Amendment to Administrative
Order No. 2017-UT-08: Inability to pay
determination.
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