Intergovernmental Agreement Options for a Regional Composting Facility

The City of Cedar Rapids is currently planning a municipal solid waste composting facility. It is hoped that this facility will process the compostable portion of the municipal solid waste stream and create a product usable as a soil amendment. Diverting this waste, which otherwise would be land filled, will save landfill space and help the municipality reach diversion goals mandated by the 1989 Iowa Waste Reduction and Recycling Act. Cedar Rapids prefers to share the development of this facility with other participants to achieve economies of scale and more efficient use of capital facilities. Potential participants include Linn County, the City of Iowa City, the University of Iowa, and the ADM industrial facility. If this joint venture is undertaken, great care should be taken to draft an intergovernmental agreement between participants. This agreement will ensure the efficient operation of the facility and the legal and financial protection of all participants.