MUSCATINE, Iowa – Operations at the Organic Recycling Center here have been suspended until further notice while officials evaluate the program’s financial impact on the City of Muscatine’s resources.
No timeline has been announced for when — or if — organic waste operations will resume.
“While the Muscatine Organic Recycling Center has been an innovative and environmentally beneficial program, we must ensure it is financially sustainable for our community,” Muscatine City Administrator Matt Mardesen said in a news release Wednesday, Feb. 25.
“This pause will allow us to fully assess costs, operational needs, and long-term viability before determining next steps,” he added.
The facility began operations in December 2019 inside the Recycling Center at the Muscatine Transfer Station. The program was designed to be self-supporting — generating revenue while reducing the volume of organic waste sent to landfills, including the Muscatine County Landfill, as well as helping lower methane emissions.
The Recycling Center remains open for cardboard and mixed recyclables from Muscatine and Fruitland residents who subscribe to the city’s refuse collection service. Residents must complete the Recycling Drop-Off Center form at the Transfer Station office prior to using the facility.
For more details, visit the city’s Recycling in Muscatine webpage.
