John Roosa, Administrator, Boone County Landfill and Boone County Recycling, September 2, 2026

Today visiting with the legendary John Rosa, the Boone County Landfill Administrator and our recycling coordinator, Boone County. Good to have you. Good to be here. Good morning. How are you? I am warm. Warm. But I did a deer on it here for you. Thank you. Because it might be a little heat on the, again, you guys have an outside job. So you get, you do everything from windchill to heat. Yes. And again, challenge, I'm guessing, just keeping everybody hydrated, get them into cool down, things like that. So, do you rotate them around more on the face and stuff like that? Because that's got to be pretty hot. Yeah. Yeah, they do. The guys rotate quite regularly. One guy in particular spends a lot of time on the garbage, but he gets some breaks every now and then. A lot of our equipment is, you know, air conditioned and heated, of course. So, you know, it's, it's not terrible in that regard. But still, there's the, you know, chances where you got to get out and give direction. And then the other employees are out and about, you know, and always talk about, you know, being aware and not, you know, reminders about hydration and don't just wait until you're thirsty, you know, you need to be having water throughout the day, not just once you get really hot and thirsty and miserable, then you're probably too late. So, stay ahead of it. Talk about, you know, checking in on each other and that kind of things too. So, yeah, little process of just reminders of, of take care of yourself, take care of each other. So. Outdoor work in Iowa. That's where it goes. You know, it's, you know, not much we can do about it, except deal with it, right? I mean. Yeah. Well, and we do. Yeah. Keep working away at it. Let's give, give us a little update on the projects that are going on. Last time we talked, everything was kind of getting held up because of the excess moisture and oil. I mean, we had excess. We didn't quite hit eight inches. That was, we were going to pull that one off, but, but enough. And at the point again, it held up, held up some of the work on the force main project which held up work that was being done on the, on the cell, the final cell or nine R or what you call it. Anyway, these are, so are we making a little more progress or things moving along? Then you go right from that to heat. Yeah. All or nothing, it seems like, but I'd rather have it this way than the, the rain for the purposes of the construction projects and, and our, our leachate as well and the management of that. So there's, you know, it talked about two projects with the board, you know, and how they've been delayed. Last time we discussed it, it was like, it's been really difficult. And, you know, they, they do other tasks, you know, the companies find other things are welding pipe laying out materials, that type of stuff. But ultimately, you know, the earth moving, the, you know, construction ceases, you know, and it's that wet and, and unworkable. So they try to, you know, find other ways to still be productive. But ultimately, it's, it's a barrier starts pushing everything back a little bit. Force main is progressing. During this last couple of weeks now, it's finally making some progress, the boring company to showed up on, and they started on Monday. So progress being made. You know, they're able to do some, I'm not sure how far they've made it now, but they said it'd be about two week process. It's was it's a setup, you know, the whole digging, and then when they board to the next spot and whatever it's, you know, it's one of them can't get it done fast enough. It's a project to be done in a week, which would have been done, you know, several years ago, but that's where it goes. But we're finally getting there. And looking forward to it. And, you know, in a month or so, I think we'll be, you know, ever closer, you know, pushing October, the cell project, pushing back into probably late November now, just because of some of the delays. They've been really making a lot of progress. When these last couple of weeks, you see a lot of changes. They got the netting down, the geo netting down, the base layers, the dirt over the top, you know, the sand has been hauled in, hauling, they're hauling rock and sand by semi loads, two loads every hour coming in pretty much all day long. And it's going to continue for the next couple of weeks, probably solid for that. And for those that wonder, there is a process. And again, DNR, you got to have this kind of barrier to try to keep out of the groundwater and other things, leachate from getting into the groundwater and stuff. And this so I did want to go back though on force make part of it with all the rain and everything else, because that has been one of the challenges. I know you talked to the supervisors about it, you actually had to hire some outside help to haul leachate. You just couldn't keep up with it. Yeah, it's been excessive. And our lagoon was, you know, quite full. It was, you know, to the point where it was kind of uncomfortable. And, you know, we had worked with Rota Router to do some contract hauling for us to help us out. But, you know, it ran into the issues with the rain again, and not just for the water that was in the lagoon and the leachate, but actually accessing the location to pump it out and then haul it up. So because, you know, we collect that leachate stuff by flowing down. So it goes to the bottom of the landfill and into the lagoon at the bottom. It's a down area. It's a low spot. Yeah. And it's all clay or a lot of clay and the roads are all torn up because of the construction and getting in and out when it's all greasy and slimy from the clay and being wet. So looked at other options and they came up with the idea of a couple 20,000 gallon fracked tanks up at the top of the landfill, renting a pump to pump the leachate from the lagoon all the way up the hill to then into these fracked tanks to then fill up semis and trailers and our tankers, I mean, and haul them to different facilities. So our regular one is to the Boone Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant. And we can get so many gallons a day there. But, you know, we needed more. We needed that to drop down for our own purposes, but also for the construction to continue on the cell. So we needed to get the lagoon drained down and it's coming. You know, in the last started the fracked tank process a couple weeks ago and it's dropped significantly and we, you know, it's still being flowing in. So it's filling back up and it's going to continue. So I, you know, as reminded our drivers to be like, we're not done, you know, we're making headway, but it's going to keep going. So we're going to be, you know, continuing with the same process for the next, I don't know how long, whatever it takes to get the project done and to allow them to finish their work on the cell construction project and keep our levels in the lagoon at a reasonable amount. That's, that's what we're going to continue doing. So it's kind of has become a third project to report on is the management of that and getting that lowered and, and who's hauling where we've worked with, you know, our Boone Water Treatment Plant, we've actually got access now to the Des Moines Water Treatment Facility and then we added in Ames just so we can get more opportunities for more trucks to haul leachate to the treatment of it, but it's, it's, it's a lot. So the, is it been all rain driven or did you strike a well or something? Yeah. Sprung a leak. Sprung a leak. So we opened up these areas. It seems like we were, there's better flow coming out. You know, we've been fighting this, the management of it for a while now, the leachate management because of all the seeps and historically on how things had been operated, I guess, to say opening up some more valves and getting some more flow and we freed some things up. So we've been getting this influx, which is better. You know, it's, it's the right thing. It just has become such a massive amount. And then with all of our rain this past summer and all summer long, seems like up until the last couple of weeks, you know, it's been more of a problem. You know, really come to the forefront at us because now we're getting the excessive flows and then the rains and now we got to get the trucking companies to start hauling it away for us. So it's just been a lot to, to pull from to, to manage. So it wasn't just rain, but it was other things. It was a variety combination of things. So, but again, those in the bottom line is if you had your forest main, you could just let it keep running. Yeah. I mean, it won't be the 20,000 gallons a day. We keep up with it. Right now, we wouldn't. You know, it would be still some additional hauling, but you know, to where we could pump it over the course of a day of 20, it always get our 20,000 gallons pumped up to the, to the treatment plant. It would be so much more convenient in that regard. And then you get those influxes like that. And in the future, you know, I don't know that we will knock on wood. I hope that doesn't, we won't experience that again with that influx, but we can start operating it more effectively to where the leachate is being freed up, if you will, to get to the collection system and into the lagoon, flowing a little better. So long term, this will be better, certainly better. Can't wait for the leachate, sorry for the force main to be up and operational just for the day to day management going forward. To make it a little easier. Yeah. So consistently knowing you can move that much out if you need to. It's all regular. It's all part of the plan. And again, long term people going, I saw this force main. Yes. But even after part of it is you've got to still be able to handle it even after closure. Right. That's one of the things that again, we've touched on before. There are requirements. Once the landfill closes down, the DNR still has certain requirements for you to meet. Right. Yep. And that's, I'm guessing they're big fans of watching you hollow the leachate.

Yeah. What are you doing? Where did you find all that stuff? Surprise. Let's talk about some of the other things that are going on. Obviously, we know Ames still continuing to haul here. They're making some progress on their facilities. Do they keep you updated on how things are going or do you check on them once in a while or? Yeah, we get some communications, different things. Because they still haul here. Yep. And they're actually, there was a week off. Now they're back for the day trying to lower some things. Anyway, for the day, they're diverting to us and sort of taking 100% from their facility, from their county. And then hopefully it's just a one day thing. And then we get into the next week. They'll have a shut down in October. And that'll be a couple of weeks where they're sending us everything. So, yeah, they're making progress, I know. And making the plans going forward. We were talking about, what if they got done early? Could we do this? Could we raise, could we bring this forward to say, we don't need to wait till July 1. Could we look at April and take some of that off? But by flow, I guess, trash flow regulations, if you will, DNR kind of saying, let's, you need to stick with one thing. And so instead of part of it here and part there, let's just stick to it. So we had that conversation with Resource Plant yesterday about that. Other things over the last month or so, starting to get other facilities, other cities in Story County that are opting out of their 28E agreement to work with Resource Plant and the new RC, R3C facility over there. So they're opting to go to Marshall County, landfill states, mainly the ones that are on the other side on the east side of the county, it's easier for them to go and makes a lot of sense. So they're opting out of their facility with Ames and then transporting it to Carroll. So, you know, we get some updates with that. But otherwise, you know, still planning with this July 1, 2027 that we are free of that issue, I guess. I think the one thing, and then people will say, you know, well, it doesn't seem like it said the basically solid waste or getting rid of solid waste, DNR controls that. And I mean, they say where they're going and where you're going to be dumping it and things, that's how we ended up with Ames Story County initially. They closed down their facility. And then they were using what recyclables or burnable, what they thought would be in their resource recovery, which aged out. As we know, people that have been following the news over there, they're making a change going to natural gas now. Yeah. And there were some problems with that when they changed that a few years ago, they switched from the coal burning to natural gas. So then there were issues with the burning of it. And then they looked at other bigger possibilities of feasibility study, could they do something more elaborate, redesign everything and make it next level, I guess, acceptance of what they can take in. And then they looked at the ticket and went, oh, that's a lot of money. And let's reconsider this. And so I guess as engineers have told me over the years that the cheap, the least expensive and most effective way to manage waste is to bury it. But it's unfortunate because it's kind of old school, but it's all, I mean, it's reliable, I guess, but also is there something else? And is it, as I've talked before, on different opportunities too, to say, we have to look at other things because we're all going to run out of space. All landfills are going to run out of space. It's a finite thing. Once it's used up, it's, you know, you're not getting it back for other purposes. So is that the best thing to do? So we've seen, what was it, in Lynn County, are they the ones that they're ahead of you? I mean, they have less space than you do. Yeah. And they're bigger, much bigger facility. They bring in a lot more. Yeah. And they're like 20, 40, I think was their year. But I think that's actually moved forward now even it's progressing faster. So yeah, certainly a bigger issue for them of where their waste is going to be accepted and how they're going to handle that as well. But, you know, we're looking at 30 years, maybe, you know, once we slow down the Ames and Sorey County waste to us and keep our space for our primary service area, you know, we can get to 30, 35 years of life out of our landfill space. And then, and then what, you know, then we're going to be facing the same issue like Ames is doing, you know, where's it going to go? Those are the questions. Part of, again, income for the landfill. And this is one of the, I know that there are post closure costs, the DNR says you got to have so much money set aside for all to do all these things. But part of it also, you have to be looking at sometime down the road, it is going to be moved somewhere else. And we're going to have something will have to be built. And do you try to plan ahead? I mean, I know they're going 30 years. Well, you save somebody each year for 30 years and you got a project paid for. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, do you look at things like that? Yeah, a little bit, you know, it's really starting out that we have a more of a timeline, we, you know, get down to real estate, well, this is what we're looking at. And I know, when when Lois built the transfer station recycling transfer station, but she put some things in there too about this can be also be utilized in the future for when when we are closed. So, you know, just have that opportunity to be to modify what we currently have there to use as a possible transfer station is is a good foresight to have that planning ahead of time. So, yeah, maybe that's the way to go. And if that's an implementation, and then it becomes well, then what about the recycling side of stuff? You know, there's only going to be that and, you know, and recycling stuff, you know, I've mentioned it before, but it's expensive. Yeah, still the right thing to do. We're still committed to it. But when you look at finances going, wow, that's really expensive to get those things recycled. How are we doing? He's still doing pretty good. I mean, we do it. It's all voluntary. And we've got people that are really committed to doing it. And a lot more seem to be folding those boxes and telling people don't forget to fold your boxes. There's some passionate folks out there. I've seen the postings every now and then that I'm not a huge Facebook user, but see things where people are saying, you know, we can save a lot of space if we just tear down our boxes. And, you know, when we're using the drop off facilities, I've seen that in Ogden, in particular, I know there's plenty of passionate folks and aims about that to make sure that that recycling drop off area continues to be available and how they can do their part to make it as good as possible so that we can keep it that way. So still like to get something more permanent on our end of a facility that we would own instead of renting. But for now, we're continuing. We'll work with what we've got. That's right. Keep moving forward. Again, and then again, we always have those people that are very passionate about it. But no, we can't recycle everything. Yeah, wish we could. Wish we could recycle that styrofoam, but we just can't. Plastic bags. Can they be recycled? Yes, not through us. They need to go back to the stores. You know, this, we'd love to have everything to be recyclable. But main thing is follow the instructions, the big guidelines out there that say this is what you can and cannot recycle. And please just follow it that way because that's, that's what we can do. And if you throw other stuff in there and hopeful, do hopeful recycling or wishful recycling, those are kind of scary ones because chances are it's not going to be. If you have doubts, when in doubt, throw it out. There was that phrase from years ago too. Sure. Don't throw it in your recycling. If you're not sure, so if you have that doubt, just go ahead and throw it out. It'll be easier. And remember things like pizza boxes and stuff like that are not, even though they might have that cardboard opportunity, it's, they're contaminated basically. Most likely. Yeah. So they're all out. You know, it's one of them like kind of like Christmas paper. A lot of it has that metal in there and can't be recycled, you know, so then all of it's out. Same thing with pizza boxes. You know, you buy a frozen one at the store, you remove it all and you don't have any food contamination. Then yeah, that could be recycled. Get one of those pre-made ones, you know, at a place that makes it for you and you're going to have probably some grease and whatever cheese stuck to it. And if that's on the cardboard that ruins it, you know, so it's, chances are it's going to be ruined and just throw those out. Let's talk about our business recycling that we do have because we have the truck that does that. And once again, that is still great way on the paper and cardboard side of things to be able to get things taken care of. And you guys come around. You got a pretty good size route. Yeah. A lot of stops is a lot, a lot faster. You know, go historically a couple of years ago, we switched from the old school box van that we were throwing it into and handling it so many times. Now we're able to just pick it up in the packer and then sell off some of the cardboard instead. So it's less cost prohibitive to do this. So it does prevent us from spending as much money as we used to. So, you know, we pick up as much cardboard as we can, get a load, go off, sell it off, and then go out and help pick up the rest of the paper or sorry, get a load of paper to get that and then bring it back to our transfer station. So we can get it still sent in to be recycled, but separated in essence, we're going to mix it with our other stuff. But trying to sell off the cardboard separately. There is a market for that. Yeah, it's pretty reliable, although it's not necessarily always cost effective. They dip, it rises and lowers and changes month to month, but still there's a market for it. So it takes a lot of bulk out of the semi that we pay to have hauled down the road also. Well, we keep paying. It's one of those things. There's a cost for everything and recycling and yes, folks, we say it's free, but there is a cost. Yeah. And we got to work on that. That's right. Keep it going. Again, that's part of it, diversion from getting it buried in the landfill. So, well, we do have a household hazardous waste collection event our first Saturday, September. Yep, coming up this Saturday. You know, it's the holiday weekend. So you guys closed Monday too? Monday. Yep. Okay. So we're open Friday, Saturday. We have our regular hours. We throw in the first Saturday of the month at the household hazardous waste collection. So bring that out from eight to 10. And again, that's like a diversion thing. It's a kind of recycling. In essence, it goes somewhere else instead. So we're keeping it out of landfill. We're talking about all those chemicals, fertilizers, oil based paint, paint thinner, old gasoline. If you do have that old gasoline to get rid of and bring it to us, you're going to sacrifice the container can't pour it off. So you put in an own container. So don't be disappointed if you have to leave your gas can behind if you want to get rid of that. Just good reminders. But, you know, chemicals from pools is another one, you know, people are shutting them down or done with these chemicals and want to get rid of those. That's a big one this time of year. It seems like anything if you have questions about give us a call make sure it applies. This is not available for latex paint latex paint is garbage once it's dried. So let it dry out and then that can be thrown away. So don't you'll get to take that stuff back home if you bring it out to the hazardous waste collection once in a while. It comes up with sharps. Yeah. And the one thing you tell people is if you got a laundry detergent bottle, the hard plastic hard ones, that's the main thing that you drop them in there and just bring it a lot of you need to know that it's sharps right as you do them separately labeled as such. Yeah. But yeah, we're talking the heavy duty ones, you know, the thick plastic ones, don't put them in a milk jug. Those aren't very those aren't thick enough to prevent the sharks from poking through but laundry containers, laundry soap containers. And then when they're full, we actually please also just tape them shut tape the lid on to them so they don't open up because then it's a scary situation for staff and then right on there what it is sharps just so we know and then yeah, that's something that can be dropped off at really any time. But in particular, if you hit us up on that hazardous waste collection day this Saturday, it'd be great. Yeah. And I think that's probably one where you get a call every once in a while. Someone goes, do you take sharps? Do you take sharps? Yeah, we sure do. Yeah. But properly. Right. It's always that with the right way. We've had people bring them out, you know, it bring out stuff like in a plastic bag or something. It's like, here's a container, you know, you've had to fill them up yourself. You can handle it yourself. But you know, we're not here for the handling of needles on their behalf and by any means. So please just get them in the proper containers and then drop them off to us. I think more and more people learn or have learned and they take care of it. Yeah. A lot of people do a really good job with it. That's for sure. Yeah. John Rosa, landfill administrator, recycling coordinators, our guest on our program today. Thanks so much for joining us. Thank you.