Welcome to the Environmental Serivces, offering solid waste planning, resources education and sustainability services to the solid waste planning area. The department is staffed by: Jennifer Ryan Fencl, Environmental Services Department Director; Kristin Simon, Planner; and Mary Beth Stevenson, Iowa Waste Exchange Representative and Planner.
In 1989, ECICOG coordinated the preparation of the first Regional Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan.
The plan was prepared and submitted to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to meet the requirements of the 1987 Groundwater Protection Act. The plan was received,
reviewed, and approved by the IDNR in spring 1990. ECICOG hired a regional solid waste planning coordinator to oversee the implementation of the comprehensive
plan in June 1990.
Plan updates are a statutory requirement, pursuant to Iowa Code section 455.304 and 455D.7, and amended Chapter 101. Plan updates have been submitted and approved in 1995, 1997, 2001, 2004, and 2008. Copies of the most recent update are available for review in the ECICOG office, or can be checked out and photocopied.
Promoting recycling and waste/toxicity reduction in the residential and business sectors region wide has been a focus of the agency for the past decade. The agency also provides solid waste and recycling education to schools and summer reading programs. Read more about our very popular solid waste education programs here. Please contact Kristin Simon for more information.
Mary Beth Stevenson is the Iowa Waste Exchange representative for the ECICOG region. The waste exchange diverts materials from the landfill by matching individuals or businesses that have waste to dispose with other parties who can reuse that product. The Iowa Waste Exhange is coordinated by the IDNR.
The ECICOG Solid Waste Planning Area is defined as all cities and unincorporated areas in Benton County; all cities, excluding Victor, and unincorporated areas in Iowa County; all cities and unincorporated areas in Johnson County; all cities and unincorporated areas in Jones County; all cities and unincorporated areas in Linn County; all cities and unincorporated areas in Tama County; and the cities of Kalona and Riverside in Washington County.
The following Chapter 28E entities currently have integrated solid waste planning responsibilities in the ECICOG planning area.
Benton County Solid Waste Commission
The commission is responsible for solid waste management facilities and programs including diversion and toxicity reduction programming.
Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency
The Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency was formed in 1994 by the City of Cedar Rapids and Linn County to provide environmentally sound solid waste management activities in Linn County. The agency oversees the operation of two landfills (formerly the Cedar Rapids landfill and the Linn County landfill), a source separated composting site, the process and marketing of recyclable materials, and county wide waste reduction and recycling education programs.
East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG)
ECICOG is an intergovernmental council established in 1972 under Chapter 28E and provided for under Chapter 28H of the Code of Iowa. The solid waste planning division was created in 1990 to coordinate and facilitate the solid waste comprehensive planning process.
Iowa County Regional Environmental Improvement Commission (REIC)
The REIC was formed in 1990 for the purpose of operating and maintaining solid waste facilities for and on behalf of the county and its governmental units. In addition to landfill services, the REIC sponsors recycling and toxicity reduction programs.
Johnson County Council of Governments (JCCOG)
JCCOG Solid Waste Management Planning Division, established in 1990, assists members in developing strategies for addressing solid waste issues. These issues include state mandated landfill regulations, recycling, hazardous waste disposal, and waste reduction/diversion.
Jones County Solid Waste Management Commission
Formed in 1972, the commission establishes landfill policies and fees as well as sponsors various waste diversion and toxicity reduction programs/projects.
Tama County Solid Waste Disposal Commission
The commission oversees landfill operations and promotes/implements waste diversion and toxicity reduction activities.