Whether it's garbage, recycling, yard waste, hazardous waste, or special waste, we know where it should go and have the resources to help. Metro Waste Authority is an independent government agency comprised of 16 member communities, one county and six planning members. Established in 1969, Metro Waste Authority was designated to manage the landfill for the Polk County area after state law required
all Iowa communities to properly dispose of their solid waste in a sanitary landfill. Now, Metro Waste Authority is the leader in environmental stewardship and cost-effective waste management. Managed by an executive director and governed by a board of directors consisting of one elected official from each of its member communities, Metro Waste Authority has an annual budget of more than $25 million. MWA operates many facilities and programs recognized for excellence at the state and national levels. These facilities include Metro Park East Landfill, Metro Park West Landfill, Metro Compost Center, Metro Transfer Station, Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off and the Metro Recycling Drop-Offs. Metro Waste Authority also operates various waste reduction and recycling programs including the Curb It! the most comprehensive curbside recycling program in the state, providing service to almost 145,000 households. Other programs managed by Metro Waste Authority include Compost It! yard waste collection, hazardous waste drop-offs for residents, and special waste disposal for commercial and industrial businesses.
