This agreement provides funding from the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA)

This $4,600,000 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 under the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program (CFDA 66.920) will fund the City of Iowa City's efforts to expand its municipal composting infrastructure and increase organic waste diversion.

Key activities include designing and building a 2-acre expansion to the city's existing 5-acre compost facility, resurfacing the existing facility, purchasing a compost windrow turner, increasing incoming organic materials through outreach to grocery stores and restaurants, and expanding the market demand for the compost produced. This project is expected to increase the city's food waste processing capacity by 1,000 tons in 2026, 2,500 tons in 2027, and 5,000 tons annually starting in 2028. Additionally, the project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 115 MTCO2e in 2026, 289 MTCO2e in 2027, and 573 MTCO2e annually starting in 2028. The award has a performance period from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

EPA's solid waste infrastructure for recycling (SWIFR) grants for political subdivisions of states and territories will fund activities that will result in a significant decrease in the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) and/or an increase in the diversion of MSW from landfills and incineration, as well as fund innovative solutions and programs that provide or increase access to prevention, reuse, mechanical recycling, anaerobic digestion, and composting. The purpose of this award is to enhance the city of iowa city's efforts to meet the SWIFR grants elements. The city will majorly improve its existing five-acre compost facility and add two acres to the site in order to facilitate more incoming organic materials. The city will accomplish this by designing and building a two-acre expansion to the compost facility, resurfacing the existing five acres, purchasing a compost windrow turner, increasing incoming organic material, and expanding the market demand for compost. With the expansion of the facility, the city is expecting to increase their capacity for processing food waste by 1,000 tons in 2026, 2,500 tons in 2027, and 5,000 tons annually starting in 2028 and continuing thereafter. As a result, the tons of material sold will increase by 500 tons in 2026, 1,250 tons in 2027, and 2,500 tons annually starting in 2028 and continuing thereafter. In order to accomplish this, the city is planning to increase the incoming material by achieving a 50% participation rate of grocery stores and a 20% restaurant participation rate in the service area by 2028. Additionally, the project is expected to reduce 115 MTCO2E in 2026, 289 MTCO2E in 2027, and 573 MTCO2E annually starting in 2028 and continuing thereafter. Beneficiaries of the project are expected to be residents of the city, community gardens, restaurants, and grocery stores. There are currently no subrecipients.activities:the activities to be performed are designing and building a two-acre expansion to the compost facility, resurfacing the existing five acres, purchasing a compost windrow turner, increasing incoming organic materials, and expanding market demand for compost. Designing and building the expansion will be accomplished by awarding a contract though the city's formal process to complete the facility design. A second contractor will be hired through another competition in order to construct the facility. To purchase a windrow turner, the city will research windrow turner makes and models, research opportunities for purchase via cooperative contracts, and then complete the purchase of the equipment using their voluntary cost share. In order to increase the incoming organic material, the city will plan to hire a full time organics coordinator pending city counsel approval of a proposal for a new staff member. Additionally, the city will design and implement an education and outreach plan for incoming food waste and outgoing compost by researching other communities' outreach programs and beginning outreach to grocery stores and restaurants. Furthermore, the city will design and implement a drop-off location plan to increase incoming organic material. To expand the market demand for compost, the city will begin uscc STA testing for the compost and will offer no-charge compost to city community gardens.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include a final report and quarterly reports. The expected outcomes include an increase of tons of organic materials received, a reduction in greenhouse gases, an increase in the tons of material sold, and an increase in the number of community garden plots receiving no-cost compost. There is an expected increase in incoming organic material of 1,000 tons in 2026, 2,500 tons in 2027, and 5,000 tons annually in 2028 and thereafter. Grocery store participation within