Waste from data center projects is pressuring the Cedar Rapids landfill – and may have to go elsewhere
Construction waste from hyperscale data center projects in Linn County has contributed to a more than 10% increase in landfill volumes, putting pressure on the Cedar Rapids Landfill’s remaining capacity. The Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency is seeking a regional landfill partner and may begin hauling about 50,000 tons of waste annually to neighboring areas.
Construction and demolition debris from hyperscale data center projects by Google and QTS has helped drive waste volumes at the Cedar Rapids Landfill above 200,000 tons annually. Joe Horaney, interim director of the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency, estimates the landfill has 10 to 13 years of capacity remaining and expects data center construction to continue, including a potential Google project near Palo.
The agency is working with the East Central Iowa Council of Governments to obtain bids from regional waste facilities and hopes to select a partner by the end of December. The Black Hawk County Sanitary Landfill is being considered as a destination, with its Solid Waste Management Commission administrator, John Foster, saying the facility has room to accept additional material, while Cedar Rapids officials warn that transporting waste could raise costs for local residents.