Banned cardboard, recyclables among trash from Cedar Rapids data center sites, Solid Waste Agency says

The Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency has accused Google and QTS data center construction projects in Cedar Rapids of illegally disposing of approximately 40,000 pounds of trash over the past year. Joe Horaney, interim director of the agency, stated that these projects are generating thousands of pallets and spools with conduits and wiring, taking up valuable landfill space.

The agency claims the data centers are violating rules by discarding materials like wood and metal that could be recycled, and are also throwing away cardboard, which has been banned from landfills in the area since 1999. Despite the Solid Waste Agency implementing double charges per ton for loads containing cardboard since July, the issue persists.

Horaney suggested that municipalities could require data centers to recycle a certain percentage of their materials through an ordinance. He believes this would ultimately save the companies money by avoiding fines and finding alternative outlets for their waste. The problem was initially uncovered by TV9 from a letter sent by the Solid Waste Agency to Linn County’s Sustainability Director in February, which is slated for discussion at a Dubuque County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Both Google and QTS have issued statements regarding the allegations. Google reiterated its commitment to sustainable operations and stated its rigorous standards for waste management, promising to collaborate with local facilities. QTS also affirmed its commitment to responsible development and environmental stewardship, noting they are reviewing the inquiry and the provided information before offering further comment.