About Us

Operations

South Central Iowa Landfill Agency is a governmental, non-profit (28E) agency. All operational revenue is derived by our user fees – no tax money is received to support the landfill.

The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources issues and oversees permitting for SCILA operations including service area and hours of operation. Under the current IDNR rules, the landfill is required to evaluate the solid waste generated in the planning area and investigate methods and procedures to reduce, reuse and recycle solid waste.

SCILA is committed to developing the plans and programs that will allow our area to achieve the State of Iowa’s 25% and 50% waste reduction and recycling goals.

History

The South Central Iowa Landfill Agency was formed in 1980 when the City of Indianola, Madison County and the City of Winterset purchased a 220-acre abandoned rock quarry in Winterset.

The goal of this joint purchase was to secure an area for waste disposal that would last as long as possible while keeping waste disposal rates low.

Four more cities from Dallas County (Dallas Center, DeSoto, Dexter and Van Meter) joined the partnership and began using the landfill for their waste disposal needs.

The SCILA landfill is a vertical expansion site that allows waste to go upward. Because of this, we are still working in the original 20 acres that have been used since 1980.

With the total site covering 220 acres, we have plenty of land for future needs. However, in time it will be necessary to import dirt to cover the vertical expansion.

Even though more acres are available for use, reduction of waste is important due to mandates by the State of Iowa as well as tonnage fees that are paid to the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources on every ton of waste. In 2003, the tonnage fee was approximately $20,000 per quarter or $80,000 for the year. Increases in tonnage fees paid by SCILA to the IDNR ultimately result in higher user fees.