Iowa City wants proposals on trash-to-ethanol project

IOWA CITY – Iowa City is ready to hear from companies interested in partnering with it on a project that would take garbage from the landfill for use in ethanol production.

One company pursuing the concept in Benton County, with Marion also interested, has already said it could reduce the amount of solid waste going into Iowa City's landfill by up to 80 percent. Iowa City officials are interested in that but want to see what other companies have to offer.

To that end, the city plans to release a request for proposals early next week from companies that could process waste at a new facility at the city-run landfill.

The potential benefits to the community go beyond keeping garbage out of the landfill, which receives about 125,000 tons of trash a year. It also could increase recycling by serving properties like apartments and businesses that aren't part of the city's recycling program, said Daniel Scott, the city's senior civil engineer. Also, any biofuel produced in the process could be sold to the city to help power its fleet at a cheaper price than what it pays for fuel now, he said.

Also, some companies may take the landfill gas the city collects and put it to use, he said. While the city likely would pay to have its solid waste removed, the city probably would be paid for its landfill gas, he said.

“It's more than just diverting (waste) from the landfill,” Scott said. “It increases recycling. It creates a fuel at the end.”

Right now, though, there are mostly unknowns, which is why the city is requesting proposals from interested firms by Sept. 12.

The trash-to-fuel concept is something the city has been exploring for months. The city has retained Gershman, Brickner & Bratton Inc., a Virginia-based solid waste management consulting firm, to help guide it through the process and write the request for proposals.

City officials last year spoke with Maryland-based Fiberight about the company's plans for a biorefinery plant in Blairstown in Benton County. Marion also is in talks with Fiberight.

Fiberight CEO Craig Stuart-Paul told The Gazette last August that it can make ethanol out of food waste, contaminated material that cannot be recycled and even dirty diapers. Iowa City officials said they were told Fiberight could provide an 80 percent reduction in the amount of solid waste going to its landfill.

Scott said there are a variety of similar technologies, so the city wants to see what else is out there.

He also said the city is only seeking information at this point and would still need to decide whether to undertake such a project.