Upcoming Events
2025 Iowa Recycling & Solid Waste Management Conference
The 2025 Fall Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel and Conference Center September 29 - October 1. Please visit the new Fall Conference website for more information.
ISOSWO Annual Business Meeting
Join us on Tuesday, September 30th for the ISOSWO Annual Business Meeting. During the meeting, ISOSWO members will provide updates on the status of the organization and summarize the various service work that ISOSWO is doing on behalf of membership. In addition, SWANA’s Senior Director of Public Policy & Communications, Kristyn Oldendorf, will be in attendance to provide an organizational update on behalf of SWANA.
Click here to view the official notice including the meeting agenda.
Meeting Minutes from April 24, 2025 Regular Meeting of Membership (Unapproved)
MWA 25-Hour Landfill Operator Training
Metro Waste Authority hosts a three-day, 25-hour Iowa Landfill Operator Training Course twice per year. The course is certified by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and covers topics required under state regulations.
This training course is for those planning to take the IDNR’s Landfill Operator Certification Exam or is also an opportunity for those wanting to learn more about the solid waste industry, environmental regulations, challenges in the industry, operational strategies, and more.
Instructors Include: Brian Seals (Scott County Waste Commission), Todd Courtney (Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center), Joe Mayne (City of Dubuque – Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency), Laurie Rasmus (IDNR), Brian Rath (IDNR), Dan Bacehowski (HDR), Katie Kinley (HDR), and more!
Cost: $200 for public entities, $400 for private (non-refundable)
SCS 10-Hour Landfill Operator Training
The Iowa DNR has approved 10 continuing education units (CEUs) for the Iowa 10-Hour Landfill Operator Course developed by SCS. This 10-hour course meets the requirements for certified landfill operators to obtain the required 10 CEUs necessary for renewal of their operator certification.
While this course is designed for certified landfill operators to obtain their required 10 CEUs, the course topics would also benefit other solid waste professionals interested in learning more about operations and compliance.
Course topics include:
Causes of fire and mitigation strategies at landfills, transfer stations, and compost facilities;
Operating strategies to improve safety and efficiency;
Potential state and federal regulatory changes;
Environmental compliance and monitoring requirements;
Current and potential recycling and waste diversion programs across Iowa;
Technologies in the solid waste management industry;
Facility end of life use planning;
Hot topics within the solid waste industry in Iowa and beyond; and
Much more!
Cost is $250 per student.
SCS 25-Hour Landfill Operator Training
The Iowa DNR has certified the Iowa 25-Hour Landfill Operator Certification Course developed by SCS. This three-day course is required for those seeking to become Iowa certified landfill operators.
SCS has developed this training course to be engaging, interactive, and impactful for students with various industry backgrounds and levels of experience. While the course covers Iowa DNR required training elements and helps prepare operators for the certification exam, it also provides operators with an introduction to the following important topics:
• Strategies to optimize airspace utilization;
• Methods to improve operational, personal, and customer safety;
• Introduction to environmental monitoring activities;
• Best management practices for leachate and landfill gas;
• Approaches to maintain and improve community and customer relations;
• Procedures for waste screening;
• Introduction to fire minimization and mitigation strategies; and
• Much more
The cost is $750 per student
SCS Appliance Demanufacturing Training
The Iowa DNR has certified the appliance demanufacturing training course for individual certification developed by SCS. This 5-hour certification course is required for individuals in the State of Iowa to demanufacture appliances under an appliance demanufacturing permit or to apply for an appliance demanufacturing permit.
SCS has developed this training course to cover the environmental regulations concerning the removal of mercury-containing components, PCB-containing components, and the recovery of refrigerants from discarded appliances.
Course topics include:
Definitions and Terminology
State and Federal Regulations
Permit Application and Annual Reporting
Finding and Identifying Components
Safety Precautions
Spill Prevention and Cleanup
Documentation and Recordkeeping
Cost is $250 per student.
September Board Meeting
August Meeting Minutes (Unapproved)
This is a Virtual Meeting
Join by Zoom from your computer, tablet, or smartphone:
Zoom Meeting Link
Meeting ID 880 5166 0419
Passcode 916945
SCS Appliance Demanufacturing Training
The Iowa DNR has certified the appliance demanufacturing training course for individual certification developed by SCS. This 5-hour certification course is required for individuals in the State of Iowa to demanufacture appliances under an appliance demanufacturing permit or to apply for an appliance demanufacturing permit.
SCS has developed this training course to cover the environmental regulations concerning the removal of mercury-containing components, PCB-containing components, and the recovery of refrigerants from discarded appliances.
Course topics include:
Definitions and Terminology
State and Federal Regulations
Permit Application and Annual Reporting
Finding and Identifying Components
Safety Precautions
Spill Prevention and Cleanup
Documentation and Recordkeeping
Cost is $250 per student.
ISOSWO TAC - SMM Meeting
The Iowa Society of Solid Waste Operations (ISOSWO) Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Subcommittee is hosting a meeting on August 28 th from 11AM – 12PM. The purpose of this meeting is to help engage with stakeholders in order to learn more about sustainable practices, programs, and policies that they currently perform and/or believe would be beneficial for Iowa.
This meeting will feature a guest speaker discussing the establishment of the Missouri Product Stewardship Council in 2018. This Council provides a forum for exchanging information and identifying priorities; Educating government agencies, institutions, and legislators about product stewardship; Leadership on product stewardship initiatives; and Coordinating and supporting product stewardship initiatives.
Please register to attend this webinar: Click here to register
Below is the proposed agenda for this meeting.
ISOSWO TAC – SMM Committee Meeting Agenda
August 28, 2025
11AM – 12PM (Zoom)
Introductions
Overview of ISOSWO TAC – SMM Committee
Guest SMM Speaker: Lisa McDaniel, SCS Engineers – former Chair of the Missouri Product Stewardship Council. Lisa was directly involved in the creation of this Council in 2018.
Presentation Topic: Process of creating a statewide Product Stewardship Council; Identifying and selecting priorities; Working with partners to advocate for change; Update on Missouri Product Stewardship Council initiatives
Review SMM Practices Previously Identified
Discuss Possible Recommendations to ISOSWO Board Concerning Next Steps
Schedule Next Meeting
SCS 25-Hour Landfill Operator Training
The Iowa DNR has certified the Iowa 25-Hour Landfill Operator Certification Course developed by SCS. This three-day course is required for those seeking to become Iowa certified landfill operators.
SCS has developed this training course to be engaging, interactive, and impactful for students with various industry backgrounds and levels of experience. While the course covers Iowa DNR required training elements and helps prepare operators for the certification exam, it also provides operators with an introduction to the following important topics:
• Strategies to optimize airspace utilization;
• Methods to improve operational, personal, and customer safety;
• Introduction to environmental monitoring activities;
• Best management practices for leachate and landfill gas;
• Approaches to maintain and improve community and customer relations;
• Procedures for waste screening;
• Introduction to fire minimization and mitigation strategies; and
• Much more
The cost is $750 per student
August Board Meeting
Join by Zoom from your computer, tablet, or smartphone:
Meeting ID 880 5166 0419
Passcode 916945
July Board Meeting
Agenda
The agenda is typically posted by Wednesday prior to the meeting.
Call-In Instructions
Number: +1 (312) 757-3121
Conference ID: 185-849-701
Online Link: The link to the online meeting is included in the agenda and emailed at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the meeting.
June Board Meeting (online)
Agenda
The agenda is typically posted by Wednesday prior to the meeting.
Call-In Instructions
Number: +1 (312) 757-3121
Conference ID: 185-849-701
Online Link: The link to the online meeting is included in the agenda and emailed at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the meeting.
SCS Appliance Demanufacturing Training
The Iowa DNR has certified the appliance demanufacturing training course for individual certification developed by SCS. This 5-hour certification course is required for individuals in the State of Iowa to demanufacture appliances under an appliance demanufacturing permit or to apply for an appliance demanufacturing permit.
SCS has developed this training course to cover the environmental regulations concerning the removal of mercury-containing components, PCB-containing components, and the recovery of refrigerants from discarded appliances.
Course topics include:
Definitions and Terminology
State and Federal Regulations
Permit Application and Annual Reporting
Finding and Identifying Components
Safety Precautions
Spill Prevention and Cleanup
Documentation and Recordkeeping
Cost is $250 per student.