History:
The Clinton County Area Solid Waste Agency is located in Clinton, Iowa. Our agency
serves the County of Clinton for solid waste disposal and recycling programs. CCASWA
was formed in 1972 under a 28 E Agreement, which is each city and county in the
Clinton County area have ownership of the agency. This agency was formed to create a
regionalized landfill. Until this time, each city had been responsible for its own solid
waste disposal area.
December 13, 1974, two landfills opened in Clinton County. One site was placed at the
current location at 4292 220th. St. in Clinton. The other landfill opened in Welton, Iowa
located in the middle of the county on old US Highway 61 North. The Welton site closed
in 1989.
Along the way with landfilling items, recycling programs began to take place in Clinton
County. Items such as tires, yard waste, and appliances were not allowed to be
disposed of in the landfill. In 1991, the Recycling Center opened and curbside recycling
started in Clinton County. Materials such plastic, cardboard, newspaper, and tin are now
kept out of the landfill. Items such as these are shipped out to be made into new items
such as milk jugs, plastic lumber, floor matting, and other items that are made out of
metal.
The Regional Collection Center started in 1995 taking household hazardous materials
from homes in Cedar, Clinton, and Jackson Counties. Materials that are collected are
paints, cleaners, home improvement items and automobile products.
Another major step for the CCASWA came in late September 2007 when the Agency
opened its first Subtitle D Compliant landfill cell. It was the first alternately lined landfill
cell for the Agency.
In 2014, CCASWA opened its first citizen's convenience public drop-off (PDO) area.
The PDO utilized the tipping floor of the former Bio-Reactor solid waste composting
vessel. Small vehicles can use the area Monday-Friday and stay away from the landfill
and the large trucks there. The PDO also offers the agency a second chance at pulling
recycling that may have been missed in patrons' loads.
Solid waste and recycling has come along away from the days of open dump. CCASWA
is proud of the achievements that we have done to create sound environmentally
friendly programs for our residents in Clinton County, Iowa.