Metro Waste Authority

What Metro Waste Authority does

Metro Waste Authority (MWA) is a public solid waste management authority established under Iowa state law that provides integrated waste collection, recycling, composting, and disposal services to 22 Central Iowa communities, including Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, West Des Moines, and unincorporated Polk County. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Des Moines, MWA operates a comprehensive physical infrastructure footprint consisting of two landfills (Metro Park East — Iowa's largest — and Metro Park West), the state-of-the-art Metro Recycling Facility (MRF) in Grimes, a compost center that processed 430,170 tons of yard waste into Grow Gold Compost, a hazardous waste drop-off, two transfer stations, redemption centers, and a 29-site battery drop-off network. The MRF, opened in November 2022, sorts approximately 25,031 tons of recyclables annually into material types for resale to manufacturers.

The agency's business model is multi-stream and government-anchored. Core revenue derives from waste collection services coordinated through municipal partnerships, landfill tipping fees at Metro Park East and West, recyclables processing and resale, compost product sales (Grow Gold, distributed via local retailers), and specialized services including hazardous waste drop-off, document shredding ($0.50/lb), and large item disposal. Secondary revenue streams include professional training (HAZWOPER at $100-$300, Iowa Landfill Operator Training at $200-$400, Transfer Station Operator Course at $100-$150), retail products (Compost It! bags and stickers, Good Goods gift shop merchandise), and material brokering through the Iowa Waste Exchange partnership. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on educational programs (VR field trips, Ecoville simulation game, Recycling Rumble, Green Talks), facility tours, public art installations, and digital channels (website, social media, email newsletter) to drive resident and commercial adoption across the metro. A 2023 lithium-ion battery fire at the MRF and active public warning campaigns in mid-2026 highlight operational risk tied to consumer electronics in the waste stream.

Name

Metro Waste Authority

Legal name

Metro Waste Authority

Website

https://mwatoday.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Metro Waste Authority is a public solid waste management authority serving 22 Central Iowa communities with integrated garbage collection, curbside recycling, yard waste composting, landfill operations at Iowa's largest landfill, hazardous waste disposal, and environmental education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solid Waste Management

NAICS

Solid Waste Collection (562111), Solid Waste Landfill (562212), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfill Disposal (BPALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landfill Operations & Disposal Services (IMAIAFAL), Hazardous & Special Waste Transfer Stations (Household Hazardous Waste, Industrial Special Wastes) (EUAIABAE), Chemical Hazardous Waste Collection & Transportation (BPALAHAA), Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

Keywords

• Solid waste management
• Curbside recycling services
• Landfill disposal services
• Hazardous waste drop-off
• Yard waste composting

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Waste Collection Services: Fees for garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection services provided to residential and commercial customers across member communities
2. Landfill Tipping Fees: Fees charged for disposal of waste at Metro Park East and Metro Park West landfills
3. Recyclables Processing: Sorting and selling recyclables to manufacturers who turn them into new products; approximately 25,031 tons sorted annually
4. Compost Product Sales: Sale of Grow Gold Compost made from collected yard waste
5. Specialized Waste Services: Fees for hazardous waste drop-off, shredding services, large item collection, and specialized disposal programs
6. Environmental Education Services: Training programs including HAZWOPER, Landfill Operator Certification, and Transfer Station Operator courses

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Metro Waste Authority provides regional solid waste management and recycling services to 22 Central Iowa communities through curbside garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection, landfill disposal, hazardous waste handling, recycling sorting, compost production, bottle and can redemption, environmental education, and certified operator training programs. Operations span Iowa's largest landfill (Metro Park East), Metro Park West, the state-of-the-art Metro Recycling Facility (MRF), a compost center, hazardous waste drop-off facilities, transfer stations, redemption centers, and a 29-site battery drop-off network.

Product overview

Metro Waste Authority provides a comprehensive suite of waste management, recycling, and environmental services across Central Iowa through multiple integrated programs and facilities. The core service portfolio includes curbside garbage collection coordination, the Curb It! recycling program, and the Compost It! yard waste composting program (producing Grow Gold Compost), supported by physical infrastructure including Metro Park East and West Landfills, Metro Recycling Facility, Metro Compost Center, Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off, two transfer stations, and redemption centers. Digital services include a Recycling & Disposal Guide and Digital Assistant for customer support. Educational offerings encompass the Ecoville simulation game, Virtual Reality Field Trip Program, Recycling Rumble game, Green Talks presentations, and facility tours. Professional training programs include HAZWOPER certification, Certified Landfill Operator Training, and Certified Transfer Station Operator courses. The organization also operates community engagement programs like Adopt A Stream and a retail shop called Good Goods at the recycling facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Curb It!: Residential curbside recycling program where residents place recyclables in designated carts for collection and processing at Metro Recycling Facility.
• Compost It!
• Grow Gold Compost
• Metro Park East Landfill
• Houseside Collection
• Metro Redemption Centers
• Metro Recycling Facility (MRF)
• Adopt A Stream
• Ecoville Simulation Game
• Swap Shop
• Good Goods
• Ready, Set, Recycle!
• Environmental Stewardship Scholarship

Products and services

• Curb It! Curbside Recycling Program Curbside recycling collection program for single-family homes and some multi-family units in 22 Central Iowa communities. Residents place paper, plastics, metals, and cardboard in designated carts for collection and processing at the Metro Recycling Facility.
• Compost It! Yard Waste Program Yard waste composting program accepting leaves, grass clippings, brush, garden vegetation, and compostable materials from residents of member communities. Materials are processed at the Metro Compost Center into Grow Gold Compost.
• Houseside Collection On-demand hazardous waste pickup service for residents. The agency delivers two 12-gallon bins and a large plastic bag to households for collecting batteries, electronics, and household hazardous materials, then picks the materials up curbside.
• Grow Gold Compost Finished compost product produced by Metro Waste Authority from collected yard waste. Available for purchase at retail locations and at the Metro Compost Center.
• HAZWOPER Training OSHA-compliant hazardous waste operations and emergency response training offered as 8-hour and 24-hour courses at the Metro Recycling Facility. Priced at $100 for 8-hour and $300 for 24-hour; free for those in the MWA service area.
• Certified Landfill Operator Training Three-day, 25-hour Iowa Landfill Operator Training Course certified by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Held twice yearly; priced at $200 for public entities and $400 for private entities (non-refundable).
• Certified Transfer Station Operator Course One-day training course with certification exam covering transfer station operations, regulations, and emergency response. Priced at $100 for public entities and $150 for private entities (non-refundable).
• Document Shredding Service Paper shredding service for residential and business customers, priced at $0.50 per pound.
• Metro Park East Landfill Disposal Waste disposal service at Iowa's largest landfill in Mitchellville. Accepts garbage, scrap metal, tires, electronics, and construction debris for a tipping fee.
• Metro Park West Landfill Disposal Waste disposal service at the Metro Park West Landfill, accepting various waste materials including tires.
• Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Hazardous waste collection facility in Bondurant accepting batteries, electronics, paint, chemicals, and other household hazardous waste from residents at no charge up to 75 pounds. Includes the Swap Shop reuse program where residents can take usable items for free.
• Metro Redemption Centers Bottle and can redemption centers in Bondurant and Grimes where residents and businesses can drop off empty cans and bottles to receive deposit refunds.
• Good Goods Gift Shop Gift shop located inside the Metro Recycling Facility selling sustainably sourced, recycled, upcycled, and reused goods including items made from recycled water bottles, mason jar accessories, and eco-friendly products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,031 tons of recyclables sorted at Metro Recycling Facility in first year of operation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Iowa Waste Exchange (IWE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership through Iowa Department of Natural Resources to coordinate material exchange and keep waste out of landfills. IWE helps connect organizations to exchange materials, and MWA coordinated an onsite pick-up day for organizations interested in diverted materials. This partnership saved receiving organizations nearly $55,000 in avoided purchases.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Recology: Employee-owned regional solid waste and recycling company serving the Western U.S. Comparable integrated collection, recycling, composting, and landfill services with strong environmental stewardship branding.
• Rumpke Consolidated Companies: Family-owned regional waste hauler serving Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia with collection, recycling, and landfill operations. Comparable as a privately held, regionally focused integrated waste services operator.
• Casella Waste Systems: Regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management company operating across the Northeast U.S. Closely comparable business model: integrated collection, recycling, landfill, and organics services with strong community engagement.

Broad incumbents

• Waste Management, Inc. Largest U.S. solid waste hauler and landfill operator. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering collection, landfill, recycling, and disposal services; differs in being a national, publicly traded private company rather than a regional public authority.
• Republic Services: Second-largest U.S. solid waste company providing collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal services nationwide. Comparable as broad incumbent with overlapping service portfolio and recycling/landfill operations.

Others

• SCS Engineers: Environmental engineering and consulting firm specializing in solid waste management, landfill design, and remediation. Comparable as a supporting service provider to landfill operators and a potential contractor/consultant to MWA.
• Waste Connections: Major North American solid waste services company with strong presence in secondary markets. Comparable as broad incumbent providing collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal in mid-sized geographies like MWA's service area.

Regional players

• Linn County Solid Waste Agency: Regional solid waste management agency serving Linn County, Iowa (Cedar Rapids area). Highly comparable governance and operating model as a county-level public authority providing disposal, recycling, and education services in Iowa.
• Houston Solid Waste Management Department: Municipal department providing garbage, recycling, yard waste, and bulky-item collection for the City of Houston. Comparable as a public-sector integrated waste service operator serving a large metro population.
• City of Phoenix Public Works - Solid Waste Division: Municipal solid waste division providing curbside collection, recycling, and disposal for the City of Phoenix. Comparable as a public-sector operator running an integrated collection and disposal program for a major metro area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/mwatoday
• Facebookfacebook.com/metrowasteauthority
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metro-waste-authority
• Instagraminstagram.com/metrowasteauthority
• Xx.com/metrowaste

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metro Waste Authority