Hauled Waste

With its convenient location in central Iowa and capacity to treat many types of non-hazardous waste using advanced wastewater treatment technologies, the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Facility (WRF) is the preferred disposal facility for hauled waste in central Iowa and surrounding areas. The WRF is accessible to authorized waste haulers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and operates a computerized scale system for easy and efficient disposal transactions. The WRF offers reasonable disposal rates for septage, car wash/shop pits, and fat, oil, & grease (FOG) waste as listed below. Special rates may be calculated for certain types of industrial waste.

2022-2023 Hauled Waste Disposal Rates     

(effective October 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023)   

On July 1, 2025 rates are tentatively scheduled to increase by 2% per year.  

Headworks Rates for Hauled Wastes

Standard Out of Service Area rates will be assigned to wasteload originating outside of the WRA service area.

Digester Rates for Hauled Wastes


Liquid waste transport trucks unloading hauled waste at the WRF digesters.

Approval

All wastes must be pre-approved for disposal at the WRF and must be brought in by an authorized waste hauler. For waste load acceptance or questions pertaining to the WRA’s hauled waste program, please contact Paul Ebert at 515-323-8133 or via email. 

Discharge Prohibitions

The WRF cannot accept any hazardous waste as defined by U.S. EPA to be ignitable, corrosive, toxic, or reactive. Below is a summary of discharge prohibitions which may disqualify a waste stream from acceptance at the WRF.  

  • pH of all materials discharged to the POTW shall be between 5.0-12.0
  • Pollutants shall not create a fire or explosion hazard
  • Pollutants shall not solidify or become viscous between 32-150 deg. F
  • Pollutants shall not cause interference or pass through at the treatment plant
  • Wastewater shall be less than 150 deg. F
  • Pollutants shall not result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes
  • Wastewater shall not contain more than 3,000 mg/L of suspended solids or dissolved solids (such as salts, slurries, driller's mud, hydro-excavating cuttings, bentonite clays, etc.)
  • Wastewater shall not have excessive coloration (dyes, tanning solutions, etc.)
  • All hauled wastes shall be brought to the WRF for disposal--discharge into private drains or public access points (manholes) is not allowed without permission from the WRA

For more information regarding hauled wastes and standards of disposal, please reference the Municipal Code: Regulation of Hauled Waste.

Physical Location

Des Moines Metropolitan WRF
3000 Vandalia Road
Des Moines, Iowa

WRF Hauled Waste Disposal Locations and Scales MapAerial view of the WRF and hauled waste disposal locations


WRF Policy & Safety Requirements

  • Check-in with guard station unless you have a gate card and have been pre-approved
  • High-visibility vests/shirts are required inside the WRF for all waste haulers
  • Authorized personnel only; no children, unnecessary passengers, or visitors
  • No smoking except in designated areas
  • Remain within the area pertaining to your reason of visit
  • No pets

Hazardous Waste Reporting Requirements for Hauled Waste

Under RCRA’s Domestic Sewage Exclusion, any mixture of domestic sewage and other wastes that passes through a sewer system to a POTW is not considered a hazardous waste for purposes of RCRA.  For this reason, reporting of these discharges are regulated under and required by the Clean Water Act.  Industrial Users who discharge process water to the Des Moines Metropolitan WRA POTW, whether by piped-connection or hauled waste, are required under 40 CFR 403.12(p)&(j) to report discharge of hazardous waste as follows:

  • 40 CFR 403.12(p) requires a one-time report for each substance discharged to a POTW that, if otherwise disposed of, would be considered a RCRA hazardous waste; a report shall be submitted to the Des Moines WRA, State of Iowa hazardous waste authority, and EPA Regional Waste Management Director
  • 40 CFR 403.12(j) requires a report in advance to these same entities listed above of any substantial change in volume or character of any Industrial User discharge

Who Must Notify?  All Industrial Users who discharge characteristic or listed wastes under 40 CFR 261 in which the total waste discharged is greater than or equal to 15 kg per calendar month of non-acute hazardous waste, or those who discharge any amount of acute hazardous waste. Notification shall be made within 180 days of the discharge of the hazardous waste. For more information, please visit EPA’s website. 

FORMS

  1. Hauled Waste Profile Form - General (editable)