FLOYD MITCHELL CHICKASAW 
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AGENCY
A Tradition of Environmental Protection Since 1973

Keep waste utilities costs down by recycling. Why pay for a bag to throw away items that can be recycled for no charge?

The Floyd-Mitchell-Chickasaw Solid Waste Management Agency is a regional sanitary landfill established in 1973. Our service area is the Iowa counties of Floyd, Mitchell, and Chickasaw, plus the communities of Chester and Elma, Iowa.  These communities entered into a 28E Agreement to belong to the FMC planning area, and are part of a Comprehensive Plan required by the Iowa Code.  Iowa law requires cities and counties to develop a comprehensive solid waste reduction program in collaboration with the landfill that serves their area. Garbage haulers are not allowed to take waste from Floyd, Mitchell, or Chickasaw Counties to a different in-state landfill.  Any resident of our service area may utilize our convenient small loads dropoff facility as well.

Solid waste disposal agencies are a necessary, important utility like sewer, water and electricity.  Waste needs to be properly disposed of.  Unlike city dumps, the FMC Landfill is now a highly sophisticated, tightly regulated operation. Materials accepted at the landfill, as well as how they are handled, are closely controlled.  State law bans the following items from all Iowa landfills: yard waste, car batteries, waste oils, scrap tires and free liquids.

After waste is deposited, it is compacted and covered daily with six inches of soil or sprayed with an alternative daily cover.  The soil cover helps control odor, litter and public health problems. Many steps are taken to ensure that FMC Landfill is a responsible neighbor. A combination of a liner and collecting pipes are used to catch leachate, which results from precipitation that has seeped into and through the waste. Wells are used to monitor groundwater quality. The landfill has adequate space to meet the service area's projected waste disposal needs well into the 21st century. The life of the landfill can be extended if residents and businesses work together to meet waste reduction mandates.

The Floyd-Mitchell-Chickasaw Solid Waste Management Agency is a 28E Governmental Agency with a Board of Directors consisting of 27 members from three counties. We own 350 acres. Waste is only on approximately 52 acres, the rest is rented out for cropland or is covered in ponds and wildlife refuge.

The Agency is managed by a full board of 27, consisting of an elected official from each community in our service area, as well as a county supervisor from each county. 

This full board elects an Executive Board of 9 members responsible for daily operations. This Executive Board consists of a Supervisor from each county, a representative from the full board from the largest city in each of the three counties, and a third person elected from the full board by each county's representatives.

The Executive Board hires a Director to provide daily, on-site management and oversight.  The current Director is responsible for oversight of the facilities, weighing trucks, and dealing with various agencies and officials.  The Director also performs office duties, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, financial and tax reporting, and supervision of employees and landfill projects. 

There are currently three equipment operators.  These operators keep the trash compacted and covered, and the landfill in good order to comply with DNR regulations.

Howard County residents may now dispose of Household Hazardous Waste at no charge. There will be a charge for farm and business hazardous waste. See our Household Hazardous Waste page for more details. This new program does NOT include solid waste (garbage, construction & demolition debris, etc.), which must continue to go to the Winneshiek County Landfill. This program for Howard County is made possible by the Floyd-Mitchell-Chickasaw Landfill,  with assistance from the Howard County Supervisors, Howard County Recycling Coordinator Craig Fencl, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  Mobile Collections coming to Cresco this fall.

Winneshiek County and businesses and residents may also use our facilities for disposal of Household Hazardous Waste either at our Regional Collection Center or via our Mobile Collection Unit which will come to Decorah.  Watch your paper for details. This service was made possible with assistance from the Winneshiek County Landfill, Winneshiek County Supervisors, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Elma School Field Trip

Parkersburg Tornado Cleanup Photos of FMC Staff

Spiders in the Area Fall 2008