South Central Iowa Landfill - Winterset, Iowa | Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

South Central Iowa Landfill is a municipal solid waste landfill located at 2496 Highway 92 in Winterset, Madison County, Iowa. Operated by the South Central Iowa Landfill Agency, the facility has been in operation since 1978 and is currently open with a planned closure year of 2027. As a regional landfill, it manages waste from surrounding communities in south-central Iowa. The landfill operates under the regulatory framework of the US EPA, including RCRA Subtitle D for municipal solid waste landfills and Clean Air Act requirements for landfill gas management. As a typical landfill in the Midwest, it likely employs liner and leachate collection systems to protect groundwater, and may have gas collection infrastructure to mitigate methane emissions. The facility's scale is consistent with a regional landfill serving multiple counties. Environmental considerations for this landfill include groundwater protection due to its location in an agricultural region, and management of landfill gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The facility's proximity to Winterset and Highway 92 necessitates careful traffic and odor management. Its planned closure in 2027 indicates ongoing operations with a defined end-of-life plan, including post-closure care requirements under EPA regulations.

The landfill is situated in Madison County, Iowa, a rural area with agricultural land use. Key environmental concerns include potential groundwater contamination from leachate, as the region relies on groundwater for drinking. Landfill gas generation, primarily methane, requires collection or flaring to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and odor impacts on nearby communities. Traffic from waste hauling on Highway 92 also poses local air quality and safety considerations.