Each year, it takes in 1 million pounds of yard waste and sewage sludge that would otherwise go to landfills, transforming them into compost and garden soil that are then sold back to the community.
Pat Linehan is the Compost Supervisor. He says the facility is responsible for reducing the amount of waste going into landfills, and improv soil quality.
"Every year, 130,000 cubic yards of yard waste is diverted from the landfills , plus 30,000 cubic yards of biosolids. So by doing that we're avoiding costs that would be $4 million to get rid of all that material."
In the composting process. yard waste like branches, grass, and leaves are ground up and mixed with treated sewage sludge, also called bio-solids. The result is a wet mulch that decomposes over 51 days to create nutrient-rich compost. That compost is then sold to landscapers and gardeners.
Since it opened in 1995, the Davenport Compost Facility has diverted more than 2.4 million cubic yards of yard waste and biosolids from landfills.
The cities of Davenport and Bettendorf offer free curbside pickup of yard waste, and Scott County residents can deposit materials directly.
The Compost Facility will host an open house this Saturday from 10 AM - 2 PM, for those who want to learn more about the process.
