Facility details
- Address
- 300 E Locust St Ste 100
Des Moines, IA 50309 - Phone
- (515) 323-6519
- Website
- mwatoday.com
- Facility type
- MRF
- County
- Polk County
- EPA Region
- 7
- Data sources
- EPA
- Last verified
- 2026-10-09
About this facility
A materials recovery facility, or MRF, is the plant where mixed curbside recycling is sorted. Collection trucks tip commingled material on the floor, and a line of screens, magnets, eddy-current separators, optical sorters and hand-picking stations separates it into bales of cardboard, paper, plastics by resin, aluminum and steel for sale to end markets. MRFs mainly serve haulers and municipal programs rather than walk-in customers, although some operate a public drop-off area. Contamination such as bagged recyclables, food waste and hoses slows the line and lowers bale value. Hours, fees and accepted materials vary — call ahead before bringing material, since many MRFs accept only contracted route loads.
Typically accepted at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)
- Cardboard and mixed paper
- Plastic bottles, jugs and tubs
- Aluminum and steel cans
- Glass containers (program dependent)
- Cartons (program dependent)
Hours, fees and accepted materials vary by site — call ahead before hauling a load.
County context
One of 28 recycling centers in Polk County, IA.
ZIP 50309 population 9,199.
Iowa solid-waste agency: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)