Private operator might take over the city's Yard Waste Site

Decorah resident Marty Grimm is proposing to the City of Decorah that he be allowed to take over the operation of the city's Yard Waste Site, so he can open a commercial composting business.

Decorah City Council members will get first word about the proposal on Monday night.  Grimm says he's interested in collecting food waste from Decorah restaurants such as La Rana, Magpie, Java John's and T-Bock's, as well as grocery store food waste from Quillin's and Fareway and combining it with yard waste brought to the site by the public, then creating commercial grade compost.

If the city accepts the proposal, it would no longer operate the site.  But Grimm says the hours of operation of the yard waste site would at least stay the same and would probably expand.  Grimm would continue to accept yard waste without charge.

There are 5 acres of property at the yard waste site.  Grimm says he would use the land for windrowing the compost, combining the food waste and the yard waste in such a way that it would create usable compost.  He says he would sell the compost back to the public--either in small quantities or in bulk.

He tells decorahnews.com he's had "nothing but positive feedback" to the proposal, with some people praising the environmentally sound features of the plan, others excited about the possibility of longer hours of operation, and restaurant owners excited about not having to take their food waste to the landfill.

Because the city's yard waste site is located on land outside the city limits, Grimm's proposal will probably need the approval of both City of Decorah and Winneshiek County officials.  He's hoping he can clear the governmental hurdles in time to begin operation in June.