'Not In Our Backyard': Septic to Compost Conversion Plan Hits Local Opposition Snag

A proposal for a facility that converts septic waste to compost will have to find another home, after a decision in Linn County, Iowa.

1 minute read

July 18, 2018, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Septic Tank

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Mitchell Schmidt reports from an unincorporated area in Linn County near Cedar Rapids: "An inventive approach to converting sewage into compost was halted Monday night by passionate neighbors who said they didn’t want the project — and its potential associated odors and detriments to water quality and property values — in their backyards."

At a packed meeting, the Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission denied a conditional use permit requested by Miene Septic. The company would have used 40 acres to convert septic waste to compost. The site is zoned for agricultural use, which allows for a sewage treatment plant under the county's zoning code. Opposition was organized by a group called Not In Our Backyard.

Tuesday, July 17, 2018 in The Gazette

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