The Municipal - August 2026

Magazine For America’s Municipalities

August 2026

Waste & Recycling

INSIDE: Community pools together to reach zero waste Composting expansion Bolingbrook, IL Permit No. 1939

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www.themunicipal.com

Addressing illegal dumping

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Contents

August 2026

|

VOL. 17 No. 5

|

www.themunicipal.com

17 Focus on Waste & Recycling Waste & Recycling: 26 18 Turning ideas into action:

Community solutions for a zerowaste future

Shutterstock photo

18

32 Waste & Recycling: Jefferson City puts focus on abandoned vehicles

36 Public Safety: 22 Waste & Recycling: Iowa New public safety training City’s compost facility upgrades will increase capacity by over 5,000 tons

26 Waste & Recycling:

32

Illegal dumping is a messy problem for municipalities

30 Waste & Recycling:

Sustainable opportunity: Salem, Mass., works toward a greener future

44

facility highlights Prattville’s commitment to safety

40 Municipal Management: Pembroke Pines expands autism-friendly efforts with citywide commitment

44 Streets, Highways &

Bridges: Painting a path to safer intersections: Niagara Falls, N.Y.

ON THE COVER Determining when to send out crews to clear roads of winter snow or even deciding where to send them can be a challenge when only using regional weather forecasts. Frost Vision’s Mini-Weather Stations bridge that gap and can be deployed where conditions vary most: bridges; shaded curves; low-lying spots that hold cold air; and remote stretches nobody wants to patrol blind.

Reggie Poussard, Lewiston, Maine, (pictured on cover), noted, “Frost Solutions is a game changer for improving our winter operations!”

Learn more on page 10.

Waste & Recycling

INSIDE: Manage winter with Frost Solutions Composting expansion

www.themunicipal.com

4 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

Addressing illegal dumping

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 5

Meet our Staff publisher RON BAUMGARTNER rbaumgartner@the-papers.com

editor-in-chief DEB PATTERSON dpatterson@the-papers.com

editor SARAH WRIGHT swright@the-papers.com

publication manager CHRIS SMITH chris@themunicipal.com

account executive SHANNON MORRIS smorris@themunicipal.com

Departments 08 Editor’s Note: Finding creativity in the waste stream

10 From the Cover: Frost Solutions 12 Notable Destinations: Roswell, N.M. 34 Personality Profile: Shikha Gupta 48 Conference Calendar 49 Product Spotlights 50 Top 10: Top cities for composting 53 Advertiser Index

graphic designer MARY LESTER mlester@the-papers.com

business manager ANNETTE WEAVER aweaver@the-papers.com

director of sales and marketing KRISTIN DEVITTORIO kdevittorio@the-papers.com

mail manager KHOEUN KHOEUTH kkhoeuth@the-papers.com

marketing assistant REAGAN NICHOLS rnichols@the-papers.com

editorial assistant JODI MARLIN jodimarlin1241@gmail.com Contributing Writers Jennifer Barton, Beth Anne Brink-Cox, Lauren Caggiano, Nicholette Stout, Denise Fedorow, Danielle Lund, Teresa Nicomemus, Janet G. Patterson, Julie Young

WWW.THEMUNICIPAL.COM PO Box 188 • 206 S. Main St., Milford, IN 46542 866-580-1138/Fax 800–886–3796 Editorial Ext. 2307; Advertising Ext. 2505, 2408

6 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

The Municipal does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor does The Municipal or its staff assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial content appear in any publication. The Municipal reserves the right to determine the suitability of all materials submitted for publication and to edit all submitted materials for clarity and space. The Municipal has not independently tested any services or products advertised herein and has verified no claims made by its advertisers regarding those services or products. The Municipal makes no warranties or representations and assumes no liability for any claims regarding those services or products or claims made by advertisers regarding such products or services. Readers are advised to consult with the advertiser regarding any such claims and regarding the suitability of an advertiser’s products. No reproduction of The Municipal is allowed without express written permission. Copyright © 2026.

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AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 7

M

Editor’s Note

Finding creativity in the waste stream

Sarah Wright | Editor

T

he trash always needs taken out. Does it always get taken out the way we’d prefer? No, not always. I think most drivers have spotted items dumped on the side of the road, no matter where they live. I recall once seeing a sofa among the cut stalks of corn one fall. Nothing is more frustrating than people who do not respect their communities. Improperly disposed of trash has a cost. It taxes public works departments, creates environmental and safety concerns and may even attract crime.

It’s a daunting issue to address. As you’ll see in this issue, even if you have signage loudly stating “No Illegal Dumping,” it’s still going to happen. It’s frustrating; it’s rageinducing. It can feel like you’re screaming

8 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

into a void and no one is paying attention.

However, every community can relate to your experiences.

This issue is all about seeking solutions to waste and recycling challenges, often drawing on a dash of creativity.

Our lead story comes from San José, Calif., where officials have taken a unique route to generate ways to divert items from going to the landfill. The city has created a grant program that is open to nonprofits, small businesses, community and/or faith-based organizations, neighborhood associations and schools or academic institutions. Organizations awarded the grant then use the funds to address waste, perhaps even giving it a new life. Writer Danielle Lund shares how San José organizations are using their grant funds, including for repair clinics.

The Municipal writer Nicholette Stout spotlights Iowa City, Iowa’s, compost facility project, which will include site improvements and an expansion to increase its capacity. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Americans produce an estimated 30% to 40% of their total food supply as waste, which translates to

over 133 billion pounds and over $161 billion worth of food each year. This equates to approximately 325 to 350 pounds of food waste per person annually. With these statistics in mind, the ability to turn more food waste into compost is a plus.

Writer Denise Fedorow has spoken with three communities of very different sizes — Dare County, N.C., Flint, Mich., and Milford, Ind. — to see how they address illegal dumping. Each of these communities has different approaches that match their particular size and needs. However, they have one commonality. They are choosing to be proactive by connecting with their community and enforcing violations.

Other highlights in this Waste & Recycling issue are Salem, Mass.’s, collections of hard-to-recycle items and Jefferson City, Mo.’s, Operation Spring Cleanup, which aimed to address junked and abandoned vehicles.

No one likes waste, and thanks to our sanitation professionals, our communities will remain livable. M

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 9

From The Cover

Seeing the storm coming: How Frost Solutions is changing what a winter forecast can do Article and photos submitted by Frost Solutions

F

or most public works departments, “the forecast” still means a regional outlook from the National Weather Service, maybe a call to a neighboring county and a supervisor’s gut feeling based on how the sky looks. That has been the approach for decades, but it also means snow and ice management leaders are making deployment decisions off data measured miles from the areas they’re actually worried about. Frost Solutions built its Mini-Weather Station to close that gap. If you haven’t run into the category before, it’s worth understanding why hundreds of agencies have started treating it as essential winter equipment rather than a novelty.

What is a Mini-Weather Station?

A Frost Mini-Weather Station, sometimes referred to as a Mini-RWIS, is a compact, solar-powered unit that mounts directly to an existing streetlight or utility pole — no trenching, wiring or new power source required. Once installed, it records data observations every minute: air temperature, pavement temperature, humidity and dew point, alongside 10 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

a camera feed of the road itself monitoring precipitation and accumulation. Frost Vision, the company’s AI system trained on thousands of road images, reviews the images and immediately flags conditions like snow, rain or ice.

“Frost Vision recognizes conditions and sends notifications without human input,” said Mike Bott, owner of Frost Solutions. “We think it’s important that just because you have new data or a new system, you don’t need to add people to get the benefits.” That combination of constant monitoring without constant staffing is what separates the category from calls to the roving sheriff, a basic roadside thermometer or a single county-wide weather station.

Why the forecast is the real breakthrough Traditional full-scale Road Weather Information Systems have existed for years, but their cost, often tens of thousands of dollars per site, means most agencies can only afford a single unit, leaving long stretches of road with no local data at all. Because Mini-Weather Stations are a fraction of

Winter photo Shutterstock.com

M

“Frost units have been a game changer to more efficiently manage our winter operations” — Reggie Poussard, Lewiston, Maine “Most cities see a return on investment after just a few snow events,” said Bott. “It’s a visible tool that not only saves money, but also shows the community that their local government is being efficient and proactive.”

that cost, agencies can deploy a network of them exactly where conditions vary most: bridges; shaded curves; low-lying spots that hold cold air; and remote stretches nobody wants to patrol blind.

“Frost Solutions allows our operations dollars to go farther and capture more data than the traditional model of owning full-scale Road Weather Information Systems,” said Brett Sellers of the Alabama Department of Transportation.

Forecasts are typically inaccurate for the most concerning areas because the reading driving the forecasts are taken miles away. More data points, updated by the minute, add up to something most departments have never had: a location-specific forecast, not just a regional one. Road temperature, not air temperature, determines when ice actually forms, and it can swing several degrees across just a few miles depending on elevation, shade, wind and traffic.

“Having Frost sensors deployed in multiple foothills locations in Colorado has allowed for quicker decision-making during critical weather events in some remote locations,” said Mike Chapman of the Colorado Department of Transportation. “This has improved both the safety of our personnel and the efficiency of our operations along those rural highways.”

That precision shows up directly on the balance sheet. A Department of Defense customer running the stations for three seasons cut winter operations costs by roughly 39%.

“Winter operations cost the county around $20,000 an hour,” said Dale, a highway supervisor in Wisconsin. “Being able to strategically deploy resources with the help of Frost units has led to significant savings.”

In Bath, Maine, Deputy Director of Public Works Jacob Dodge paired a stepped-up salt brine program with Frost Solutions cameras to cut salt usage by nearly 20%, about 10 tons less per route, protecting local waterways in the process.

Building on that foundation: Storm Lookback and Snow Commander AI Once an agency has that stream of hyperlocal data flowing, Frost Solutions is putting it to work in two new ways this season.

Storm Lookback lets a supervisor go back to any point in time and see exactly what a station captured and forecasted that day: the road images; the precipitation and temperature readings; the Frost Vision assessment; and, most notably, the projected forecast at that moment. That last piece makes it a genuine training tool rather than just an archive. New hires who joined in the off-season have no storms to learn from, and even veteran crews can review specific calls after the fact and ask whether the response was too early, too late or right on time. It turns every past storm into a coaching opportunity instead of a closed chapter.

Snow Commander AI takes the same data and makes it conversational.

Rather than toggling between dashboards during an active event, an operator can simply ask: “Hey, Snow Commander, what locations still need to be plowed? Where should I salt tonight? What trucks are closest to the locations needing service? Where is it too cold to salt?” Through API or MCP connections, it can also pull in other parts of an agency’s tech stack — vehicle tracking, application rates and time sheets — so the answer draws on more than just the weather. It’s the same efficiency instinct behind Frost Vision’s original alerting, extended into a tool supervisors can simply talk to.

Ready for whatever winter brings Winter storms will always be a fact of life for public works. Frost Solutions built its name on giving agencies a better forecast than they’d ever had access to before; Storm Lookback and Snow Commander AI now help them learn from every storm and act on that forecast faster than ever. M To learn more about how Frost Solutions is helping municipalities weather winters more wisely, visit frostsolutions.io.

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 11

M

Notable Destinations

Shutterstock.com

Roswell, N.M., is a welcoming place for earthlings and aliens

By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal

In early July 1947, New Mexico rancher W.W. “Mack” Brazel and a young friend were en route to check on their sheep when they came across a wide patch of wreckage consisting of what looked like rubber, tinfoil, paper and sticks scattered across the field.

Brazel didn’t know where the materials came from or how they ended up on the property. On July 5, he collected some of the debris and turned it in to Sheriff George Wilcox of the city of Roswell, a community approximately 80 miles away.

12 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

ABOVE: Roswell, N.M., is synonymous with aliens ever since a July 1947 incident in which the government reported the capture of a flying saucer. The statement was retracted the following day, but the legend persists that a UFO crash landed in the area and was salvaged by the RAAF. (Blurz via Wikimedia Commons; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

A legend is born Wilcox was as confused about the materials as Brazel. He contacted the Roswell Army Air Field, hoping they might have an explanation.

As news of the alleged wreck worked its way up the chain of command,

intelligence officer Major Jesse Marcel Sr. was deployed to investigate the situation.

Together with Wilcox and Brazel, Marcel toured the debris field and collected the materials to take back to Colonel William Blanchard, the commanding officer of the RAAF. After viewing the debris, Blanchard issued a statement through his public information officer that would stun the world: The RAAF had captured a flying saucer on a ranch near Roswell.

Local businessman Dan Wilmont and his wife told Roswell Daily Record reporters that they saw the object streak across the sky at an estimated 400-500 miles per hour before disappearing over the trees near six-mile hill. He didn’t report the incident to the authorities because he hoped another witness might come forward to corroborate his account, but he ultimately decided to go public with his story several minutes before the RAAF announcement.

Although the RAAF statement was retracted the following day when General Roger Ramey, commander of the Fort Worth Army Air Field in Texas declared that the recovered items were part of a weather balloon, it was too late. The two conflicting statements launched one of the most notorious conspiracy theories on planet Earth: The Roswell Incident.

The Roswell Incident was only one of many purported flying saucer sightings in 1947. While it was a local legend that temporarily made national headlines, it did not become a global phenomenon until the 1980s. At that time, noted UFO researcher Stanton Friedman traveled to the Chaves County community and beyond to interview living witnesses to the event, including Marchel himself, who had retired from the Air Force and was living in Baton Rouge, La. Marchel remained adamant that what he saw and collected from that field over 30 years before was beyond human capability, and that Ramey knew it as well.

“All I could do was to keep my mouth shut,” he said in a 1980 interview.

Greetings, earthlings The publication of several books about the incident in the 1980s renewed interest in Roswell. By the early to mid-1990s, tourism had boomed with the opening of dedicated UFO attractions such as the International UFO Museum and Research Center, Alien Zone Area 51 and Spaceport Roswell. There is also an annual UFO Festival, a multiday gala that features alien costumes, parades and expert speakers. The festival brings 40,000 humans to the city and generates $2.9 million in direct economic impact.

Today, Roswell embraces its reputation as the UFO Capital of the World. It has used that notoriety to become a vibrant, campy and wildly successful pop culture destination. The city has infused alien imagery into its everyday architecture and even corporate restaurant chains have gotten in on the act. The local McDonald’s was rebuilt to look like a giant UFO, complete with space-themed playground, and the nearby Arby’s has a sign below its famous ten-gallon hat assuring everyone that aliens are welcome.

The visitor center is a must-stop when traveling to Roswell. Guests say that the friendly staff are great at helping tourists find all of the best places to experience a close encounter.

The International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, N.M., is a must-stop for anyone interested in the history of UFOs and UAPs in Roswell and beyond. (Myotus via Wikimedia Commons; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

While many businesses embrace Roswell’s connection to UFO history, the McDonald’s restaurant took it to the next level by creating a one-of-a-kind franchise that is shaped like a flying saucer and features a play place that is UFO-themed. (Public domain) “They will provide you with everything you need to know, from lodging to dining to entertainment,” said Jenna Lannfor of Colorado Springs, Colo., in a Facebook review.

Laura Curtis regularly attends the Roswell UFO Festival each July.

She said that the kindest people take part in the annual event.

“We travel 18 hours to be part of this, and it is so worth it. I will continue to be here for these festivities for as long as I can.”

For anyone looking for a quirky place with a unique history and a sense of humor, Roswell is an out-of-this-world location that celebrates the extraordinary and embraces humans and humanoids alike. M

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 13

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Jefferson City, Mo., receives an average of 200 vehicle complaints every year.

focus on:

200

Learn how Jefferson City is targeting abandoned vehicles on page 32.

$5,000 to $50,000 San Jose, Calif.’s, Zero Waste Innovations Grant (ZWIG) program provides awards ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to nonprofits, schools, neighborhood associations, faithbased organizations and small businesses to be used toward new recycling initiatives.

Waste & Recycling 5,000 An additional 2 acres will enable Iowa City, Iowa’s, compost facility to process 5,000 more tons of material each year.

Read about updates occurring at Iowa City’s compost facility on page 22.

See how San Jose organizations are using their grants on page 18.

$1,000 The reward Flint, Mich., and Crime Stoppers offers to those who report illegal dumping.

Find out how communities are addressing illegal dumping on page 26.

$90 million A $127,000-square-foot recycling facility is planned for West Pembroke Pines and will serve several counties in South Florida. The $90-million-dollar plant is designed to recycle 275,000 tons of material each year at a rate of 60 tons per hour.

Read the details at https://www.local10.com/news/local/2026/02/25/waste-managementunveils-90m-recycling-facility-in-west-pembroke-pines/.

1,000 pounds Last year, Salem, Mass., won a Trex bench after collecting over 1,000 pounds of plastic film.

See how Salem is addressing hard to recycle materials on page 30.

200 tons

In June, the Key Biscayne, Fla., community composting program surpassed 200 tons of food scraps diverted from local landfills. Since 2019, members have collected food scraps and brought them, once a week, to a designated compost site.

For more information, visit https://www.islandernews.com/news/keybiscayne/keybiscayne-composting-insights/article_d4800fb6-c092-48aa-8563-1286c081f8ec.html.

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 17

M Focus on: Waste & Recycling

Turning ideas into action: Community solutions for a zero-waste future

By DANIELLE LUND | The Municipal

When San José, Calif., city leaders launched the Zero Waste Innovations Grant (ZWIG) program in fall 2025, they were looking for more than new recycling initiatives. They were looking for fresh ideas from the people who experience waste challenges firsthand.

The competitive grant program provides awards ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to nonprofits, schools, neighborhood associations, faith-based organizations and small businesses. With a total funding pool of $335,000, the program was designed to help community organizations pilot creative solutions that reduce waste, expand reuse, and support San José’s broader sustainability goals.

For Alana Lowrie, environmental program manager with the city of San José, the program represents years of discussion about how to address waste challenges in ways that extend beyond traditional municipal programs.

“For many years, the Integrated Waste Management team wanted to launch a waste innovation project,” Lowrie said. “We have been keeping an eye on problems like contaminants, the need for more reusables

18 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

ABOVE: Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation used funds from its grant to host repair cafes.

Here, a volunteer repairs a bicycle, keeping it from ending up in the landfill. (Photo provided by San José, Calif.)

and alternatives to plastic packaging, and we wanted another tool in the toolbox to address those challenges.”

The timing aligned with the development of the city’s “Zero Waste Element,” a companion document to the “Climate Smart San José” plan that outlines strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through waste prevention, recycling and reuse. City leaders saw an opportunity to pair long-term policy goals with community-led action, and the community’s response was strong.

After conducting outreach and gathering feedback from businesses, schools, nonprofits and community organizations, the city received 43 applications. A final collection of eight projects were selected for funding, each offering a different approach to reducing waste and encouraging more sustainable practices.

For Lowrie, the selected projects demonstrate the value of looking beyond city government for solutions.

“We felt there were untapped opportunities in the community’s reach and influence,” she said.

The eight projects span a variety of focus areas, including repair and reuse programs, food recovery initiatives, educational campaigns and efforts to reduce reliance on disposable products.

One grant recipient, the local Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, recently hosted its first repair cafe, where residents can bring broken household items to be repaired rather than discarded. The organization plans to continue hosting repair events, helping community members extend the life of everyday products while reducing unnecessary waste.

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore is taking a similar approach through workshops that teach clothing and textile repair skills. By helping residents mend and maintain garments, the organization is encouraging reuse while keeping textiles out of landfills.

Other projects focus on finding new uses for materials that might otherwise be thrown away.

Work Fits (ShopAI Technologies, LLC) is collecting donated professional clothing for young women entering the workforce, creating a pathway for gently used garments to be reused while helping job seekers build professional wardrobes.

Sunday Friends is establishing a repurpose hub where reusable goods can be recovered, repaired, reimagined and sold through a community marketplace. Their project supports waste reduction while creating opportunities for local repair professionals, emerging entrepreneurs and families working toward greater economic stability.

Local Color is using its grant funding to make reusable art supplies more accessible to community members, while hosting upcycling workshops that encourage participants to transform discarded materials into new creations. The project combines waste reduction with arts education, demonstrating how materials often considered trash can be repurposed in creative ways.

Meanwhile, Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action is focusing on one of the most common sources of everyday waste: single-use beverage containers. Through a “Bring Your Own Cup” campaign, the organization will work with local businesses to encourage customers to switch from disposable cups to reusable alternatives.

Food recovery also plays an important role among the funded projects.

Organizations, including Martha’s Kitchen and Second Harvest, are using grant funding to improve food-storage infrastructure, helping preserve more edible food for distribution while reducing the amount that ultimately becomes waste.

While the projects vary significantly in scope, each addresses a different piece of San José’s waste stream. Repair cafes help extend the life of household items. Textile repair workshops reduce clothing waste. Improving food storage supports food recovery efforts. Reuse campaigns encourage behavioral changes that can reduce disposable consumption over time.

Together, the projects reflect the broader vision behind the grant program: preventing materials from becoming waste in the first place.

“I’m very excited to support community-driven projects and spark partnerships and pilots,” Lowrie said. “We have great, engaged community members, tech companies, schools and universities.”

The initiative builds on San José’s long history of waste reduction efforts. According to Lowrie, the city has often tested pilot programs before expanding successful initiatives citywide. One example is the city’s

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore has held workshops that teach clothing and textile repair skills. (Photo provided by San José, Calif.)

A fan is repaired during a Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation repair cafe.

(Photo provided by San José, Calif.) cart-tagging program, which began as a temporary effort, but became an ongoing educational tool that helps residents properly sort recyclable materials and reduce contamination.

That willingness to experiment helped shape the Zero Waste Innovations Grant Program. Rather than relying solely on city-led initiatives, the program empowers community organizations to test ideas, build partnerships and explore new approaches to waste reduction.

City staff are currently working with grant recipients as projects move through implementation. Site visits are underway, and the first progress reports are expected later this year, providing an opportunity to measure outcomes and evaluate how the projects are contributing to waste diversion and sustainability goals.

As San José works toward its climate and zero-waste objectives, the city is investing in the creativity of its residents and community organizations.

From repair cafes and textile reuse programs to food recovery efforts and reusable cup campaigns, the first round of ZWIG projects offers a glimpse of how local innovation can create meaningful environmental impact throughout the community. M AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 19

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M Focus on: Waste & Recycling

Iowa City’s compost facility upgrades will increase capacity by over 5,000 tons

By NICHOLETTE STOUT | The Municipal

With Iowa’s ban on yard waste in landfills for many years, the Iowa City landfill has long had a commercial compost facility for yard waste and, after amending the permit in 2009, for food waste as well. However, it was nearing processing capacity after processing nearly 15,000 tons of yard, food and wood waste. There were only approximately 5 acres of space left.

“We had basically ceased promoting commercial composting to local grocery stores and businesses, knowing we didn’t have the capacity to take their material,” Jennifer Jordan, Iowa City landfill and recycling center resource management superintendent, described. “Given that almost 25% of what was going into the landfill was organics, 22 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

primarily food waste, we really wanted to divert more material. Food waste reduction will be imperative, but we also knew we were going to need to build processing capacity for more food waste.”

Incoming materials were ground up, placed in a long and narrow windrow, turned once a month for about a year, screened and

ABOVE: The area has been cleared and the base for the new pad is being laid. Asphalt millings are being reclaimed and reused in the new pad. (Photo provided by the Iowa City Landfill)

then left to cool and cure for a month. The composted material would then be sold.

However, an equipment upgrade was necessary for turning the compost since it took a great deal of time turning it with an end loader each month. The more the material is turned, the faster it processes.

“Once a month was the least we could do it based on our permit from the Department of Natural Resources, but really about the most we could do with our existing equipment and staff time,” Jordan explained.

A compost turner would help to turn the windrows more efficiently and more often.

However, in order to operate a compost turner safely, the compost facility work area would also need upgrading as it was old and in poor condition with large holes and pits and poor drainage.

Iowa City budgeted city funds for resurfacing the compost facility workspace and compost turner in 2022. The $600,000 was budgeted through the capital improvement program. However, the city funds did not cover the expanse of the project. A grant opportunity presented itself in 2023 through Investing in America and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant.

After applying, the city received a $4 million grant to resurface and expand the compost facility’s workspace, and could be used toward the purchase of a compost turner. An additional $100,000 grant was received from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Environmental Management System to be used toward the compost turner’s purchase.

September 2024 marked the official awarding of the contract to the city. With the necessary funds acquired, the project will focus on resurfacing the current 5-acre compost processing area and expanding an additional 2 acres on landfill property. The additional 2 acres will allow 5,000 more tons of material to be processed each year. In summer 2025, the city purchased a Vermeer compost turner, which has been named Tina.

This year, the site design was completed, the project was bid out and construction has begun. The city broke ground in April. However, in order to continue accepting waste, there are three spatial phases of construction.

Phase one includes the expansion area and required collections for stormwater and contact water. The contractor, Peterson Contractors, has moved into phase two to reclaim and reuse asphalt millings from the existing pad. However, this has created a significant challenge for the landfill since it gives them only a quarter of the usual space to operate in. However, the city has also worked with the Department of Natural Resources to create areas elsewhere at the landfill facility to store ground yard, food and wood waste.

“We’re currently doing minimal process, just grinding the incoming materials and placing them in the stockpile locations until we can move them onto the new pad, which

Previously, the landfill’s composting capacity was capped at about 15,000 tons. With these improvements, the goal is to eventually be processing 21,000 tons of compost a year. (Photo provided by the Iowa City Landfill) we hope will be by late summer,” Jordan shared.

The city has sold out of its available compost and cannot process more until a portion of the new compost work area is available to windrow and turn the organic material. More compost likely will not be ready until late fall.

Recognizing the anticipated challenges of the summer construction period, the municipality initiated a campaign in February encouraging early compost purchases. The availability of compost is typically a supply and demand issue, with the city running out every couple of years. Last year, they also ran out due to use of the compost for erosion control for internal projects.

However, typically there are two locations to purchase the compost. At the landfill, businesses and others that need bulk compost sales can purchase it for $20 per ton. Smaller quantities for families can be purchased at another local recycling center. Media releases were sent out to the public about the project, while also highlighting compost availability and any necessary traffic flow changes. Information and updates were shared on the main Iowa City compost page and the city’s engineering division construction projects page.

Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of this year. Once completed, a ribbon-cutting event will be held. The city will also focus on outreach and education,

primarily to restaurants and grocery stores in Johnson County, regarding increased food waste diversion. The goals of the project include increasing food waste diversion from the landfill to the compost facility by 1,000 tons by the end of 2026, 2,500 tons by 2027 and 5,000 tons by 2028. Ultimately, the goal is to process 21,000 tons per year. Other goals include increasing the participation of Johnson County grocery stores and restaurants in food waste composting to 50% by 2028. A goal that has already been accomplished is providing compost to 100% of the Johnson County community garden plots to promote compost use.

“I believe that once we get the pad completed and the operators get comfortable with the new facility and equipment, we may be able to process even more than 20,000 tons per year,” Jordan emphasized. “The harder part to measure will be the waste reduction that I believe we’ll see as a result of the outreach. We have a pretty great residential food waste reduction and a composting program in place, but these efforts will soon expand to the restaurants and grocery stores, and that, I hope, will reap dividends in waste reduction.”

Currently, Iowa City provides food waste collection at the curb for approximately 17,000 customers, and it is co-mingled with yard waste. M

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 23

FREELANCE COLUMNIST FOR THE MUNICIPAL

We are looking for a freelance columnist to help us cover topics of interest to municipal officials, which span various city departments from fire and police to parks and public works.

The Municipal is the premier magazine for America’s municipalities and is distributed to officials in 48 states.

Internet, computer, communication and writing skills are important, as is a keen understanding of target audiences.

Education in journalism, writing or communications or on-the-job experience are equally important.

Qualified applicants may submit resumes to

P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542 or email to swright@the-papers.com

24 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

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AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 25

M Focus on: Waste & Recycling

Illegal dumping is a messy problem for municipalities

By DENISE FEDOROW | The Municipal

Illegal dumping is a problem that everyone has to contend with, whether you live in a tourist area like Dare County, N.C., an urban area with some blight like Flint, Mich., or a small town like Milford, Ind. People leaving items on the side of the road, trashing up their properties or creating their own landfills on vacant lots is a universal problem.

Shanna Fullmer, public works director for Dare County, said that officials sometimes feel like they’re between a rock and a hard place in dealing with illegal dumping. The county’s public works department serves the unincorporated areas of Dare County, which includes areas such as Hatteras Island, Colington, Martin’s Point, all of Roanoke Island, East Lake, Stumpy Point and more.

26 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

Once a year, the county has a large item household pickup for the unincorporated parts of Dare County.

Fullmer said, “That includes items like mattresses, furniture, appliances, bicycles, gas grills; it doesn’t include yard debris or building materials like plywood or roofing materials, for example. It’s intended to be a large household items pickup — things that you would have to haul to the landfill.”

ABOVE: Flint, Mich., Mayor Sheldon Neeley (behind podium) and Police Chief Terrence Green to his right held a press conference in April in front of an abandoned house filled with discarded tires to announce they would be offering a cash reward for those who report illegal dumping. (Photo provided by Flint, Mich.)

Dare County hires a company to provide that service once a year, and it makes only one pass. The company requires a continuous two-week period to collect the items across the entire area.

“The problem is outside the designated time for that pickup. Throughout the year, people randomly place things on the side of the road. Dare County is a large area; if we picked

(everything) up, it would be a full-time job just to do that,” she said.

Fullmer said when she started at the public works department 30 years ago, it was a much larger department, and it offered its own large item pickup, but it can’t do that anymore.

“The county has grown, and the department has shrunk,” she said. “We still have the means to pick the items up; we just don’t have the staff or the time to do it on a continuous basis.”

Fullmer and her staff have tried doing a few things to mitigate the problem. ‘We’ve tried to work with HOAs (homeowner associations) by telling them if they pick up the items and take them to the dump they won’t be charged because they’re helping,” she said.

They’ve also worked with civic associations to get the word out among their members and neighbors. The public works department also utilized the public relations department to send the information out and try to target different areas. They sent email alerts and text alerts. Different news outlets have picked up stories, information is posted on their website, and they’ve placed “No Dumping” signs in vacant lots.

“I feel like we have a good handle on getting the information out; it’s just a matter of people paying attention and doing the right thing,” she said.

Fullmer admitted, “I used to be under the impression that we just needed to do a better job of getting the word out — I no longer believe that.”

When Fullmer first started in the department, the public works department mailed a flyer to every taxpayer with all the information.

Fullmer would like to see stiffer penalties for illegal dumping, though she noted, “But the problem is if they dump in a vacant lot and no one sees it, you can’t charge them.”

Fullmer had an instance where someone texted her a picture of someone in a commercial van with the company’s phone number on the van dumping brush.

“So, I called them and said you’ll have the opportunity to go pick it up or I’ll call the sheriff. They said they didn’t know, but they’d go pick it up. But that’s a rarity that they do it in broad daylight and you have a phone number.”

Fullmer said as public works, “We don’t turn a blind eye. We will go pick up the items if we’re called, but I think that perpetuates the problem. We wouldn’t let the problem

The entire inside of the house seems to be filled with discarded tires. At the press conference Flint’s mayor held, a reporter asked the fire chief what he thought, and he said having to fight a fire in a house like this posed an even greater risk. He said a normal house fire is about 1,500 degrees. With an estimated 200 tires in there, he said that was more like a 5,000-degree fire and “that’s a fire we just can’t put out.” (Photo provided by Flint, Mich.)

continue without interfering, but that’s why Board of Education mitigated the majority, illegal dumping continues to be a problem. but it still continues at the Flint Northern site As public works, we take pride in what we “as recently as three weeks ago.” do; it does look bad on us — people assume Other sites where they’re seeing a majority we’re not doing our job. We don’t want the of problems are streets that had blighted and area to look bad, especially during the tour- abandoned homes. ist season.”

“They’re using these vacant homes as dump sites,” he said.

Chief Green said individuals are doing Flint has zero tolerance policy The city of Flint is taking a hard line on illegal the dumping, but “we suspect with the dumping. Officials held a press conference dumping of tires that it’s the local garages in April, announcing they were offering cash and mechanic shops that are dumping tires rewards for those who report instances of ille- in vacant homes instead of dumping them gal dumping. In that press conference, Flint’s legally at dump sites.”

Mayor Sheldon Neely was quoted as saying Chief Green said some tips they’ve received Flint wouldn’t tolerate people treating the have them believing some individuals dumpcity like a garbage can. ing “don’t even reside in the city.”

“It’s an impediment to our safety, to our res“Our city’s blight department does an excelidents. We are cleaning up this city — mind, lent job of cleaning up these sites, but they body and community,” he said. can clean it up, and two weeks later, somePolice Chief Terrence Green was also at one has illegally dumped again. The blight that press conference, and he spoke to The department has taken on the brunt of it by Municipal about what Flint has been deal- cleaning up the sites and doing it efficiently, but it’s definitely difficult because they clean ing with.

“We’ve had some issues; it’s not new, but up one and another site appears.” we’ve been tackling it aggressively for the last Chief Green said he thinks “their only recourse” is to enforce with zero tolerance. three to four years,” he said.

Chief Green said the primary issues of con- He said they recently installed innovative sistent concern have been at vacant school cameras “to help identify those responsible properties like Flint Northern, McKinley for illegal dumping.”

Middle School and others. He said the Flint AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 27

continued from page 27

“If we can positively identify the vehicle, trailer or whatever is being used for illegal dumping, we are going to seize those vehicles and forfeit them. This is a zero-tolerance enforcement — there’s no wiggle room.”

There are also civil infractions and fines, and the fines increase for repeat offenders. Chief Green said the city has also partnered with Crimestoppers two to three years ago. He said Mayor Neeley started that partnership, and citizens can either call Crime Stoppers or 911 if they witness illegal dumping and provide the license plate number and location.

“That partnership has been very helpful.”

Between Crime Stoppers and the $1,000 reward, paid for through the sale of the seized vehicles, they have been getting more calls.

When asked if Flint has large item pickups or city-wide recycling, he said they didn’t, but there are other countywide recycling centers. He said curbside recycling is “something we’re exploring — we’re willing to do anything we can to deter this.”

Chief Green said this illegal dumping issue is “personal for me. I live in the city of Flint, and one of the frequently used sites is near me.

It’s personal for me, for our citizens and city employees. We’re not taking it lightly; it’s serious, and we’re investigating it and enforcing it.”

Milford having success The town of Milford has had success with its twice a year town-wide cleanup. In the spring and fall, it hosts cleanups by bringing in dumpsters for residents to drop off their no-longer needed or broken items.

Utility Superintendent Steven Marquart said this is something the town has been doing for about 30 years.

“I’ve been here 25 years, and they were doing it before me,” he said.

It is only for residents within the town limits of Milford. The town holds these events in April and September, and the last one he recalls collecting nine 30-yard dumpsters of rubbish, two 40-yard dumpsters of scrap metal and 75 tires. He said for the first time Milford invited Casey’s Recycling to join them and collect electronics.

Marquart said the town has ordinances against having rubbish sitting around on properties and ordinances against illegal dumping. The town had to post no dumping signs at their utility buildings, wastewater facility and wellfield as people would take stuff out to those places and throw it by the fence, assuming the town would take care of it.

Marquart believes if Milford didn’t have the twice a year cleanup events, “we’d probably have more mattresses and old couches along the side of the road and people having to pay to get rid of them. It saves the taxpayer money having to dispose of these items, and I don’t have to write up as many trash ordinance violations.”

Something Marquart personally took on when he became superintendent 10 years ago is two months prior to the cleanup date he drives around town, and if he sees homes with mattresses, furniture, old windows, broken-down lawn mowers, etc. sitting around outside, he writes down the address. Then when he gets back to the office, he writes up a tag stating that the items on the property is actually in violation of the town code, but the spring or fall cleanup is coming up, and he gives them the date and times and states that they are welcome to bring the items to the event to keep within the municipal code. He then hangs the tag on their door.

28 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

A large pile of mattresses and other household items were dumped right beside a “No Dumping” sign. Dare County feels like it’s in a no-win situation when it comes to illegal dumping. (Photo provided by the Department of Public Works, Dare County, N.C.)

Flint posted signs offering a $1,000 cash reward for reporting people or businesses illegal dumping. (Photo provided by Flint, Mich.)

He said sometimes he’s handed the tags to 50 to 60 homes, and doing so has greatly increased the number of items collected.

“In the past, we maybe collected three dumpsters worth; we’ve more than doubled that,” he said.

The town also has Reach Alerts that residents can sign up for, which send out reminders of this event, and he speaks about it at council meetings where local newspaper outlets report on it.

Milford’s population is a couple of thousand residents inside the town limits, so a larger municipality may not be able to personally deliver notifications, but it seems to have worked for Milford.

Every community wants to look its best, and it takes a combination of education, easily accessible information, citizens’ assistance and tough enforcement to help make that happen. M

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 29

M Focus on: Waste & Recycling

By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal

Appointed in 2008 as Salem Recycles to reduce trash tonnage in the city of Salem, Mass., Zero Waste Salem — as it was rebranded last year — is dedicated to helping residents reduce, reuse, compost and recycle.

The teams at Beverly Recycles and Zero Waste Salem partner to offer a Styrofoam collection event twice a year in their communities. This is only one of the many events that Salem conducts throughout the year to encourage sustainable living.

Others include repair cafes, book swaps and a school cafeteria compost program.

(Photo provided by Salem, Mass.)

Sustainable opportunity:

Salem, Mass., works toward a greener future

According to Alisa Cherkasova, waste reduction coordinator and liaison for Zero Waste Salem, there are several recurring events throughout the city, including repair cafes, e-waste collections, book swaps, swap ‘n’ drops (for household goods), textile drives and household hazardous waste collections.

The committee also works to promote and educate the public on topics of composting, collecting school supplies, and other activities.

Committed to the cause “Several locations, including the Salem Public Library, Community Life Center and City Hall Annex, collect plastic film that committee volunteers bring to Market Basket, where we participate in a collection for (outdoor furniture manufacturer) Trex,” Cherkasova said.

“Last year, we won a Trex bench for collecting over 1,000 pounds.”

The community also offers TerraCycle collections for hard-to-recycle items like toothbrushes, razors and Brita filters, and on weekends, the city of Salem’s transfer station is open for yard waste and cardboard drop offs — one more option for residents besides the five times per year yard waste collection and twice a week curbside recycling.

“The city also offers rain barrels and backyard composters at a reduced cost,” she said.

LEFT: The Styrofoam collection partnership with Beverly, Mass., has been a successful endeavor for the city of Salem, Mass., which strives to be a sustainable community thanks to the efforts of Zero Waste Salem, a committee dedicated to waste reduction.

(Photo provided by Salem, Mass.)

30 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

Since becoming the waste reduction coordinator two years ago, Cherkasova has been responsible for much of the planning, publicity and volunteer outreach for Zero Waste Salem committee events and city initiatives related to waste and assisting residents with trash and recycling services. She and the other members of the committee have also met with residents of other towns who are interested in hosting similar events, and she is always happy to share planning documents, best practices and recommendations.

“When you collaborate with other communities, your event can have greater visibility and can pull from a larger pool of volunteers to help make the event a success,” she said.

A “foam-tastic” partnership In 2022, Salem began partnering with nearby Beverly, Mass., on a biannual Styrofoam recycling program. Unlike other waste reduction events, which do not incur a cost, the cities need to pay for Styrofoam collection. By splitting the rate, it allows each community to host an event each year while encouraging residents to participate in both.

Salem’s event is held in January to take advantage of the post-holiday waste, and in recent years, the community has filled a large truck with no room to spare. Although the June event in Beverly tends to be a little lighter, there were over 180 who took advantage of the opportunity, and the collection filled 75% of the truck.

“In January 2026, we set a record by filling the truck completely just halfway through the normally three-hour collection,” Cherkasova said.

Beverly has also reached out to Salem to learn more about their school cafeteria waste reduction program, which is funded through a MassDEP grant. This grant allows the city to provide compost collection for all of Salem’s public schools and the Community Life Center’s back of house (kitchen) organic waste. The five public schools also have composting front of house (FOH) with students sorting post-meal waste into a share table, liquid pour bucket, trash and compost.

This not only improves waste reduction in the community but instills good habits that the students can use for a lifetime.

Cherkasova said that launching FOH composting at each school involves education through slideshows and student videos, volunteer monitoring, signage and more. There

According to Alisa Cherkasova, the popular Styrofoam collection events in both Salem, Mass., and nearby Beverly attract over 180 cars each time they are offered. (Photo provided by Salem, Mass.)

Not even snow can stop the Styrofoam collection efforts between Salem, Mass., and the neighboring community of Beverly. Residents enjoy taking part in the post-holiday waste collection, and the cities regularly fill their trucks during the January event. (Photo provided by Salem, Mass.)

is also a public food waste drop-off site and free compost totes as an incentive for curbside composting subscribers.

“As part of my role, I also conduct recycling tote inspections,” she said. “Salem’s GIS team recently designed an app that allows me to better collect contamination data and I’m excited to use that to improve outreach and education. The city’s yearly contamination audits regularly show that Salem’s recycling in curbside totes has under 10% contamination by weight. We partner with RecycleSmartMA to try to make recycling correctly as easy as possible with clear messaging.”

Cherkosova said that it is incredibly helpful to have a dedicated recycling/waste reduction committee to form task forces for each event, volunteer, publicize and educate.

Having recycling bin inspections, creating a range of recycling events in various spaces and partnering with other cities allows leaders to meet people where they are, dispel myths and introduce them to the full range of what Salem offers.

“Making waste reduction a fun, supportive community effort makes more people feel welcome and excited to participate and learn more,” she said. M

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 31

M Focus on: Waste & Recycling

Jefferson City puts focus on abandoned vehicles

By JANET G. PATTERSON | The Municipal

Jefferson City, Mo., spent the month of April tackling the problem of junked and abandoned vehicles in its community.

Operation Spring Cleanup aimed at managing the increasing number of complaints reported to both the Jefferson City Police Department and the city’s code enforcement, said Molly Bryan, public information coordinator for the city.

The capital of Missouri, like many cities worldwide, is facing the dilemma of abandoned vehicles. On the East Coast, Philadelphia receives an average of 37,000 abandoned car complaints annually. According to Honolulu Civil Beat in April 2025, “Derelict vehicles are one of the Big Island’s most intractable environmental issues and safety concerns with 1,600 vehicles dumped every year — almost a quarter of the 8,000 vehicles left statewide. The wrecks are an eyesore as well as a potential chemical hazard since they can leak toxic materials into the 32 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

ABOVE: Jefferson City was named the capital of Missouri in 1821. Today, the domed capitol building sits on the bluff overlooking the Missouri River to its north. (Photo provided by Jefferson City, Mo.)

water table. They’re also common breeding grounds for vermin and mosquitoes.” that contaminate the surrounding soil and In Jefferson City, affectionately referred groundwater. to as Jeff City, the two departments receivSo, what qualifies as an abandoned or ing complaints joined forces to address the junked vehicle? issue under the city’s Planning and Protective Under the Jefferson City Code, a junked Services Department to jump-start the 2026 vehicle is non-operational, has been wrecked cleanup season. or dismantled, and is unlicensed or unreg“This blitz was not just about appearances, istered. Improperly stored boats, trailers, but also about safety,” Bryan added. Aban- campers or recreational vehicles can also fall doned vehicles can attract criminal activity into the “junked” category. and create serious concerns for surrounding The code also specifies that any vehicle left properties. Vandalism, illegal dumping and on a city street for more than 72 consecutive vehicle theft, as well as parts stripping, are hours can be considered abandoned. among the hazards with abandoned vehicles.

Bryan said the city has been addressing Cities and recyclers agree that besides “nuisance and junked vehicles for many years, providing a place for criminal activity, following locally adopted ordinances as well abandoned vehicles are an environmen- as Missouri Department of Revenue guidetal hazard from leaking oil and other fluids lines for junked or abandoned vehicles.”

The responsibility for enforcement depends on the location of the vehicle. The Jefferson City Police Department handles on-street vehicles, while city code enforcement manages vehicles on private property.

Both departments have worked together to ensure proper notification is provided and that owners have an opportunity to resolve the issue before further action is taken.

Jefferson City Director of Planning and Protective Services Dave Helmick describes the steps for vehicles located on private property.

When the department receives a complaint or someone observes a vehicle that is in violation, a member of his staff mails a violation notice to the property owner. “We alert them to the violation and outline the corrective action needed to remedy the situation.” The city maintains a webpage form for reporting any code enforcement violations.

If the property owner fails to correct the violation, the owner is summoned to Municipal Court, and the department tags the vehicle with a sticker. Further action includes mailing a certified final notice to the owner and then towing the vehicle if no corrective action has started.

“If the owner complies at any point in the process, the case is closed,” Helmick added. “For vehicles located on the street, police officers attempt to contact the vehicle owner and have it voluntarily removed.

If not corrected within 72 hours, city ordinance allows the vehicle to be towed.”

Chief of Police Eric Wilde said that a vehicle that is towed goes to the towing company’s storage yard to be held until the vehicle owner claims it.

Helmick said the city’s Property Maintenance Division receives an average of 200 vehicle complaints every year. During Jefferson City’s April cleanup event, they received and investigated 65 complaints, with 48 found to be in violation.

Of those, two property owners requested hearings, two were issued summons to appear in court and 36 voluntarily corrected the violation. As of late May, eight violations were still in the process of being resolved.

Bryan said the spring vehicle cleanup followed the Missouri Department of Revenue’s published guidelines and regulations for dealing with junked or abandoned vehicles. While the regulatory process is generally the same for all Missouri municipalities, “each city and county develops its own enforcement plans and procedures for handling violations.”

Besides the vehicle cleanup, Helmick said the city puts an additional focus on outdoor storage and trash violations in April. During the month, city officials assign each half of the city pickup dates to collect large items like couches, chairs, tables, televisions, microwaves, tied bundles of scrap materials under four feet long, and mattresses.

To qualify for pickup, large bulk items must be of a size and weight that two people can handle.

Jefferson City works on the cleanup of abandoned buildings in both April and October and focuses on code enforcement for rental properties in February.

“The rest of the year, all codes are enforced on a regular basis,” Helmick added.

City officials emphasize that by proactively addressing code violations, Operation Spring Cleanup helps to improve neighborhood appearance, reduce opportunities for crime and keep streets safe and accessible. M

Jefferson City designated April as the month for Operation Spring Cleanup, specifically for the removal of abandoned vehicles from properties around the city. (Photo provided by Jefferson City, Mo.)

Located in the region known as Mid-Missouri, Jefferson City is about halfway between the state’s two most populous cities, Kansas City to the west and St. Louis to the east. (Photo provided

by Jefferson City, Mo.)

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 33

Personality Profile

Variety, challenges of solid waste service invigorate Raleigh, N.C. director

Shutterstock.com

M

By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal

Raleigh, N.C.’s, director of solid waste services began her work in December. So, eight months later, how does Shikha Gupta feel?

“It’s going very well,” Gupta said. “Starting in January meant jumping into a lot of learning all at once — not only getting acclimated to a new organization but also a new city and a new state. Every community approaches solid waste services a little differently, so there has been plenty to absorb.”

Gupta would know that well, having worked in many different locations through the years — 19, to be exact.

“What has made this transition easier is the people. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming, supportive, and generous with their time and knowledge. I’ve enjoyed meeting new colleagues, community partners and residents, and learning more about what makes Raleigh unique.”

There’s a lot involved, moving when a person has a family as well as a new step up in his or her career.

“It was definitely a big change, but it has also been an exciting one. One of the things I enjoy most about my career is the opportunity to keep learning, and these first few months have certainly provided that. I’m 34 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

gaining a deeper understanding of Raleigh’s collection operations, local priorities and long-term goals, while also bringing perspectives from my experiences in Arizona and California.”

She was up to the challenge. “Overall, I’m enjoying the work, the people and the opportunity to contribute to a growing city.

A few months in, I can say that I’m glad I made the move and excited about what’s ahead.”

She has worn a lot of hats over the years.

“I’ve spent my entire career in public service, and it all started nearly 20 years ago in Maricopa County, Ariz., where I worked as a health inspector in the Environmental Services Department. It was a great job for someone who enjoys meeting people and learning something new every day. One day I might be inspecting a restaurant, the next I’d be learning about a different culture through the people I met. No two days were ever the same.”

When one is well-suited for their chosen field and does all the work required, the road

Meet Shikha Gupta, who is not just new to the position of director of solid waste services for the city of Raleigh, N.C., but now lives there with her family as well. (Photo provided by Shikha Gupta)

runs more smoothly as the steps unfold. “I was fortunate to move up quickly, eventually becoming a regional manager overseeing inspection operations for a large part of the county,” Gupta said. “After 10 years, I felt ready for a new challenge, and that opportunity came in the form of a position with

Two of Gupta’s favorite people are her husband, Asheesh, and her daughter, Bela. (Photo provided by Shikha Gupta) the city of San José, Calif. That move introduced me to the solid waste industry and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

But she’s far from a one-trick pony, so to speak. “Since then, I’ve had the chance to work on everything from collection programs to recycling operations, closed landfills and zero waste policies. At the city of Sunnyvale, Calif., I worked closely with materials recovery facility operations and helped advance sustainability initiatives. One of the things I love most about this field is that there’s always something new to learn and another challenge around the corner.”

Did she have a favorite place to live and work?

“People often ask whether I preferred Arizona or California. The truth is that each offered unique opportunities. Arizona gave me a strong foundation in public service and leadership, while California pushed me into the world of solid waste and sustainability. California’s programs are also heavily shaped by state regulations, which created a very dynamic environment for innovation and program development.”

Gupta continued, “As for North Carolina, my current role as director of solid waste services for the city of Raleigh is what brought me here. I’m enjoying learning how North Carolina approaches waste reduction, recycling and collection services. Every state has its own personality when it comes to public programs, and I find that fascinating. After nearly two decades, that’s really what has kept me engaged: There’s always a new community to serve, a new problem to solve and a new way to make a positive impact.”

“It has definitely been an evolution,” Gupta mused. “My work in California was heavily focused on the policy and sustainability side of the industry — managing contracts with service providers, implementing state regulations and advancing zero waste initiatives. Those experiences gave me a deep understanding of how communities can reduce waste and recover valuable resources that might otherwise end up in a landfill.” As concerns about global warming and other issues loom ever larger, these become important aspects of life, Conversely, Gupta added: “My role in Raleigh has brought me closer to the fundamentals of the business. Because the city provides collection services directly to residents, much of my focus is on ensuring that this essential service runs smoothly every day. It’s a different

perspective, but an equally important one. After all, the most innovative sustainability program in the world won’t succeed if the basics of collection aren’t working well.

“What I appreciate most is having experience on both sides of the equation. It has helped me understand not only the operational challenges behind waste and recycling services, but also how residents view those services and what matters most to them.”

The connection between daily collection, recycling programs and long-term sustainability goals is much clearer when a person has worked across the entire system, she added. It’s true, too, that for many citizens, especially seniors, the convenience of having recycling picked up as regularly as trash is a big improvement from the days of taking everything to recycling centers.

“One project I’m particularly proud of being involved with is helping implement programs aimed at reducing organic materials going into landfills. Food scraps and yard waste make up a significant portion of what is disposed of, and finding ways to divert those materials can have a meaningful environmental impact. It’s rewarding to know that those efforts helped move communities closer to their sustainability goals,” Gupta explained.

“More broadly, what makes me proud is being part of work that people often don’t think about until it’s not there. Solid waste services are one of the most essential functions of local government.

Whether it’s collecting trash, increasing recycling or reducing landfill waste, the goal is always the same: improving the quality of life for residents and leaving communities a little better than we found them.”

She’s wise enough, too, to remember the old expression about all work and no play.

“Outside of work, family is my biggest priority. We’re a small family of three, and my daughter, Bela, is 11 years old. While I’m passionate about my work, I’m equally committed to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. In fact, it’s something I encourage my entire team to do as well. My daughter does a great job of keeping me accountable. She’s quick to remind me when it’s time to put work aside and focus on family, so evenings and weekends are dedicated to spending time together. I’ve learned that no matter how important a meeting feels, an 11-year-old will always have a stronger opinion about how you should spend your time.”

Gupta and her husband, Asheesh, are on the same page with what matters most.

“As a family, we enjoy simple things: watching movies, listening to music, exploring hiking trails and traveling whenever we have the opportunity. In fact, our most recent trip was to New York City, where we fully embraced being tourists. We visited the iconic sights, explored different neighborhoods and walked nearly 15 miles in just two days. By the end, our feet were tired, but we had a great time making memories together.”

When asked what might surprise people to learn about her, Gupta thought about it. “As for something people might be surprised to learn about me, it’s probably that despite working in a field focused on operations, regulations and public services, I’m really just someone who enjoys being outdoors, staying active and spending quality time with family. I may not juggle or ride a unicycle, but I do believe that finding a balance between work and life is its own kind of skill — and one I continue to practice every day.” M

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 35

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Public Safety

New public safety training facility highlights Prattville’s commitment to safety

By JENNIFER BARTON | The Municipal

It is a sad reality that in the current enlightened age, so many tragedies of large-scale proportions still occur. Active shooters haunt school campuses and malls, fires rage out of control at public venues, vehicular accidents take the lives of hundreds of people, and even terrorists actively commit atrocities of epic proportions.

While these incidents are isolated, their horrifying nature irrevocably imprints itself on the collective memory and demonstrates that no place is immune to potential tragedies.

No one should fear venturing into public because of these occurrences. More importantly, however, citizens responsible for protecting and rescuing innocent victims should have the best training possible to reduce their own fears and allow them to make appropriate, rapid decisions to save lives.

To ensure this, the city of Prattville, Ala., recently opened a sprawling, 36 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

state-of-the-art training facility for both the fire and police departments. This 18,000-square-foot building had been in the planning stages for roughly 10 years, according to Police Chief Jeremy Thompson. He and Fire Chief Joshua Bingham spoke with The Municipal regarding the new facility. The close relationship between the two chiefs naturally gave rise

ABOVE: A drone captures Prattville, Ala.’s, state-of-the-art public training facility, which opened in January 2026. (Photo provided by Prattville, Ala.)

to this collaboration when the former fire chief retired 10 years ago.

“We both wanted a larger area where we could not only train our people but bring other people in that couldn’t afford the training we wanted to put on,” Chief Thompson said.

“It’s just been a blessing for us in (the) fire (department).”

The fire department already had a training facility prior to the opening of the new one: 11 acres with a burn tower, classroom and props, “so this was a no-brainer for us, just having the police department jump on and reinforce what we were trying to

Photo murals spotlight Prattville’s fire and police departments at the training facility.

(Photos provided by Prattville, Ala.)

Other fire departments are not the only do,” Chief Bingham added. “It made it a lot easier on the municipal side to let everyone people who gain valuable experience from see that it’s not just a fire training facility, the center. Chief Thompson spoke of the it’s not just a police training facility; this is important training men and women in his all aspects of public safety.” department receive on the backside of the He continued, calling the facility “all- building, or the area known as “VAFS.” It encompassing,” because of its uses for is a virtual firearms simulator that can run things like 911 communications meetings “hundreds of different scenarios,” even and severe weather briefings. The build- including putting “an officer on the firing ing holds 10 classrooms, one specifically range, and it will tell us what the officer is for both fire and police departments, with doing wrong and that (we) can help correct a capacity of 50 students, but also boasts and make him a better shooter.”

There is also a Simunition room, where offices, a kitchen and a large conference room. A fire engine on reserve status is individuals and SWAT teams can practice also housed at the complex along with an real-life scenarios with actual weapons to ambulance and trained paramedics, in case give the most realistic feel of firing weapof an emergency or illness during classes. ons, making quick decisions and keeping Prattville is located 10 miles north of the their team and others safe. state capital of Montgomery. With a popu“We’ve had classes that draw nationwide lation of 40,000 people living within 36 attention; we’ve had local, we’ve had state square miles, it is a historical city with a classes … the federals have put on classes. small-town feel, founded in 1839 by Daniel … We are here to help other agencies, and Pratt. The city partners with the Alabama with this facility, it’s unlimited what we can Fire College in Tuscaloosa to use the train- do to help train fire and police that can’t ing center. Chief Bingham explained that afford this type of training.”

The facility cost $4 million in total. The the college set up regional training sites throughout the state, with Prattville being fire department already owned the land, one of them. These allow for lower costs for but training department offices were previdepartments that cannot afford lodging for ously housed in a double-wide office trailer. their students.

Interestingly, the public safety building “I think last year, before the training center now resides where the city’s founder once was fully open, we taught about 16 classes; lived. this year, we’re on par to teach about 20 Chief Bingham stressed that even as head for the fire college,” Chief Bingham stated. of the fire department, “We could not have Students come from all over the state and done this by ourselves — it took some of beyond. He even mentioned two students the backing and explaining from the police who had traveled from Canada to study in department along with our command staff Alabama. “We’re really fortunate to have to really push this through.”

Most of the funding came from the city’s this training center there … it’s brand-new, planned capital improvement money. state-of-the-art.”

The public safety facility features an advanced firearms training area, named in memory of Clinton Earl Walker. (Photo provided by Prattville, Ala.)

Prattville’s public safety training facility draws students from all over the U.S. and even from Canada. (Photo provided by Prattville, Ala.)

“We’re proud of it, and we feel Prattville has touted public safety, and they’ve seen the need,” Chief Thompson added.

Additionally, he proudly reported that two of the rooms in the facility have been named for lost first responders: one police officer who was killed in a training incident years ago and a firefighter recruit who passed away due to cancer.

The training center also greatly benefits the economy of Prattville, with outside agencies sending students for classes — students who stay at local lodgings, eat at local restaurants and shop the local businesses.

These people have the opportunity to experience the revitalization efforts put into the historic city.

“It’s kind of a win-win for the city and for us,” Chief Thompson said. M

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 37

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Municipal Management

Pembroke Pines expands autism-friendly efforts with citywide commitment

By TERESA NICODEMUS | The Municipal

Pembroke Pines, Fla., has earned the Autism Friendly Partner designation from the University of Miami Center for Autism and Related Disabilities after expanding training, accessibility and community programs for neurodivergent residents and families.

The city is showing how thoughtful planning, community partnership and targeted programming can turn inclusion into action.

Vice Mayor Michael Hernández said the city’s journey to achieving the designation began with a local advocate, Ysela Heim, founder of Special Advocacy Services, who encouraged the city to pursue the designation. The designation fit naturally with Pembroke Pines’ identity as a culturally diverse, inclusive city that still feels personal and neighborly. With more than 170,000 residents, it is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Broward County but has also invested in programs that support people with autism and autism-related disabilities.

“We have a rich history of creating accessible environments for people with autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities through existing programs like our longstanding adaptive sports partnership with YMCA of South Florida,” Hernández said. “They offer specialized academic programs through our seven municipally operating charter schools, including the 40 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

ABOVE: Various community leaders attended the Autism Friendly City Designation Commission meeting April 15, 2026.

From left, are Samia Chevannes, Community Health Program, Baptist Health; Holly Bonkowski, assistant director, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department; Kate Goldman, Government & Community Relations, Baptist Health; Elizabeth Nasser, assistant vice president, Surgery Center, Baptist Health; Alicia Palelis, partner, Special Education Advocacy Services LLC; Luis Grana, CARD director; Nina Garcia, CARD specialist; Ysela Heim, community advocate, Special Education Advocacy Services LLC; Natalie Dominguez-Ferro, CARD specialist; Sue Lepri, CARD specialist; Christina Goulding, assistant city manager/director, Recreation and Cultural Arts; Mayor Angelo Castillo; and Vice Mayor Michael Hernandez. (Photo provided by the City of Pembroke Pines, Fla.)

Florida State University charter elementary school, as well as other Americans with Disabilities programs and summer camps,” he explained. “We wanted to build on those. We wanted to enrich our programs and continue welcoming diverse populations and help them feel included. This designation creates a more inclusive community and shows proof of our commitment.”

Working with Assistant City Manager Christina Goulding, Hernández introduced the legislation to pursue the designation and presented it to the City Commission. The city began working with CARD in October and officially received the designation on April 15.

From planning to action “CARD recommended enhancements to our existing programs. It was an easy transition for us to make in comparison to other municipalities,” he said. “Because we already had many programs and services in place to meet the designation, we were not starting from nothing. We had a smooth transition.”

One program enhancement was Sensory Saturdays at the Frank Art Gallery, where neurodiverse children, families and other visitors can take part in hands-on art activities in a more supportive environment.

The city also added sensory-considerate playground equipment, launched an autismfriendly webpage and developed Social Stories to help neurodivergent residents and families navigate city events and facilities.

Those stories, created under CARD’s guidance, used colorful graphics and simple instructions to prepare neurodivergent visitors for what they will experience at city landmarks and events. The Social Stories are available for public access on the city website, www.ppines.com.

Another accessibility improvement was the installation of communication boards throughout parks and public spaces. With a $15,000 donation from Baptist Health, Pembroke Pines began expanding the program as part of its broader autism-friendly efforts.

The boards are designed to help nonverbal and minimally verbal individuals communicate by pointing to symbols that express feelings, needs, concerns or interests. “They can be especially helpful in emergency situations, where they may assist first responders or caregivers in understanding what a person needs,” Hernández said.

The first phase of the project included 12 boards. Seven have already been installed, and the remaining boards are expected by the end of the year. The long-term goal is to place boards throughout the city and in each city park, which would make the resource available across Pembroke Pines’ 34.5-square-mile footprint.

Training across every department As part of the designation, the city launched an autism awareness training program developed in collaboration with CARD. The training, said Hernández, is not limited to one department. It is available across the parks and recreation department, cultural arts, public services, police and fire rescue, city clerks and human resources.

Whether a resident is visiting a park, calling for assistance, attending a cultural event or going to city hall, the expectation is that city staff will be prepared to interact with neurodiverse residents in a respectful and informed way.

“The idea is to make every point of contact with city government more welcoming and supportive,” he commented.

Reaching the public where they are Hernández, who has 22 years of communications experience and also serves as vice president of communications for a nonprofit, said public outreach played a major role in keeping the community informed about the designation and city resources for the neurodivergent population. He believes cities must communicate broadly and consistently, especially in an age when people are distracted by competing messages on their phones.

To promote the designation, he and city leaders spoke with homeowners’ associations, parent-teacher associations, parents and students. The city also used social media, email, radio and in-person meetings to explain what the designation meant and why it mattered.

Hernández insisted that the communication should be multilingual and repetitive enough to reach residents through several channels. He also emphasized the importance of reviewing metrics, including email open rates and social media engagement, to understand what messages are connecting with the public. Outreach, he said, should be

Community members can take part in the Sensory Saturday Craft program at The Frank Art Gallery (Photo provided by the City of Pembroke Pines, Fla.)

measured, ongoing and responsive to what people pay attention to.

What comes next?

The Autism Friendly Partner designation is not the end of the city’s work. “It’s a comma,” Hernández said, describing the recognition as part of an ongoing process rather than a final achievement. The city is already looking ahead to additional improvements, including opening autism awareness training to residents in the future, hosting an annual autism awareness fair, expanding arts and recreation programming and adding signage that identifies Pembroke Pines as an autism-friendly city.

City leaders also want to continue learning from other municipalities through organizations such as the Broward League of Cities. It is anticipated that sharing ideas with peer cities will help Pembroke Pines discover new practices and keep improving services for neurodivergent children and adults.

“The designation reinforces our larger civic goal to ensure that people with autism and related disabilities feel welcomed, valued and supported. I hope Pembroke Pines can become a model for other large and midsize cities looking to create a lasting culture of inclusion,” Hernández said. M AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 41

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Streets, Highways & Bridges

Painting a path to safer intersections:

Niagara Falls, N.Y.

By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal

Bold asphalt art, community grit and hard data have turned a dangerous street crossing into a model for creative placemaking in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Thanks to funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Niagara Falls Heritage Area was able to convene the North End Triangle project.

Designated by the United States Congress in 2008, the mission of the NFHA is to preserve, protect and promote the historic, natural and cultural resources of the area stretching from Niagara Falls to Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown.

In the fall of 2025, the organization got to work on the North End Triangle project with the intent of slowing speeds and showcasing a swirl of local spirit. A five-way intersection — Main Street, Portage Road and Pierce Avenue in the North End neighborhood — was reimagined to increase pedestrian safety, lower dangerous high speeds and improve the overall wellbeing of the neighborhood.

The North End Triangle project involved narrowing the vehicle lanes, forcing traffic to slow as it approaches the intersection. The 44 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

ABOVE: The success of the North End Triangle project was due in large part to community support and participation.

(Photo provided by The Niagara Falls Heritage Area)

addition of crosswalks across four lanes also improved pedestrian safety.

This intersection was selected for improvement because it had been unsafe for a long time, according to Ally Spongr DeGon, director of public art at the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.

“The project is trying to rebalance the car culture that has kind of taken over in our urban core. It’s calling to you: It’s meant to inspire conversations instead of flying through.”

The initiative was just as functional as it was aesthetic. Curb extensions, along with a center roadway mural, totaled more than 4,500 square feet. The space was defined by plastic traffic bollards and designed and painted under the direction of Artist Development Manager Tyshaun Tyson. He was aided by 10 volunteers and eight National Heritage Area staff members over the course of three days.

The design for the mural was inspired by movement and the energy found in everyday urban spaces. It merges creativity with the natural flow of the neighborhood. According to Tyson, his vision was to incorporate colors and what he refers to as “Easter eggs,” honoring local nearby spots like The Why Coffee Shop. In other words, the design honored the neighborhood instead of the famous waterfall.

The mural was a labor of love and reflects the importance of adapting to meet the moment.

“When we went to install it, we had to take a lot of creative pivots at different parts, just due to different things that we were learning in real time that we decided I had to make a standard decision on,” Tyson said.

Whether it’s a project like this or one with a different focus altogether, DeGon said the group considers itself storytellers and builders working within the backdrop of a Rust Belt city with a history of economic decline.

“We don’t really have a roadmap,” she said. “We’re building most things from scratch, and that involves a lot of our work with partners to find ways to elevate that.”

In the spirit of collaboration, students from nearby Abate Elementary School assisted with the installation on all three days. Nearby local business owners also contributed to the effort. The idea was that by involving the community members who use the intersection the most, they would become invested in the project’s outcome and in further creating a safer and more connected neighborhood.

It seems the project hit all the markers of success, according to data provided by Director of Operations Deidre Reynolds. The average speed of traffic in the area dropped from 41 mph to 17 mph without pylons and to 11 mph with pylons. Maximum recorded speed fell from 56 mph to 20 mph with pylons. Jaywalking dropped from 41 to 5 incidents in a two-hour period — an 87% decrease.

“Getting the observations of the traffic patterns is so critically important, because that is your best advocacy tool for getting these projects completed,” Reynolds said.

Advocacy showed up in other important ways with respect to the project. According to Public Art Coordinator Saladin Allah, his team

A mural in Niagara Falls, N.Y., reflects elements of community pride like The Why Coffee Shop. (Photo provided by The Niagara Falls Heritage Area)

Community members add splashes of color in Niagara Falls’ North End Triangle project. The project was completed in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies. (Photo provided by Niagara Falls National Heritage Area)

relied on door-to-door outreach, questionnaires and student volunteers to communicate that grant money — not tax dollars — paid for the project.

In his estimation, public engagement only happens when you invite people to the table.

“We build trust from the foundation up,” he said. “Sometimes projects that I’ve done in communities are built from the top down.

When that happens, many times people don’t react well because they weren’t involved in the process.” M AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 45

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AU G U S T Aug. 1-7 UPMA 10th National Convention El Conquistador Resort, Puerto Rico https://www.unitedpma.org/ upma-9th-national-convention/ Aug. 2-5 APCO International 2026 San Antonio, Texas https://www.apcointl.org/ events/ Aug. 2-5 Tennessee Municipal League 86th Annual Convention MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center, Kingsport, Tenn. https://www.tml1.org/ Aug. 4-7 Building Officials Association of Texas Annual Conference AC Marriot Waco Downtown, Waco, Texas https://boatx.org/boatconferences/ Aug. 5-7 EmpowHER Ballentyne Hotel, Charlotte, N.C. https://cleanpower.org/ empowher/ Aug. 5-8 Louisiana State Firemen’s Association 121st Annual Conference Crown Plaza Executive Suites, Baton Rouge, La. https://www.lsfa.net/

Aug. 6 & 7 Global Leadership Summit South Barrington, Ill. https://globalleadership.org/

Aug. 12-14 Fire-Rescue International 2026 Kansas City, Mo. https://www.iafc.org/events

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Aug. 13 & 14 Midwest Security & Police Conference/Expo Tinley Park Convention Center, Tinley Park, Ill. http://mspce.com

Aug. 10-13 Missouri EMS Conference Hilton Branson Convention Center, Branson, Mo. https://www.moemsconference. org/ Aug. 10-13 National Homeland Security Conference 2026 Louisville, Ky. https://www. nationalhomelandsecurity.org/ Aug. 10-15 National Association of EMS Educators Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Reno, Nev. https://naemse.org/page/ FutureSymposiumDates Aug. 11-12 Federal DesignBuild Symposium Hyatt Regency Reston, Reston, Va. https://dbia.org/federaldesign-build-symposium/ Aug. 11-14 NAIC Summer National Meeting Columbus, Ohio https://content.naic.org/events

Aug. 13-15 Florida League of Cities 2026 Annual Conference The Diplomat Beach Resort, Hollywood, Fla. https://www.flcities.com/ events/2026-08-15/ Aug. 13-15 IES26: The Lighting Conference Denver Grand Hyatt, Denver, Colo. https://ies.org/events/ies26/ Aug. 14-15 South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, N.C. https://www. southatlanticfirerescueexpo. com/ Aug. 17-19 NASFM 36th Annual Fire Prevention and Safety Summit Orange County, Calif. https://www.firemarshals.org/

Aug. 18-21 League of Arizona Cities & Towns Annual Conference Arizona Biltmore Resort, Phoenix, Ariz. https://www.azleague.org/103/ Annual-Conference Aug. 22-26 156th Congress of Correction Conference Pittsburgh, Pa. https://www.aca.org/ Aug. 23-26 NIGP Forum 2026 (also virtual July 23-26) Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio https://www.nigp.org/forum Aug. 25-27 StormCon 2026 Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minn. https://www.stormcon. com/2026 Aug. 26-28 Indiana Water Environment Association Annual Conference Indianapolis Convention Center, Indianapolis, Ind. https://indianawea.org/annualconference/#top Aug. 30-Sept. 2 APWA Public Works Expo Houston, Texas https://www.apwa.org/events/ pwx-conference/

To list your upcoming conference or seminar in The Municipal at no charge, call (800) 733-4111, ext. 2307, or email the information to swright@the-papers.com.

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TOP 10 Top cities for composting Composting is complicated. As the website LawnStarter.com noted, grass clippings and other organic yard waste are compostable, yet 26 states require yard waste to be sorted out from the compost bin.

they found is important because organic waste from yard clippings and food decomposing in landfills is the third-largest source of methane emissions in the U.S. Methane is 84 times stronger than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.

Cities in other U.S. states, however, are trying to recycle organic waste — yard trimmings and food Several of the top U.S. cities offer curbside pickup scraps — into resources, including energy. for compost. But there is still a long way to go toward seeing composting as a critical component of a comLawnStarter dove into the statistics, accomplish- prehensive sustainability plan, given that 300 cities ments and obstacles and compiled a ranking of the in the ranking were reported to have neither municitop U.S. cities for composting. Analysts compared pal nor private composting, although, even in those the 500 largest U.S. cities based on 11 total metrics, cities, it is permitted in private homes and commuincluding access to city-run and private compost- nity gardens. ing services, average yard size and policies driving compost access, like zero-waste initiatives. What The top cities for composting in 2026 are:

1. San Diego, Calif.

2. New York, N.Y. 3. Los Angeles, Calif.

4. Boston, Mass.

5. Santa Monica, Calif.

6. Orlando, Fla. 7. Austin, Texas 8. Gainesville, Fla. 9. Minneapolis, Minn.

10. San Francisco, Calif.

Source: https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies/top-cities-composting/

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Advertiser Index

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LaValley Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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BendPak Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Bergkamp Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Blackburn Manufacturing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

N National Construction Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Bonnell Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Broyhill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Bucher Municipal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

P Par Kan Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

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Radarsign, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

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S Stan Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Switch-N-Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Edinburg Auctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Super Products LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

F Fluid Control Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

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H Hol-Mac Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Manage winter with Frost Solutions

www.themunicipal.com

I IAA, Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

V

Composting expansion

Vactor Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Addressing illegal dumping

Valtir LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 VMAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

W Weller Salvage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

K

Wisconsin Surplus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

KM International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Wix Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Thank you to our advertisers for being a part of our August 2026 issue This index is provided courtesy of the publisher, who assumes no liability for errors or omissions.

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 53

54 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2026

MUNICIPAL SPREADERS & PLOWS BUILT FOR FLEET PERFORMANCE

304 Stainless Steel SaltDogg® Municipal Spreaders Configured to Meet Your Specific Needs BUYERS BOOTH #1815

Wide range of Steel, Stainless Steel, & Poly SnowDogg® Municipal Plows

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NOTHING WORKS LIKE A DOGG™

BuyersProducts.com

AUGUST 2026 | THE MUNICIPAL 55

SEE WHAT’S

UNDERGROUND HD clarity that doesn't compromise. Fiber optic mainline sewer inspection systems built for real-world performance.

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