Metro Waste Authority (MWA) is an independent government agency comprised of 16 member communities, one county and six planning members. Established in 1969, MWA was designated to manage the landfill for the Polk County area after state law required all Iowa communities to properly dispose of their solid waste in a sanitary landfill. Now nationally recognized as a leader in environmental stewardship and cost-effective waste management, MWA operates five facilities, including the largest landfill in the state and serves more than 145,000 households. The annual operating budget is in excess of $25 million. Metro Waste Authority provides answers for safe and smart waste disposal and recycling. Whether it is garbage, recyclables, yard waste, hazardous waste or special waste, we know where it should go and have the resources to help. Serving Central Iowa, Metro Waste Authority manages Metro Park East Landfill, Metro Park West Landfill, Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off, Metro Compost Center, and Metro Transfer Station. We also provide recycling programs such as Curb It! and Compost It! for our member communities. A government agency, Metro Waste Authority is self-funded through fees charged to those who use the landfill and its other services; we do not receive tax dollars.