The Iowa District Court of Polk County has ruled in favor of Metro Waste Authority (MWA) in its three-year court battle with Des Moines, Iowa-based Phoenix C&D Recycling. Phoenix filed the suit, seeking $5 million in damages, in January 2006 after MWA refused to accept processed construction and demolition (C&D) debris from Phoenix to use as alternative daily cover at a MWA landfill.

The ruling determined the materials delivered contributed to odor problems at the authority’s Metro Park East landfill. As part of the judgment, Phoenix is required to pay disposal costs plus interest to MWA for the C&D waste it delivered to the landfill that didn’t meet alternative daily cover specifications.