As the avian influenza continues its spread across Iowa, producers are being left with thousands of birds to dispose of. The Iowa City Landfill, which serves Johnson County, Kalona and Riverside, has not been asked to accept loads of dead turkeys or chickens yet, but the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has approached staff to see if they would be willing to. According to Landfill Superintendent Dave Elias, if the flu became a problem locally, they’d consider it.

With the potential for it to reach this part of the state, landfill staff is looking at how the carcasses would be handled. Elias shares they would likely cover the birds with earth, then take steps a few weeks later to control the odor. He adds the DNR, citing what’s happening in northwest Iowa, told them landfills could see 100 to over 200 tons of birds per week.

Over 26 million domesticated birds in Iowa, mainly in the northwest corner, have been affected by the flu. There have been no confirmed cases in southeast Iowa.