This is your page for all things reduction and reuse.
Websites listed below are not exhaustive and do not reflect City endorsement or support of products and services. Follow all safety precautions when doing your own repair or upcycling projects.
These steps are recommended and prioritized before recycling and composting, because they prevent waste from being formed in the first place. Waste prevention saves energy and resources, preserves landfill space, and reduces our greenhouse gas emissions in Iowa City. All of these efforts go towards our emissions reduction goals outlined in the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
Reduction and reuse are simply about using less stuff.
The amount of stuff we use and buy tends to translate into the amount of trash we produce. For example, when we reduce the amount of disposable packaging we choose to buy, our trash production decreases.
Reuse involves using items again and again, such as a washable, reusable face mask. Reusing items is an impactful way that each of us can reduce waste.
Reducing and reusing are all about our behaviors and habits. Changing behaviors can sometimes seem difficult, but the good news is that there are a lot of easy, simple steps you can take that make a big difference over time.
Drinking beverages: Choose a reusable water bottle or mug.
Shopping: Remember the importance of consumer choice. You make a vote for the products you want on the shelf with what you choose to spend money on. Choose products that are local, sustainably-made, Fair Trade, recycled-content, recyclable, reusable, durable, or organic.
For grocery shopping, have a strategy in mind before walking in the store. Make a list, and only buy the food that you know you can eat. For more great tips on reducing food waste, check out our Food Waste page.
Drying hands or dishes: Reach for a cloth towel at home the next time you wash your hands or dishes.
Meal time: Opt for cloth napkins for your next meal; only plate what you know you can eat; save leftovers for later.
Reading: Check out a book from the library. Sharing, or reusing books is a great way to reduce environmental impact. Did you know that you can also check out movies, music, and artwork from the library? More information at the Library's website.
Making do with what we already have reduces waste and our overall environmental impact.
Mending torn clothing, adding a coat of paint to an old table, or replacing a damaged bike tire are just a few examples of “making do” instead of buying new.
Upcycling is taking an item, that would have otherwise ended up in the trash or recycling bin, and giving it a new use or purpose. Upcycling oftentimes involves some creativity and craftiness, and in a lot of cases, can be quite simple.
Some examples include:
Using an old mason jar as a drinking glass or pencil holder
Collecting wine corks to make a bulletin board
Transforming a t-shirt into a reusable bag
Turning a plastic water bottle into a bird feeder
Sewing old sweaters into mittens
The following website have tons of upcycling tutorials to help you get creative while reducing waste:
Reduction and reuse are first priorities as they have the most beneficial environmental impact in terms of waste reduction. However, recycling is a necessary and important piece of the waste reduction puzzle.
For recycling to be a beneficial part of a sustainable system, it needs to be done correctly with minimal contamination. Materials not accepted in recycling are called "contamination" because they negatively affect the recycling process for accepted materials or create safety hazards.
It is important to keep contamination low. Too many of the wrong items can lead to the entire load being landfilled. We all have a part to play to ensure recycling actually gets recycled. Only put accepted, clean (no food residue) items in your recycling bin.
For more information on curbside or drop-off recycling opportunities in Iowa City, visit www.icgov.org/recycle.
New Dream: This organization provides resources on how we can improve well-being and decrease consumption.
The Story of Stuff: Check out this website for information on current issues and resources on how to take action to reduce plastic pollution.
30 Day Unshopping Challenge: This challenge encourages us to take a break from shopping, and to use this time for more meaningful experiences that bring us joy.
Simple Homemade Cleaning Recipes: View this handout for natural cleaning tips that reduce your use and exposure to hazardous material.
Freecycle.org is another great resource that supports local reuse. This website is a platform for locals to post items they wish to get rid of or need. The items are free, and it is free to participate.
Fair Trade: Fair Trade offers a labeling system that focuses on conscious consumption related to social and economic fairness, and environmental protection.
Repair and Upcycle Series: This event series is held every January, February, and March.
Iowa City Fab Lab: This local maker-space has frequent events related to upcycling and reuse.
Backyard Abundance: This local nonprofit can help you create a beautiful, organic, low-maintenance landscape that reuses materials for gardens, creates compost from kitchen scraps and yard debris, provides habitat for desired wildlife, grows food and manages rainwater.
Iowa City Bike Library: This organization offers classes and workshops related to bike maintenance and repair.
