Graphic promoting World Water Day on March 22, 2021.

Celebrate World Water Day on Wednesdays in March

Monday, March 1, 2021 - 3:00pm
Contact: 
Jane Wilch
Resource Management

World Water Day is Monday, March 22, and the 2021 theme is “Valuing Water.” In honor of the theme, the City of Iowa City will highlight a different topic and “call to action” every Wednesday in March, and we invite the community to learn and celebrate with us!

Here is the “Water Wednesday” lineup: March 3: Use water wisely. March 10: Appreciate water treatment and wastewater treatment plants. March 17: Do not litter. March 24: Be a wise consumer. March 31: Celebrate water’s importance in our lives.

To learn about each “Water Wednesday” topic in depth, visit...

Bulky items on a curb like a mattress and chair are shown.

City offers new online signup for special items collection for curbside customers

Thursday, February 25, 2021 - 3:30pm
Contact: 
Patricia Fossum
Resource Management

The City is now offering a new online sign-up for curbside collection of special items. Customers can schedule collection for items such as furniture and appliances to be picked up at the curb for proper disposal or recycling, depending on the item. Collection fees are added to customers’ monthly utility bills.

Is the Landfill the best destination for your items?

Before disposal, the City encourages residents to consider repairing, reusing, or donating items. Listed below are some options:

Iowa City Area Repair Directory Iowa City Resale and Consignment Directory More...
Sticky notes with recycling and environmental terms are shown.

Virtual environmental education resources now available

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 - 3:15pm
Contact: 
Jane Wilch
Resource Management

A new web page dedicated to free environmental education resources is now available to teachers, students, and community members seeking to learn about the environment, waste reduction, and ways to protect our planet. View the Environmental Education web page here: https://www.icgov.org/education .

The page is organized into two main sections: community resources and school resources. Community resources are most helpful to life-long learners and community groups. School resources are most helpful to students and teachers....

Graphic for National Battery Day on Feb. 18, 2021.

Celebrate National Battery Day

Monday, February 15, 2021 - 3:30pm
Contact: 
Jane Wilch
Resource Management

National Battery Day is Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, and Iowa City is celebrating the importance of proper and safe battery disposal.

Why is it important to dispose of batteries the right way at a recycling drop-off location? When a battery ends up in the trash and eventually makes its way to the landfill, heavy equipment that compacts trash can damage the battery. A damaged battery can spark and ignite a fire or release hazardous material into the landfill or environment.

Prevent battery fires and protect your local environment by properly disposing of your batteries at a...

A bus.

Federal law requiring face masks on public transit buses goes into effect Feb. 2, 2021

Tuesday, February 2, 2021 - 8:30am
Contact: 
Darian Nagle-Gamm
Transportation

While the City of Iowa City instituted a face-covering mandate in July of 2020, Federal law now specifies that face masks are required and must be worn over mouth and nose while traveling on any public transit vehicles, including Iowa City Transit, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Face masks must be worn at transit stops, including the...

Virtual Repair & Upcycle Series starts Jan. 26

Friday, January 22, 2021 - 8:30am
Contact: 
Jane Wilch
Resource Management

The Repair & Upcycle Series (late January through mid-March) is going virtual this year, and will offer digital resources on a wide variety of do it yourself (DIY) and at-home topics. All are welcome to join the waste reduction fun, and there is no cost to participate.

Each week’s topics will be centered around a theme, like metal, glass, and many more. Tuesdays will feature upcycling topics, while Thursdays will focus on repair topics.

The purpose of this series is to educate residents on the importance of waste reduction, and to offer resources on ways to reduce waste...

WInter curbside collection tips graphic.

Wintertime organics curbside collection tips

Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - 4:00pm
Contact: 
Patricia Fossum
Jane Wilch
Resource Management

The City reminds residents that curbside collection of organics (yard and food waste) will continue throughout the winter season with no suspension in service.

Please have materials at the curb by 7 a.m. on your regular collection day for pickup. Place carts or containers on a solid surface for pickup, such as the end of your driveway. Do not place carts on a snowbank or in the street.

Here are some tips to reduce organic material from freezing to your curbside container:

Wait to put your organics container at the curb until 7 a.m. on your curbside collection day (if...

New holiday schedule for curbside collection this year; Christmas tree pickup begins

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 - 2:00pm
Contact: 
Jennifer Jordan
Resource Management

A new schedule for curbside recycling and garbage collection will be in place for the 2020 Christmas holiday and 2021 New Year’s holiday. Routes normally collected on Fridays will instead be picked up a day early, on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020, and Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in addition to Thursday's normal routes. Please have items to the curb by 7 a.m.

Christmas/Holiday trees

Natural, unflocked holiday trees may be brought to the curb for collection at any time. Remove all decorations first and do not place your tree in a plastic bag.

However, due to the New Year's holiday,...

A graphic for the 12 Days of Waste Reduction

Celebrate the 12 Days of Waste Reduction!

Monday, December 7, 2020 - 11:30am
Contact: 
Jane Wilch
Resource Management

The holiday season results in more trash than normal, which means more entering our landfill this time of year. The good news is that there are some easy ways to reduce waste. Be part of the solution by joining us in celebrating the 12 Days of Waste Reduction (Monday, Dec. 7, through Friday, Dec. 18, 2020) to lighten your climate footprint during this merry time.

Here is the lineup of festive, waste-reducing topics:

Green your tree. Green your ornaments. Recycle holiday light strands. Think out of the box with holiday gift giving. Use your power of consumer choice when...
Plastic clamshells are shown.

Recycling program updates

Thursday, December 3, 2020 - 9:00am
Contact: 
Jane Wilch
Resource Management

The City of Iowa City offers recycling programs via curbside collection and drop-off locations in Iowa City, with a wide variety of materials accepted for recycling. Over a period of time, programs can require change for various reasons, some due to market availability, industry changes, or consumer activity.

Here is a list of program updates or changes:

Plastics bottles and jugs associated with food and beverages can be recycled via curbside collection or drop-off locations. Items not accepted in recycling : Plastic bags, film,...

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