The City Council has set a community-wide climate reduction target for the City of Iowa City: a greenhouse gas (ghg) emission reduction target of 26-28% by 2025 and 80% by 2050. The City will develop its first climate reduction action plan that will identify strategies to achieve target GHG reduction goals. This action plan will be created in collaboration with a City Council-appointed steering committee involving key stakeholders and the University of Iowa Engineering Department. The public will have an opportunity to be involved in the planning process over the next year through public forums.
Recycle your natural holiday trees and string lights!
Did you know that you can compost your natural Christmas tree as part of the City of Iowa City's regular curbside garbage and recycling collection service -- and also recycle your non-working string lights? From Monday, Jan. 9 through Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, the City will pick up your natural Christmas tree as part of your weekly curbside garbage and recycling pick-up service. There is no extra charge. The trees will be hauled to the Landfill for composting. Before putting it at the curb, remove the tree stand and all decorations, including garland, lights, tinsel, and other decorative materials. Do not put trees in plastic bags.
The City also has special bin collection sites set up for recycling holiday string lights, available through Monday, Jan. 9. A list of the drop-off sites for holiday lights can be found here.
Prevent your water pipes from freezing
With winter in full swing, low temperatures can create a significant threat to water pipes. Cold weather can cause water pipes to freeze and break, resulting in significant damage to homes and household items. Check out these steps to prevent household pipes from freezing to keep your home safe this winter.
Television and computer monitor ban begins in January
On Jan. 3, 2017, the television and computer monitor ban at the Iowa City Landfill will go into effect.
The
City Council recently passed a resolution enacting the ban to reduce the
amount of hazardous and toxic substances in the Landfill and decrease future
environmental liability. Currently, around 375 tons of monitors and
televisions are dumped in the Iowa City Landfill each year.
Computer
monitors and televisions found in incoming waste loads on and after Jan. 3
will be treated similarly to appliances, tires and other banned items: Drivers
will be directed to put them back in the vehicle and return to the scale
house to pay for and properly recycle the items.
More information on recycling e-waste in Iowa City can be found here.
'Tis the season (to shovel your walks)!
Iowa City is working to create more walkable neighborhoods, but what happens when it snows? This winter, please keep in mind the City of Iowa City's Snow Removal Ordinance, which requires sidewalks to be cleared within 24 hours after a one-inch or more snowfall, or after any accumulation of ice has ended. This ordinance is in place to keep sidewalks accessible to everyone, especially pedestrians with limited mobility.
If you have an elderly resident in your neighborhood, be a good neighbor and volunteer to shovel their walk for them.
To report a sidewalk that has not been cleared in a timely manner, download the ICgovXpress mobile app to your phone and report it directly to the City. You may download the free app at icgov.org/ICgovXpressInfo. (Search for it on our website under "GORequest.") You may also access ICgovXpress on the City's website at www.icgov.org/icgovxpress.
Sustainability Spotlight: Denzell Hayes
This month’s Sustainability Spotlight features Denzell Hayes, the Communications Assistant for the City of Iowa City Sustainability Office. He defines sustainability as a systems-thinking approach that
considers all externalities to create more holistic and efficient long-term solutions to problems. In his role as Communications Assistant, he provides residents with up-to-date information about the City's sustainability efforts. Read more about his efforts here.
Are you signed up for sustainability updates?
Connect with us on social media! We’ll be posting sustainability facts and updates every week from City of Iowa City accounts, with our hashtag #SustainableIC. We’re active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, so be sure to like and follow! To subscribe to this e-newsletter, visit www.icgov.org/e-subscriptions and check the "Sustainability" box in the Newsletters section.
4-STAR: In March 2016, Iowa City was awarded a 4-STAR Community Rating for sustainability excellence, by being formally certified in the STAR Community Rating System. STAR offers the nation's leading certification program in evaluating local sustainability, encompassing social, economic and environmental performance measures. More info: www.STARcommunities.org.
This newsletter is published by the City of Iowa City Sustainability Office. For more information, contact Brenda Nations, Coordinator, at 319-887-6161 or brenda-nations@iowa-city.org.
