FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 3/8/2017 Contact: Jennifer Jordan, Recycling Coordinator
Phone: 319-887-6160
City rolls out new curbside composting service
The City of
Iowa City will begin collecting curbside compost on Monday, March 13, 2017.
The new program
will help divert some of the roughly 18,000 tons of food waste that reaches the
Iowa City Landfill each year. Residents will be able to compost many different
types of foods, including fruits/vegetables, meats and grains, as well as paper
products like pizza boxes, leftover containers and uncoated, disposable dishes.
Food waste will
be collected curbside in the same containers and in the same trucks used for
yard waste, and will be taken to the Iowa City Landfill’s Commercial Compost
Facility.
How to
Participate
Curbside
composting is available to residents who currently receive City of Iowa City
garbage, recycling and yard waste services. Residents must have an annual yard
waste sticker and supply their own 35-gallon container that includes a lid.
Set your container out by 7 a.m. on your regular trash, recycling and yard waste collection day.
Yard Waste Stickers
The
current orange yard waste stickers will be accepted until March 31, 2017.
New, purple
yard waste stickers can be purchased for $12.50 and will be valid now through
Dec. 29, 2017. Stickers can be purchased in-person at City Hall, by mail or by
phone from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.
In-person:
Visit City Hall at 410. E. Washington Street
By
phone: Call 319-356-5066 to pay by Visa or MasterCard
By
mail: Mail orders to Cashier at City Hall and include the name, service
address, mailing address and a $13 check to cover the postage and a handling fee
for each sticker.
Program
Background
The City has
been working towards reducing landfilled food waste for several years. The City
set new waste minimization targets as part of its STAR sustainability ratings goal
last year, and also participated in a pilot program through the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency in 2014 that allowed the City to test curbside
food waste collection, and helped make the new composting program possible.
Additional
Information
For information
on how to compost, a full list of items that are safe/unsafe to compost, and
other waste reduction tips visit icgov.org/foodwaste.
It is important to reduce food waste first, and then compost.
Restaurants,
grocers and other businesses with food service are encouraged to separate food
waste for composting through their waste and recycling hauler. More information
is available at icgov.org/commercialorganics.
Those with
questions about the new curbside composting program can contact City of Iowa
City Recycling Coordinator Jennifer Jordan at 319-356-6160 or jennifer-jordan@iowacity.org.