Climate Action Plan draft nearly ready

A draft is nearing completion for Iowa City's first ever Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.  The Climate Action Steering Committee has been working hard over the last several months to create a plan that incorporates community input from a survey and in-person workshop.  Save the date! A public meeting will be held on Thursday, April 26 to review the draft. More details are coming soon.  To learn more about Iowa City's climate action work, visit www.icgov.org/climateaction.

Get personal with climate change policy

This isn't your typical climate education event.  The upcoming World Climate Simulation event will give participants the rare opportunity to get personal with climate policy, by role-playing United Nations climate negotiations. The University of Iowa's Public Policy Center will host this simulation from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St.  After negotiations, an interactive computer model will rapidly analyze the results of the mock discussions.  Iowa City Mayor Jim Throgmorton and Sustainability Coordinator Brenda Nations will participate in the simulation. Learn more and register online.

No sticker required!

Yard waste stickers are no longer required to participate in Iowa City's curbside yard and food waste program. 

Use a 20-to-35-gallon yard waste container, limit 50 pounds, or an official City organics cart in either 95-gallon or 25-gallon sizes when they are made available later this spring. Carts were recently ordered, more info to come!

To participate, combine food scraps and yard waste in the same bin for pick-up on your regular curbside collection day.

Weekly yard and food waste collection will resume normally on Monday, March 19. Learn more by reading our news article. 

No recycling drop-off on Benton Street

A February fire has suspended public recycling drop-off at the Republic Services facility on Benton Street.  Republic Services, the City's contracted recycling process company, says the fire damage has impacted its ability to process materials.  Continue to use curbside recycling, or take materials to other community drop-off locations.

Subscribe. Follow. Share.

Connect with us using #SustainableIC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to this newsletter and other news at www.icgov.org/e-subscriptions. 

Upcoming Events

13th Annual Purple Martin Workshop

Attention all bird enthusiasts and conservationists - don't miss this year's celebration of a special bird that makes its way from South America to Iowa every April.

The 13th Annual Purple Martin Seminar will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 17 at the CAM Iowa Clothing Center, 1005 Nutmeg Ave., Kalona. 

The event includes several speakers, a panel, door prizes and an auction. Food will also be available on site.

View the migration of the beloved Purple Martin through an interactive map online. 

Ped Mall Open House

All are welcome to attend an open house to learn about the Pedestrian Mall Improvements Project, which will help sustain this beloved area for the community to enjoy for years to come.

The meeting will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 12 at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St.

Construction will get underway this spring.

RSVP to the Ped Mall Open House Facebook event page for updates and reminders and learn more by reading our news article. 

Earth Day at Kirkwood Iowa City

Stop by and say hello during the Earth Day event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 at the Kirkwood Community College Campus in Iowa City. 

City staff will be available to chat and answer questions about Iowa City's ongoing sustainability efforts.  

Volunteer Clean Ups

Sign up to help remove invasive species from two popular natural areas in Iowa City. 

Clean up events will be held at Hickory Hill Park and the Terry Trueblood Recreation area several times in April. 

For Hickory Hill Park, sign-up using Google Forms, and for Terry Trueblood, RSVP to the events on the Iowa City Stormwater Volunteers Faceboook page.

Mark your calendar!

The 2018 Iowa City Monarch Festival is set for Sunday, Aug. 26 at a new location, Terry Trueblood Lodge. Be on the lookout for more details this spring and summer. 

Sustainability Spotlight

Photo Credit Audra Mulkern, The Female Farmer Project 

This month’s Sustainability Spotlight features Kate Edwards, Owner and Operator of Wild Woods Farm.

Kate utilizes organic and sustainable farming practices. Away from the farm, Kate advocates for farmers at the federal, state and local level.

Learn more about Kate's efforts at www.icgov.org/sustainability.

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. Learn more, www.STARcommunities.org.