 Turkey and pumpkin pie are right around the corner! Make your Thanksgiving feast more eco-friendly by disposing of your food and cooking waste in a conscious manner.
1.) Make a shopping list
Create a list of what you need before going to the store to avoid buying more food than necessary.
2.) Only plate what you'll eat
Encourage your guests to only take what they can eat. Save and eat the leftovers later.
3.) Compost
Compost all organic waste, including food scraps, bones, and napkins. Use your curbside organics bin, or bring your waste to the compost facility for no cost at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center, 3900 Hebl Ave., SW.
4.) Recycle your oil
If deep frying a turkey is your thing, recycle your used vegetable oil. Bring it in a sealed container to the Oil Recycling Shed at the East Side Recycling Center, 2401 Scott Blvd. SE, or the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center.
5.) Recycle your corks!
You can also recycle your wine corks at the East Side Recycling Center in the Oil Recycling Shed.
To learn more about food waste diversion, visit icgov.org/organics. Happy Thanksgiving!
 A local organization is using funds from the Iowa City Community Climate Action Grant to help local African immigrants and refugees build their lives in their new community.
The Friendship Sewing Collective (FSC) provides sewing equipment and instruction to its members, connecting African migrant and refugee women in Iowa City with resources to achieve economic advancement, find social support, and gain self-confidence.
With the grant funding, the organization hopes to add more sewing classes to meet growing demand, reduce barriers in transportation, and further the social network between immigrants and refugees and long-time community members.
An additional goal of the organization is to reduce fabric waste by promoting repairing instead of replacing damaged clothing. Textiles in the landfill can lead to greenhouse gas emissions.
To learn more about FSC, visit https://iawf.org/nisaa-fsc
 Showcasing Hawkeye black-and-gold, the black-eyed Susan is a perfect fit to represent Iowa City as the official city flower.
The City Council adopted the black-eyed Susan, or Rudbeckia hirta, on Oct. 16. The flower is native to the region, and is a food source for many organisms. Songbirds dine on its seeds and pollinators enjoy its nectar.
A local nonprofit, Project GREEN, advocated for the black-eyed Susan to become the official flower, hoping to inspire and encourage residents to plant more native vegetation.
The City's Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant is supporting therapy services for immigrants and refugees living in Iowa City.
Families of Immigrants and Refugees Mental Health Project (FIRM) is one of four organizations that received funding in FY18. The program received $12,300, and aims to support individuals who have relatives affected by anti-immigrant or anti-refugee policies.
Funding has helped FIRM provide therapy for impacted families, and “Know Your Rights” workshops, that teach rights for immigrants and refugees, and rights specifically related to domestic violence.
Apply for the SJRE Grant
An information session for the next round of Social Justice and Racial Equity Grants is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 13 from noon to 1:15 p.m. or 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. in Emma Harvat Hall, City Hall, 410 E. Washington St.
To attend, register online in advance.
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