Iowa Citians are taking action against climate change and driving down greenhouse gas emissions. Climate Fest, held Sept. 19-26, gave community members the chance to share stories about steps they are taking, and it provided resources and activities to try new actions. The maps, videos and interactive guides will remain active on the website as a resource, as will the inspiring stories shared in the new Climate Fest video.
The last online order window for the 2020 Iowa City Farmers Market will open at 12 noon on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and the last drive-through pick-up day will be Saturday, Oct. 31.
The City will hold its annual Holiday Markets on two dates: Saturdays, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center.
Many thanks go to all those who made this year's virtual Farmers Market possible.
The recycling drop-off bins at 1201 North Dodge St. (former location of Hy-Vee) have moved to City-owned property at 1200 South Riverside Dr. The North Dodge site no longer accepts recycling.
The new recycling site on S. Riverside Drive accepts the same materials that were accepted at the North Dodge site: plastics 1-5 and 7 (no bags), metal containers, glass containers, corrugated cardboard, and mixed paper and cartons.
The move will decrease the mileage traveled by City trucks that empty the bins by as much as 2,000 miles per year. The move also allows opportunities for new equipment, which was not feasible on the previous privately-owned site.
No changes will occur at the East Side Recycling Center or the Iowa City Landfill’s recycling area.
Many thanks go to the Rummage Redux participants who shared their creative approaches to recycling and upcycling. Pictured above is just one project submitted, a trellis made from an iron headboard and footboard. Click on the link below for more inspiration from the 2020 submissions.
Karen Kubby, co-owner of Beadology Iowa and former member of the Iowa City Council
Why does climate action matter to you?
My father was an environmentalist. I think it was more a matter of efficiency than a deep emotion about human effects on the planet. He was an army engineer. We were taught to turn out the lights when we left the room, had a compost pile wherever we lived and turned off the water when we brushed our teeth and soaped up in the shower. My dad got me a 10-speed bike when I was in high school and then he rode it to work every day. Every winter, there would be a picture in the paper of him riding to work in a blizzard. Our family values in this area were about not using more resources than you needed to get the job done.
I came to the University of Iowa to get a degree in science education. My area was biology, and I specialized in environmental education. The issues of climate action have been with me a long time.
What do you do for climate action?
As an activist/educator, I was a founding member of Environmental Advocates, a local non-profit organization that has worked for years on issues of solid waste/recycling, water quality and bicycling. In my personal life, I purchase only energy efficient appliances, commute by bike 8-9 months out of the year, commute by bus when the weather is too icy for biking for my comfort level, have a no-mow yard and recycle plant matter on my own property, compost, have a vegetarian diet and shop local (so happy there is local tofu to purchase). I want to walk more softly on the earth while still living a full life. It can be done!
As a business owner, I have switched our lighting to LED over time (it has a three-month payback period, which is phenomenal) and we recycle 90% of our waste. We stock materials made out of recycled glass, metals and LPs (albums). Our copy paper is 100% post consumer recycled fibers. Pre-COVID, we used cloth towels in our bathroom.
We encourage our customers to return bags and tags for reuse and they have responded well to this request. Our thermostat is set a bit higher in the summer and lower in the winter than the norm. Another part of our sustainability program is purchasing locally when possible, to reduce the carbon footprint of our inventory.
What can others do to take climate action?
The process of taking personal climate action does not have to be overwhelming. Start with something small and once that is incorporated into your everyday life, continue to add things to the list. When in doubt, walk to your destination. Combine your car errands. Use a programmable thermostat that will create efficiencies and you will see your bill go down. Ready for the next step? Turn your heat down by 1 degree and see how you feel. It's fine? Turn it down another degree. Sweaters are great. Use cloth napkins instead of paper. Get a larger yard/food waste can from the City and put everything acceptable that you generate into this bin. Better yet, add your yard waste and food scraps to a compost pile and teach your kids about worms and biological cycles, and then use that compost for super local food growing in your yard.
Congratulations go to Brenda Nations, Climate Action Coordinator, on her well-deserved retirement, effective Oct. 5. Brenda has served in a variety of roles with the City since 2009, became Sustainability Coordinator in 2016 and earlier this year became Climate Action Coordinator.
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Buildings, transportation, waste, adaptation, sustainable lifestyle: Are you ready to commit to positive changes in these aspects of your life? Then take Iowa City's Climate Action Pledge today! And for ideas about how to do so, visit the the City's Climate Action Checklist for home or business.
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