Recycle Iowa’s Iowa Waste Exchange program found business uses for nearly 500 materials, diverting more than 100,000 tons of waste from landfills for the past fiscal year ended June 30, according to the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED).
Based on Iowa Department of Natural Resources tonnage fee estimates, business avoided more than $3,860,000 in disposal costs.
Recycle Iowas at IDED manages the program, which is administered by 10 area resource specialists housed regionally at community colleges and councils of governments who provide the one-on-one business assistance.
“With the help of the Iowa Waste Exchange, Iowa is succeeding in promoting alternative waste management opportunities that make good business sense,” C.J. Niles, director of the IDED, says.
All Iowa Waste Exchange services are free, confidential and non-regulatory. Since it began more than 10 years ago, the program has helped thousands of businesses find new uses and new users for industrial material and by-products. Participating companies also may realize savings in avoided purchases, reductions in transportation costs, increased storage space, as well as other benefits.
As established by the Iowa State Legislature, funds for the program are generated through a percentage of state tonnage fees.
Latest from Recycling Today
- Nucor names new president
- DOE rare earths funding is open to recyclers
- Design for Recycling Resolution introduced
- PetStar PET recycling plant expands
- Iron Bull addresses scrap handling needs with custom hoppers
- REgroup, CP Group to build advanced MRF in Nova Scotia
- Oregon county expands options for hard-to-recycling items
- Flexible plastic packaging initiative launches in Canada
