Gov. Kim Reynolds names Nov. 15 Iowa Recycles Day

DES MOINES — As part of a nationwide push to encourage more sustainable living, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation earlier this month declaring Tuesday, Nov. 15 Iowa Recycles Day.

Reducing, reusing and recycling waste is important to “ensure a cleaner, greener state for future generations,” Reynolds said in her proclamation. “On this day we renew our commitment to making environmentally conscious changes in our lives so that our children and grandchildren can live that better, cleaner future,” she said in a news release.

With the proclamation, Iowa joins other states across the country encouraging sustainability initiatives in honor of America Recycles Day, which is also on November 15. This is the only day nationally recognized to celebrating and promoting recycling in the country.

The Iowa Recycling Association and Keep Iowa Beautiful play leading roles in promoting the protection of Iowa’s natural resources and quality of life, Reynolds said.

The Iowa Recycling Association is a nonprofit organization serving as the voice of recycling in Iowa since 1989 and continues to advance recycling practices statewide through ongoing communication, representation, and education.

Keep Iowa Beautiful, a state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, empowers Iowans to bring cultural and economic vitality into communities through improvement and enhancement programs.

“The Iowa Recycling Association strives to advance effective recycling by sharing resources, education and advocacy opportunities,” Iowa Recycling Association President Elizabeth Mackenzie said in a news release. “Iowa Recycles Day moves us closer to achieving our vision where every material in the state can be reused or recycled and is put to its best use!”

“Keep Iowa Beautiful is excited to join a nationwide recycling program,” Keep Iowa Beautiful Executive Director Andy Frantz said. “Iowa Recycling Day is an opportunity to continue our commitment to clean, strong communities across the state.”

“Our commitment to assist communities as they tackle challenges related to littering, recycling, and beautification remains a top priority,” Frantz said. “We are thrilled to join Iowa Recycling Association’s call to end littering, build recycling programs, reduce waste, educate the public on sustainability issues, and make Iowa’s communities better to live.”

You Can Recycle, Too!

Recycling is collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away in the trash and turning them in to new products.

The City of Cedar Rapids has an easy tool to help with curbside recycling — a bin called CURBY. CURBY is a large blue cart that can easily be wheeled to and from the curb on collection day, according to the City of Cedar Rapids website.

Items that can be placed in CURBY include:

Glass can be recycled, but should not be placed in CURBY because it is a safety hazard to recycling crews and workers at the sorting facility.

Clear and colored glass can be mixed together and placed in a separate bucket with a handle, no larger than five gallons.

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