Events & Grant Opportunities
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March 16-18
Compost Training Program: Compost Manufacturing: Principles and Practices
Register Here
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March 17 - April 30
Inside the Circular Economy: Beyond the Basics
(Weekly Webinars)
Register Here
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March 31 (Grant Closing Date)
EPA Region 7’s (IA, KS, MO, NE) Pollution Prevention (P2) Awards Program
Learn more at EPA Region 7’s P2 Awards webpage.
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July 1 (Grant Closing Date)
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems Grant
Apply Here
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Save the Date: October 4-6
Iowa Recycling and Solid Waste Management Fall Conference
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Convention Complex
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A Note From the IRA President
"We all know that 2020 was an extremely challenging year for those engaged with the sustainability business here in the state of Iowa, but during this uncertainty, the Iowa Recycling Association continued to accomplish our important work. As an organization, we are committed to inform and advocate for the advancement of recycling processes.
During these times, there has become an increased awareness of the lack of viable markets for our commodities, thus we throw more away. A troubling trend that we must continue to push against. Innovation is progressing, but it takes time. As I write this, we have had two “bottle bill” changes make it through the funnel in the Iowa legislature. The pendulum is swinging. Could it be that after 40 plus years we could be seeing a change in this bill? The Iowa Recycling Association has stayed in touch with lawmakers to advocate for policy that improves our state’s recycling efforts and improves the beauty of our state. You as our membership can assist by communicating to your local representative, as well. We all need to continue to advocate for change. We can do this!" -IRA President, Alan Schumacher
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Communicating after a Global Pandemic
Article by Kate Bartelt (Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC;
IRA Board Member)
Recycling education, promotion, and communications is an ongoing task. While our typical communications strategies about public engagement and education came to a screeching halt in March 2020, the need to engage with residents, businesses, and customers continued.
The last year has taught us we were not prepared to deliver engagement only on a digital platform. Nor were all of us ready to be nimble and change programs, budgets, and services. However, recycling coordinators, recycling businesses, and landfill educators persevered and looked for out-of-the-box ideas. Many were so creative and engaging that audience participation has been significantly higher than anticipated.
Our pre-pandemic world relied on in-person events, training, and engagement supported by digital platforms. There needs to be a recognition that we already have a new normal. Returning to our 2019 practices will not be enough. Expectations have changed. Our residents, businesses, and customers will continue to want a strong digital and social media presence. Demand for increased access to digital content will continue.
Thinking Ahead
So how do we best prepare Iowa recyclers to succeed in the new normal? There will need to be continued funding and support for digital content development and virtual hosting platforms. Recycling educators need to use a broader range of virtual engagement skills, understanding of social media, video production, and digital content development.
This will be in addition to adding back in-person engagement. For example, public meetings could continue to offer virtual attendance or recording of the live event for folks to view when they have time—or seeking public feedback at a county fair booth and on social media.
The benefit to this new normal though can be more and better engagement. We’re already seeing it by those using new communication platforms and those thinking outside of the old normal.
By thinking ahead and working together, the Iowa Recycling Association believes our businesses, public partners, and agencies will thrive. We look forward to continuing to connect with you – virtually and in-person - to help share communications innovations and challenges, assets, and improve recycling in Iowa.
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IRA Scholarship Opportunity
The Diane Albertson Memorial Scholarship is offered by the Iowa Recycling Association in memory of Diane Albertson – friend, colleague and advocate of environmental protection.
The scholarship is awarded each spring to one or more students with a demonstrated interest in environmental action, especially as related to recycling and waste reduction. Applicants must be a senior or graduate of an Iowa high school and accepted for enrollment as a full-time undergraduate for the following school year.
Applications are due by May 31, 2021.
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Board of Directors Highlight
Over the next few months, we will highlight the individuals that make up the IRA Board of Directors.
Mitzi Brunsvold
Mitzi is in her 2nd term serving on the IRA Board of Directors and serves as the at-large member of the executive committee. She is the Director at the North Central Iowa Regional Solid Waste Agency in Fort Dodge. Mitzi has spent most of her life in Iowa but has also lived in California, where she worked in the biotech and hazardous waste industries. When she returned to Iowa, she became interested in Integrated Solid Waste Management. She is passionate about the environment and believes education and responsibility are important to achieve diversion and sustainability goals.
Alan Schumacher
Alan first joined the IRA Board of Directors six years ago fulfilling an opening on the board from John Donahue’s early departure. Since then he has been re-elected twice to the board, filling first the vice-president role and then the position of president for the last 3 years. Alan plans to step down from the president’s position in October of this year and complete his last year as a regular board member.
Currently, Alan has a role with Quincy Recycle Paper, managing business development and sales in Iowa and the surrounding states. Previously, Alan was the Operations Manager for the Can Shed in Cedar Rapids for two years and was also the Plant Manager for City Carton Recycling in the large Cedar Rapids location for 12 years. Alan most recently was chosen in January 2021 to join the Board of Directors for the Iowa Sustainable Business Forum, which consists of Iowa businesses and manufacturers in Iowa. Alan was also elected in the November 2020 general election by the citizens of Iowa County to a 4-year term to the Board of Supervisors in Iowa County helping oversee the management of the county government.
Joe Bolick
Joe started at the Iowa Waste Reduction Center back in 2003 as a student intern and has worked in many different capacities over the years before being named Director in 2019. A champion of teamwork and collaboration, his two proudest professional accomplishments involve being on the teams that developed the Iowa Green Brewery Certification and invented the VirtualPaint virtual reality painter training system. He has been actively involved with the IRA as an ex-officio board member since 2018 and truly enjoys the time he spends working with the board. Whether he's kayaking, snowshoeing or out hiking new trails, Joe loves spending time outside and capping off the day's adventure with a delicious Iowa craft beer.
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Are you looking for a unique leadership opportunity? Have you been yearning to put your talent in strategic thinking, finance management, policy advocacy, or project management in the service of a great cause? Well, look no further!
If you are committed to advancing recycling in the state of Iowa, we are looking for you! The IRA is looking for leaders like you to join our board of directors. For 30+ years, our volunteer board has been the strategic heart of our organization.
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Survey Help Requested
Household Electronic Recycling Survey
Purdue University is asking for help with a survey regarding household electronics recycling. The purpose of this study is to collect data about household consumer electronics use, recycling, and disposal in the United States. The data will be used to refine a stock and flow model and to estimate environmental impacts of different management strategies of electronic devices. The economic value of various materials and metals in electronic devices in households will also be estimated from the data. Participants must be 18 years of age or older, and reside in a household located in the United States. Estimated survey completion time is 20-30 minutes.
U.S. Household Electronics Recycling Survey
If the above link does not work, please use this URL:
https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6xlxqFYuiJoz0zP
Iowa COVID-19 Business Impact and Recovery Survey
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) needs your assistance in gathering information to assess the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa. Please help Iowa’s economic recovery and growth by completing a NEW survey developed by the University of Northern Iowa's (UNI) Institute for Decision Making and Strategic Marketing Services.
This is a follow-up to the two surveys completed in March and May 2020. Your participation is vital to state efforts to understand the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Iowa businesses and organizations.
You can complete the survey by clicking on this link or by going to the following: www.sms.uni.edu/IEDABusinessRecoverySurvey. The deadline to complete this survey is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) will use the information collected through the survey to inform public policy and programming in response to the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on Iowa.
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Meet your IWE Area Resource Specialist: Erin Boyd
Content Sourced from Iowa Waste Exchange
Erin Boyd is the Iowa Waste Exchange Resource Specialist for Area 3. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and started with the Waste Exchange in 2019. Erin enjoys running, kayaking and spending time outdoors.
Area 3 Counties: Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Floyd, Chickasaw, Fayette, Clayton, Butler, Bremer, Fayette, Clayton, Grundy, Black Hawk, Buchannan, Delaware, Dubuque, Marshall, Tama, Jasper, Poweshiek, Marion, Mahaska, Keokuk, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Wayne, Appanoose and Davis.
Contact Erin at eboyd@inrcog.org or (319) 235-0311
Find your IWE Specialist at their website.
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