Divert it and convert it
One of the nation’s premiere materials exchange programs.
FIND YOUR AREA RESOURCE SPECIALIST
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CONFIDENTIAL
Why a Materials Exchange in Iowa?
There are two big reasons why the Iowa Waste Exchange (IWE) is important for Iowa. First, our landfills are overcrowded, and reducing waste load is good for the planet. Second, there’s a huge market for waste materials and by-products — and exchanging waste materials is good for your bottom line.
Participants can:
- Obtain low- or no-cost materials
- Reduce disposal costs
- Reduce materials’ purchase costs
- Generate revenue from waste materials
- Free up storage space
- Help divert waste from our landfills
4.5 MILLION
tons of material material diverted since 1990
87,360
companies helped by IWE reps
$142 MILLION
cost savings since program inception
Whether you want to list available materials, find items for reuse or learn more about our services from a regional specialist, IWE is your confidential partner in responsible waste management and environmental stewardship.
When you divert it and convert it with the IWE, nothing goes to waste!
Learn more about what we do
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I Have Materials Available
Save disposal costs, free up space and get questions answered.
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Learn about education programs, free waste audits and more.
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Iowa Waste Exchange Success Stories
Commerce. Collaboration. Creativity. There’s much more to materials waste exchange than meets the eye. Read about some of IWE’s recent exchanges and see how everyone wins.
DNR Expands Food Waste Diversion Efforts: Iowa Waste Exchange Ready to Help
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The Drive-by that Drove Change: A Student's Quick Action Sparked a Waste Diversion Win
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Iowa Waste Exchange Assists North Liberty Community Pantry in Relocation Usable Equipment to Local Nonprofits
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Exploring Waste Reduction Solutions for Colleges
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Stay Connected with Iowa Waste Exchange
Recent news, newsletter, social media and more are great ways to keep up with all IWE-related goings on.
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Iowa Waste Exchange
(opens in a new tab)Proudly serving the entire State of Iowa.
Did you know a single plastic bag can take 500+ years to decompose? Make the switch to our eco-friendly reusable bags and do good for the planet and your wallet. Buy a reusable bag once and get a 5% discount every Wednesday!
🐕💦 Dogs know how to beat the heat—find shade. Smart businesses know how to beat the cost of surplus—find a match.This August, let’s put surplus materials to work instead of sending them to the landfill. Contact your Area Resource Specialist to find a match for your extra materials.Last year, IWE made 4,772 contacts, listed 370 materials and made 738 matches! Diverting 175,281 Tons from the landfill! (FY'26 Highlights) Let's make that connection for you. www.iowawasteexchange.org☀️➡️♻️Waste less. Save more. Keep materials working.
Large events and recreational activities can generate a lot of waste—but they also create powerful opportunities for people to make a difference together.Recent experiences at RAGBRAI, Iowa Project AWARE, the Cedar River Festival and the NASCAR Iowa Corn 350 demonstrate that successful waste diversion often comes down to three things: clear visual cues, people available to offer guidance and the positive “halo effect” created when attendees see others participating.Whether recycling along a bike route, recovering materials from a river, separating food scraps at a festival or choosing the right bin at a sporting event, individual actions add up quickly when thousands of people are involved.Progress does not happen overnight—or accidentally. It grows when organizers make waste reduction visible, convenient and part of the shared experience.#IowaWasteExchange #WasteDiversion #Recycling #SustainableEvents #DivertItAndConvertIt
05
Nov
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure
“One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure” highlights how the Iowa Waste Exchange (IWE) is redefining what’s possible for surplus materials across the state
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08
Oct
Iowa Waste Exchange sees recycling challenges shift
Tackling the next generation of recycling challenges head-on as material streams shift and new, complex waste items emerge
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