Divert it and convert it
One of the nation’s premiere materials exchange programs.
FIND YOUR AREA RESOURCE SPECIALIST
NO-COST
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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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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.
♻️ Turn Waste into Opportunity with the Iowa Waste Exchange!What one business throws away, another can put to work! The Iowa Waste Exchange (IWE) connects Iowa businesses with reusable by-products and affordable materials, helping reduce costs, conserve resources, and keep valuable materials out of landfills.Did you know?♻️ More than 70% of the material in Iowa landfills is potentially divertible.🤝 In FY 2024, IWE facilitated 461 material matches, helping businesses find new uses for unwanted materials, through 5,215 contacts with Iowa Industries.🚛 Those matches helped divert more than 87,000 tons of material from Iowa landfills.💰 By rethinking waste, we can save money, conserve resources, and build a more sustainable Iowa!Have by-products to share or materials to find? Reach out to your Area Resource Specialist @iowawasteexchange.org. 🌎 Waste isn’t waste until you waste it! So, Let's rethink, reuse, recycle!
♻️ A Little Trash Talk, A Lot of Creativity & Some Great Company!We just returned from a great time at the Fall IRA/ISOWO Conference in Davenport, IA, October 5–7!We connected with new and familiar faces, learned about new compost and waste regulations, shared ideas, and enjoyed the annual Silent Auction. 🎉And, of course, we loved sharing the Iowa Waste Exchange booth!One attendee said:“We love the Iowa Waste Exchange’s booth! They always have the most unique items, made from salvaged material. It is fun to see how items can be diverted in new ways!”That's what IWE is all about: seeing potential in what others may consider discarded material and finding it a new home, use, or purpose. ♻️Reach out to our Area Resource Specialists for ideas, supplies or if you have material you need to discard. We'd be happy to help! www.iowawasteexchange.org/Thank you to everyone who stopped by and helped make the conference a success!Remember, Waste isn’t waste until you waste it.
🥦 FOOD WASTE PREVENTION WEEK | DAY 3Not all surplus food is waste.When food cannot be prevented, there may still be an opportunity to recover, donate, or repurpose it.The EPA's research shows that prevention and donation provide some of the greatest environmental benefits among food-waste management pathways.“The environmental benefits of source reduction and donation exceed those of any other wasted food pathway...”— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, From Field to Bin (2023)At the Iowa Waste Exchange, we look for opportunities to connect resources with organizations that can use them.Because one organization's unneeded surplus can become another's resource.Have surplus you'd like to share? Contact your Area Resource Specialist www.iowawasteexchange.org to redirect your surplus to those who can use it. 🌱 Prevent. Recover. Reuse.Sources: U.S. EPA, Wasted Food Scale; From Field to Bin (2023).
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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