Divert it and convert it
One of the nation’s premiere materials exchange programs.
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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.
♻️ REDUCE CONTAMINATION — RECYCLE RIGHT!Better recycling begins with better decisions! 🌎Contamination occurs when non-recyclable materials enter the recycling stream. The result? Additional sorting costs, damaged equipment, lower-quality recovered materials, and potentially more waste sent to landfills.Recycling correctly maximizes the value of recovered resources and helps keep valuable materials in productive use! ♻️✅ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE:1️⃣ Know Before You Throw: Check your local recycling guidelines.2️⃣ Create a Cheat Sheet: Make a simple YES/NO guide for your home, school, or workplace.3️⃣ Spread the Word: Share your guide to help others recycle right!Remember, recycling rules vary by community. When in doubt, check before you toss!♻️ Recycle Right. Reduce Contamination. Recover More Resources.Because waste isn't waste until you waste it!
🏆 Congratulations to The Toro Company (Ankeny, Iowa) - Iowa Recycling Association’s Business of the Year!The Iowa Recycling Association is proud to recognize The Toro Company for its commitment to sustainability, innovative waste reduction, and creative reuse initiatives that make a lasting impact! Making a difference:▪️ Launched a Zero Waste to Landfill program across the United States in FY2025.▪️ Diverted more than 18,000 tons of waste from landfills.▪️ Working toward an ambitious goal of 90% global waste diversion by 2030.⭐ Through its partnership with the Iowa Waste Exchange, The Toro Company provided surplus lawn and leaf collection bags for reuse and upcycling. These bags found new purpose supporting care and hygiene supplies, youth service projects, children's activities, and ReusaPlooza efforts.This recognition celebrates The Toro Company's leadership in advancing sustainable business practices while supporting creative reuse and community initiatives. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor! 👏
A big thank you to SICOG : Southern Iowa Council of Governments for hosting a Derelict Building Grant Workshop! We appreciate your help in teaching rural communities how to tackle problem properties.Want to learn more about the program? Contact your IWE Area Resource Specialist or check out the link below! 👇 www.iowadnr.gov/environmental-protection/land-quality/derelict-building-program
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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