Back in July, I shared my dream of an “[online] index of if and where (relative to your zip code) anything and everything can be recycled”.Four months later, I’m grateful to report that this dream has—on a local level—become a reality. In other words, the Iowa City Recyclopedia is born!
iWasteNot Systems
Before I go any further, allow me to explain how this came to be. It all started with a simple email to iWasteNot Systems—a company whose services, I soon realized, extend far beyond the Recyclopedia.
The iWasteNot philosophy essentially assumes that for every item a person or company can no longer use, there exists another person or company who can use it. To that end, iWasteNot supplies "web-based waste reduction systems" (aka "Materials Exchanges") that allow those who don't needs things to bypass the landfill and instead give/sell them to those who do need things.
The company's most common services (see full list here) are (1) "Residential" exchanges like the Newton Reusable Materials Exchange (in Massachusetts) and the Madison Stuff Exchange (in Wisconsin), which exemplify the idea that “One person’s trash can be another person’s treasure”; and (2) "Industrial/Commercial" exchanges such as the Georgia Industrial Materials Exchange, which prove that “One company’s waste can be another company’s raw material”.
Other offerings include "Agriculture/Biomass/Forestry" exchanges like the Maryland Online Farmers Market and the aptly titled manuretrader.org (which literally facilitates the exchange of manure in and around Pennsylvania); and also "Electronics (E-Waste)" exchanges like this one based in British Columbia.
Recyclopedia: Iowa City
By contacting iWasteNot, I soon found a group of "virtual doppelgangers" who shared (and indeed expanded) my vision of harnessing the power of the Internet to reduce waste. What's more, I also found a uniquely informed and friendly business team who swiftly got my project off the ground, straightforwardly walking me through the initial steps; and patiently facilitated my gradual progress, promptly responding to any questions that arose along the way.
Four months later, the "beta" version of Recyclopedia Iowa City is here. To give you a brief overview of how it works, the main page simply lists an array of everyday items ranging from Aerosol to Vinyl Records (as of tonight, there are 27 entries and counting). Clicking on a given entry will display additional information on (a) how that item can be reduced, reused, or recycled; and (b) the names of specific (predominantly local) "Reuse Businesses and Charities" where that item can be either recycled or donated/sold for reuse.
How you can help
My hope is that, in time, the Recyclopedia will tear the proverbial roof off this sucker we call Iowa City/Johnson County, IA (and that, as a result, any literal roofs that are torn off will be donated to the ReStore or Salvage Barn for reuse)!
How can you aid this goal? Here, dear readers of Mic's Tape, are a few ways:
- Read: check out the site & puts its tips into practice
- Share: tell friends, coworkers, etc about the website
- Factcheck: let me know if any information on the Recyclopedia is incorrect
- Suggest: recommend new items that should be added
- Enlighten: share any additional Reuse charities/businesses that you know of
- Join: if you live outside Iowa City, contact iWastenot and get your area online (I'll help you)
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10 comments:
Congrats on the launch. I will beta test it for you.
This is a fantastic idea, Michael. I've always had reluctance to throw away materials that I can no longer use but still serve some purpose. What a great answer for that. I'm pleased to see that the state of Washington is a client of iWasteNot and that several counties in this state are participating. Now, time to spread the word here in Seattle!
Pete, thanks so much for your feedback and you’re very right to be pleased with Washington State: it’s truly leading the league in terms of its Recyclopedia presence & its exchange site, 2Good2Toss, is arguably the best I’ve seen. I'd say Seattle is primed for involvement!
why do they insist on us living in California? do they not believe that the state of Iowa exists?
I put in a quick request and Iowa, CA is no more! The link on the main page now displays as Iowa City, IA...
Looks great! I think Iowa City will use and support this wonderful resource. One thing to consider adding, in addition to paper and magazines...where do I take my old greeting cards and wrapping paper? Especially if they can be reused? I feel like there might be a place where kids or seniors might be able to reuse such items. Just a suggestion!
where my grandma lives, they take old cards and envelopes and the senior center or her church (wherever she spends her time) makes new cards out of them.
Awesome site! I am, though, having trouble finding which category compact flurescent lightbulbs fit into. I had one burn out (for the first time) a couple weeks ago and I have no idea how to safely dispose of it.
These comments are great. I've added Greeting Cards and Light Bulbs to the Recyclopedia (still working on wrapping paper). Briefly, greeting cards can be recycled with mixed paper at City Carton (or in curbside blue bins) and also "reused" by sending to St Jude's Ranch in Nevada (still looking for a local reuse option on that one). Also, compact fluorescent bulbs can be safely recycled at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, located at the Iowa City Landfill. Keep the suggestions coming!
Where can I recycle a 40 videotape collection of "Happy Days" episodes? What about a giant, inflatable uterus? Help me Captain Planet!
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