Composting
The IWRC rolled up its sleeves this summer
Beyond consulting and compliance, our team spent the season in the field helping Iowans divert waste, educate youth, and protect local environments. Here is how our team recently put practice into purpose.
IWRC goes on the road as fall conference season gets underway
CONFERENCE SEASON IS HERE! The IWRC hits the road to a variety of conferences across Iowa. See where we will be and stop by to say hi!
Growing Iowa’s Composting Movement to National Leadership
My love for the USCC and the support I’ve felt when trying to do the seemingly impossible, grow composting infrastructure, only bolstered my belief in the national organization.
A Remarkable Win for Iowa
Big things are happening in Iowa’s compost world. The Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency (SWA) has earned national recognition for their dedication to waste diversion, receiving the Compost Manufacturer of the Year-Large Scale award from the US Composting Council at the 2026 Compost Conference in Sacramento. This accomplishment honors the dedication of the agency and the vision and leadership of Executive Director Karmin McShane.
Midwest rural communities recipient of compost training program
The Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) at the University of Northern Iowa is launching the Rural Compost Operations and Compost Use Training Project funded by the USDA Rural Utilities Service Solid Waste Management Grant Program. This project aims to support rural communities in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Celebrating Earth Day 2024
Every day is Earth Day for the Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) but that doesn’t mean we don’t participate in the nationally dedicated Earth Day efforts.
Getting the Dirt on Composting and Energy
The beautiful mid March weather has us in the mood to open our windows, break out the planters, and begin stirring the dirt in gardens. Read on the hear how IWRC Environmental Specialist Jason Clay introduced composting and energy conservation to Dayton, IA residents.
Conference Season is in Full Swing for the IWRC
The first quarter of 2024 is a busy time for IWRC staff with conferences and professional development opportunities. Learn where you can find IWRC staff this 2024 Spring conference season.
PRESS RELEASE: IWRC’s Jennifer Trent to serve as the President of the US Composting Council
The USCC is a robust, action-packed, forward-thinking organization that advances compost manufacturing, compost utilization, and organics recycling to benefit its members, society and the environment and it has just named Iowa Waste Reduction Center’s Jennifer Trent as its new Board of Directors President.
Unwrapping EPA’s New Wasted Food Scale
For decades, EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy has served as the primary tool to help decision makers (i.e., state and local governments) understand and determine the best options for managing food waste (Environmental Protection Agency, 2023). The hierarchy was established in 1990, so needless to say, an updated version has been eagerly anticipated.