DES MOINES — A recently released study shows what Iowans are throwing away, and what could be spared from the landfill.
That includes a lot of wasted food – 556,313 tons, to be exact. Wasted food accounted for 20 percent of the landfilled materials in the 2017 Iowa Statewide Waste Characterization Study, a 50 percent increase from the last study in 2011. The study, conducted about every six years, looks at what types of trash, recyclables and compostables Iowans send to the landfill.
For the study, materials received at 15 Iowa landfills and solid waste transfer stations were sorted into 61 separate categories within nine separate material types, with distinctions made between residential trash and industrial and commercial waste.
The second most landfilled item, plastic film, wrap and bags, increased by 15 percent over findings from 2011. However, the amount of corrugated cardboard reaching the landfill dropped by about 50 percent since the last study.
The study also looked at the economic impact of increased diversion of recyclable paper, plastic, metal and glass that are commonly collected through curbside and drop-off recycling programs. Based on regional market prices at the time of the study (October 2017), the value of the common recyclable paper and containers Iowans are landfilling is more than $60 million.
“Should these materials be diverted, processed and sold to the manufacturing sector for the production of new products, it’s estimated nearly 6,000 jobs could be created,” said Tom Anderson with the DNR’s Land Quality Bureau.
Findings from the reports are used to identify potential initiatives and programs to reduce the amount of waste generated and to reduce the amount of waste headed to landfills. Funding for the study comes from a portion of the solid waste tonnage fee through the Solid Waste Alternatives Program.
The full report can be found at www.iowadnr.gov/FABA under Studies & Reports.
I work with that guy in the picture. He usually is doing his part to help the environment by eating out of the back of the truck.
Burn trash.
That’s pig chit not Mc Donalds.
The recycling here is the most half ass thing I have seen in a long time. Mason city needs to overhaul their recycling. They need to make their recycling bin bigger and be able to accept all types of glass and cans. It’s so stupid!
Agree. All glass containers should be accepted.
What Allen says is true, but what you gonna do, people are sheep and listen to the news and government—-and what is the DNR doing reporting his>>
Another reason that people throw away food is because of the expiration date stamped on most food products, even though it’s good way past that date. How did people ever survive before we had expiration dates on food. I very seldom throw food away, if it still tastes good I eat it. The starving people in the world would be happy to have the food this country throws away.
Your epitaph: “it tasted good, so I ate it”
I just white out their date on the package and put in my own, that way I’m covered. Food can’t go bad then.
The food being thrown away is from the mandated crap they are forced to serve for a school lunch, vey bad, and the kids don’t want it. But the government has to tell you and your kids what to eat!
Such a waste, just another example of big brother thinking he knows whats best for you, You cant figure it out for yourself
I actually send my kids with bag lunches about 50% of the time due to the poor quality food being served in our schools lunchrooms (thanks Michelle Obama). The kids won’t eat it and I don’t want them being charged for it just to have it dumped.
When was the last time you ate at school? Have you done a survey of all the kids eating lunch? I didn’t think so.
I don’t have to eat at the school to know that what they feed our kids is processed garbage. If my kids don’t want to eat it I’m not forcing them to. Each month they put out a menu so we can see exactly what is or isn’t on the menu and can plan accordingly. I also don’t have to do a survey of school kids opinion of the food served since most times our kids friends want what we send.
But let me ask you this…when is the last time You ate at a school or surveyed the kids that are forced to eat what’s put in their plate? Seriously don’t be so butthurt about the Obama comment or the garbage that tranny decided was best for our kids to eat. Cause I’m damn sure that the Obama children didn’t have to eat that sh!t and neither did their “mom”
Don’t pay any attention to Bodacious. Old teach is a hard nose libraterd without any brains. The teach sucked off the public all of her life and has no knowledge of what working people go through.
So please provide me with examples of food that is “garbage” and is inhumane to feed our school children. I would really like to understand what you consider inedible – and I’m being serious here.
Its not ineatable, its just not what the kids want. They don’t want and generally don’t eat fresh fruits and vegies, celer, carrots etc.
And yes, my wife has cooked school lunches for 30 YEARS.
She used to make fresh cookies everyday and the kids and staff loved them. Then the government said that’s not what they need! Had a lot more pizza and burgers and chicken nuggets and sandwiches, but the government said that aint good either.
So now they get meal after meal that the government MANDATES because they say that’s what they have to have. And yes, you can stand by the garbage can and watch the majority of it end up there!
Just another example of government knowing more than us locals
Anonymous (not the LVS Anonymous) – I last ate a school lunch a couple days ago. I do occasionally sub in schools and I ate those lunches almost every day for 35 years. I also saw kids eat those lunches and yes, they complained, but they always complain. For many of them, it was the only square meal they would get that day. Finally, the food that is available to the schools is pretty low cost. It has to be to charge $1-$2 per meal.
Just goes to show teachers aren’t to smart.
You know eLViS, you do nothing nor do you add anything intelligent, to any conversation you involved your dumb ass in. You are a jealous, bitter and stupid old man. I hope that Santa brings you some peace in your life and doubles your brain cells to four. Have a merry Christmas.