Iowa Waste Reduction Center receives EPA Pollution Prevention Award

The Iowa Waste Reduction Center at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls was recently selected to receive an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 2021 Pollution Prevention Award.

According to the EPA, pollution prevention (P2) is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source. The EPA Region 7 P2 Awards celebrate organizations across the Midwest who have successfully implemented P2 projects.

The Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) was selected for a P2 Award for its work on an Iowa Green Brewery Certification Program. The program assesses a brewery’s sustainability, including energy efficiency, sustainable materials management and environmental best practices. Currently, 28 breweries across the state have gained certification through the IWRC’s program.

As states on the IWRC website, the program is a free service for all Iowa breweries that awards sustainable achievements at various levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Breweries are scored on a points-based system and recommendations to increase scoring and reduce environmental impact are provided in a customized report.

“I commend the Iowa Waste Reduction Center for developing the Iowa Green Brewery Certification program,” said Acting EPA Region 7 Administrator Edward H. Chu. “These voluntary programs help empower businesses to institute environmental best practices in their operations, which is a win for the business, the environment, and the community.”

The IWRC has 33 years of experience providing successful training programs, technical assistance, and pollution prevention services that have included projects and outreach focused on food waste, recycling efforts, energy efficiency and hazardous substances.

The IWRC is a nonprofit organization, part of Business and Community Services at the University of Northern Iowa.