Throwing out cardboard has been banned in Iowa City ever since Jan. 2. If cardboard is found in landfills, taxpayers will have to pay for haulers being charged double the regular tipping fee. It’s a move that is expected to save the city $2 million a year and prevent 4,000 tons of reusable cardboard from going to waste.

RELATED: Iowa City bans cardboard in landfill

With mandatory cardboard recycling, the University of Iowa Office of Sustainability had to ensure every building on campus is saving the material. They’ve increased cardboard collection days for buildings that deal with food and scientific experiments, making sure no cardboard gets onto trucks headed to the landfills. It’s possible that more recyclable items could be banned from landfills in the future. City Council is currently waiting for the Climate Action Committee to decide on additional items that need attention.

Locater: Iowa City, Iowa

Lower 3rd: Beth MacKenzie / Recycling Coordinator

Lower 3rd: Kingsley Botchway II / City Councillor

Lower 3rd: Kaylyn Kluck/ @KaylynKluck