An effort is underway by the Iowa Grocery Industry Association and environmental organizations to cut back on the number of plastic grocery bags that are used in stores across the state.

Association president Jerry Fleagle says the “Build with Bags” program has a couple of goals.

He say they want to double the number of plastic bags that are recycle over the next 24 months, reduce the consumption of plastic bags and increase the use of reusable bags.

Fleagle says they will also develop and institute a program to help parks and schools buy products made out of recycled plastic bags. Fleagle says there’s a lot of work to do to achieve their goals.

Fleagle says there were over 550-million plastic bags used just in the grocery industry alone in Iowa last year. He says they are still compiling the numbers of how many bags are recycled, and the goal is to double that number. Many stores now sell the reusable cloth bags, but Fleagle says they need to get people to remember to take the bags with them.

He says getting people to use the reusable bags is one of the biggest challenges, and they will come up with some “best practices models” to give to stores to encourage the use of the reusable bags. Fleagle says those things include stickers, signs and window clings to remind people to bring the reusable bags with them. Fleagle says there are things like benches that are made out of recycled plastic bags and they want to encourage the use of such products.

Fleagle says they will set up a program that will make it affordable for schools and parks to use those products instead of wood products. Fleagle says there are environmental benefits to cutting back on plastic bags, and there are other benefits as well. He says less plastic bag usage helps stores and consumers by keeping the costs low.

Fleagle says consumers already benefit at many stores by getting credit when they bring in their reusable bags. The grocers are working with Keep Iowa Beautiful, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Metro Waste Authority to get the program going.

For two months now, the southeast Iowa town of Crawfordsville has been without water. The town’s water well broke in late June. Since then, the town’s had to truck in water from neighboring communities. Now that school has started, the demand for water is even greater.

Town leaders are wrestling with how to provide a sufficient water supply when they’re running out of money. They’ve asked everyone to cut back on using water, including the school. Vicki Reynolds, the school principal, says they’re doing their best.

“We monitor (students) at the drinking fountains, monitor what we have in our kitchen…full loads of dishes,” Reynolds said. City Councilman Don Brookhart says the town’s brought in an extra truck load of water each day since school started on Monday. “It hurts us because we have to figure out how to pay for the water and the trucking,” Brookhart said.

Each truck full of water costs the city about $165. That adds up to about $500 a day being drained from the city’s coffers. To help pay for the growing cost of busing in water, Mayor Tom Conrad says the city is considering doubling their utility rates.

“What the rates will be I’m not sure,” Conrad said. “We’re going to try and keep them as reasonable as possible.” Crawfordsville resident Larry Black says no one can survive without water even if they’re upset about paying more for it.

“There will probably be a few people disgruntled about it, but the whole thing is…water is something we have to have,” Black said. Mayor Conrad says he’s hoping the state will release about $300,000 in grant money to help the town build a new water pipeline. He hopes that new water system will be in place by November.

Story by Jami Brinton, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids

As the federal government considers a Cash for Clunkers-type of program for old appliances, Iowa-based MidAmerican Energy already has a similar statewide program in place.

Utility spokesman Mark Reinders says the program was launched a few weeks ago and works with contractors to pick up and dispose of old, yet still-working appliances.

The rebate offers $50 for refrigerators and freezers and $25 for window air conditioners. Reinders says the idea is to get rid of an older piece of equipment and purchase a more energy-efficient item. He says the program benefits customers with the cash as well as getting rid of the old appliance while helping them cut back on future energy use.

Rebates are also available for customers buying new appliances. For information, call 800-621-2757 or visit MidAmerican’s website.

Story contributed by Tom Beightol, KSCJ, Sioux City