Green Initiatives
Expo Hill has undergone an eco-friendly transformation.
The Iowa State Fair is committed to supporting environmentally-friendly practices throughout the Fairgrounds. The 2012 Fair recycled more than 29 tons of waste, shattering the previous record of 19 tons set in 2011.
Here’s a list of our initiatives:
- More than 300 recycling containers throughout the grounds for Fairgoer use
- Recycling containers in the Campgrounds (adjacent to the brick bathhouse and grocery)
- Partnership with Keep Iowa Beautiful to maintain litter-free grounds
- MidAmerican Energy Wind Turbine and Wind Education Center, located on Expo Hill
- Recycling containers for cardboard placed near storage areas for food vendors and merchants
- Cardboard collected twice a day from concessionaires throughout the grounds
- Program for recycling plastic cups during overnight grounds clean-up
- Utilizing environmentally-friendly cleaning products
Expo Hill
The eco-friendly transformation of Expo Hill was complete for the 2012 Iowa State Fair. A uniquely-designed covered structure for free entertainment, a new stairwell as well as additional solar benches and pathway lighting were all Phase 2 additions to Expo Hill. These new enhancements complement MidAmerican Energy’s 130-foot tall wind turbine and wind education center as well as the solar pavers, lighting and seating introduced at the 2011 Fair.
Phase 1 of Expo Hill’s transformation included solar path lighting, solar panels on the MidAmerican Education Center, electronics monitoring wind and solar power production, a solar cooling bench, a solar film tent, as well as other green design concepts. In addition, the Hill’s pathway provided a new handicap accessible route to the Cultural Center.

