Hi all,
Last week, I shared a few of the recycling and reuse initiatives that Colorado is engaged in. This week, I’m sharing their 9th annual State of Recycling and Composting in Colorado report.
The report features some of the improvements they’ve made on their circular system journey, including:
- The City of Aspen introduced an Organic Waste Ordinance in October 2023, requiring all establishments with a retail food license to register with an organics hauler. As a result, compost increased from 804 tons of food scraps diverted in 2023 to 2,600 tons in 2024. That represents a nearly 350% increase! This ordinance is successful due to the City’s support, which includes providing compost bins, centralized drop-off locations, educational materials, and wildlife-resistant outdoor bins (p.14).
- In 2024, following Colorado’s Producer Responsibility programs for paint, packaging, and paper, the State enacted a new battery stewardship law (SB25-163). As of 2028, battery producers will pay for the collection, recycling, and proper disposal of small- and medium-format batteries, including button, AAA, D-cell, rechargeable power-tool batteries, and e-bike batteries (p.5).
- The Glenwood Springs City Council voted to ban yard trimmings from the South Canyon Landfill beginning in the summer of 2025. Although most residents and businesses are complying by diverting yard trimmings for composting, some are taking yard clippings to nearby landfills instead. The diversion requirement is definitely a success, as it lengthens the landfill’s lifespan and avoids methane emissions by keeping yard clippings out of the landfill. The fact that some people are evading the requirement by taking their clippings to other landfills underscores the need for coordinated behaviour change programs and statewide policies (p.14).
The report includes highlights of actions Colorado is taking in the areas of organics diversion, expanded recycling systems, deconstruction and recycling, and reducing, repairing, and reusing. It also includes local and state-level policy recommendations.
To access the full report, click here.
Last week, I shared a few of the recycling and reuse initiatives that Colorado is engaged in. This week, I’m sharing their 9th annual State of Recycling and Composting in Colorado report.
The report features some of the improvements they’ve made on their circular system journey, including:
- The City of Aspen introduced an Organic Waste Ordinance in October 2023, requiring all establishments with a retail food license to register with an organics hauler. As a result, compost increased from 804 tons of food scraps diverted in 2023 to 2,600 tons in 2024. That represents a nearly 350% increase! This ordinance is successful due to the City’s support, which includes providing compost bins, centralized drop-off locations, educational materials, and wildlife-resistant outdoor bins (p.14).
- In 2024, following Colorado’s Producer Responsibility programs for paint, packaging, and paper, the State enacted a new battery stewardship law (SB25-163). As of 2028, battery producers will pay for the collection, recycling, and proper disposal of small- and medium-format batteries, including button, AAA, D-cell, rechargeable power-tool batteries, and e-bike batteries (p.5).
- The Glenwood Springs City Council voted to ban yard trimmings from the South Canyon Landfill beginning in the summer of 2025. Although most residents and businesses are complying by diverting yard trimmings for composting, some are taking yard clippings to nearby landfills instead. The diversion requirement is definitely a success, as it lengthens the landfill’s lifespan and avoids methane emissions by keeping yard clippings out of the landfill. The fact that some people are evading the requirement by taking their clippings to other landfills underscores the need for coordinated behaviour change programs and statewide policies (p.14).
The report includes highlights of actions Colorado is taking in the areas of organics diversion, expanded recycling systems, deconstruction and recycling, and reducing, repairing, and reusing. It also includes local and state-level policy recommendations.
To access the full report, click here.
