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© Eco-Cycle 2017.ecocycle.org
Who is Eco-Cycle?
Started recycling in CO in 1976
One of oldest and largest
nonprofit recyclers in the world
65 employees
International experts
© Eco-Cycle 2017.ecocycle.org
NATIONAL IMPACT
10% morerecycling in CO
Saves 188,000tons of carbon
per year
Equivalent totaking
40,000 carsoff the roadevery year
FASTEST, CHEAPEST, EASIESTCLIMATE SOLUTION
© Eco-Cycle 2018.ecocycle.org
Colorado is one of the worst states at waste diversion
35%
National average
17%
Colorado
© Eco-Cycle 2018.ecocycle.org
WHY WE NEED STATE SUPPORT
© Eco-Cycle 2019.ecocycle.org
STATEWIDE OBSTACLES
ecocycle.org
ECONOMICS
Front Range landfills: $20-30/ton
U.S. average landfill rate: $55/ton
Economies of scale in small towns with low populations
DISTANCE TO END MARKETS
CO is isolated in middle of country; high transportationcosts for rural areas; limited manufacturing in state
LIMITED STATE SUPPORT
Voluntary goals, limited funding & technical assistance
LIMITED LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFLUENCE
Trash & recycling provided mostly by private companies
© Eco-Cycle 2018.ecocycle.org
What’s happening in CO cities
Only 27 cities, 30 counties report data
Loveland tops residential: 61%
Fort Collins tops overall: 55%
5 counties track annually
6 cities/counties with commercial orcommunity-wide data
MSW increasing, recycling flat-lined
© Eco-Cycle 2019.ecocycle.org
What’s working in Front Range citiesGolden, Boulder, Loveland Lakewood, Arvada, Colo. Springs
RECYCLING RATE 34 – 61% ~8-12% (estimated)
RECYCLINGIncluded w/trash service automatically;one price for all services
Residents must seek out, pay more
COMPOSTINGCurbside composting for yard debris anddrop-off sites; some food scrap collections
Limited drop-off collections for yarddebris; no curbside composting available
TRASHTrash charged by cart size; larger carts costmore
Unlimited trash collection; one size cartfor one price
DATAAnnual reports on participation, diversionrates
Little to none
LOCAL SUPPORT Policies, city-run services, contracts Little to none
© Eco-Cycle 2019.ecocycle.org
Priority actions for state leadership
ORGANICSMANAGEMENT
PLAN
END MARKETDEVELOPMENT
INCREASEFUNDING
LEADBY EXAMPLE
REDUCESINGLE-USE
PLASTICS
ROCKY MTNBOTTLING
ROCKY MTNBOTTLING
HOUSEHOLDHOUSEHOLD1
2
3 MOMENTUMRECYCLINGREPROCESSING
MOMENTUMRECYCLINGREPROCESSING
RECYCLINGCENTER
RECYCLINGCENTER
Closed loopfor glass
4
© Eco-Cycle 2017.ecocycle.org
North + South CarolinaWhat they’ve done: Comprehensive program to proactivelyattract remanufacturing to the area
Result: National hub for plastics recycling/remanufacturing
◦ 3500 jobs
◦ $13 billion economic impact in SC
◦ $310 capital investment
Policy support: Ban on plastic bottles from the landfill tocreate more jobs and support industry
Marketing: If every household recycled two more bottles,could create 300 new jobs.
© Eco-Cycle 2019.ecocycle.org
Organics management plan
Problem: 40% of waste stream isorganic: food scraps, yard trimmings,wood waste, etc.
Goal: Transform waste problem intoclimate and soil solution
ORGANICS MANAGEMENT PLAN
Action: Study. Pilot. Plan.* Study sources/volumes of organic waste* Address compost infrastructure needs* Quantify climate & soil impacts* Provide farmer incentives* Reduce food waste
© Eco-Cycle 2018.ecocycle.org
REDUCE SINGLE-USE,DISPOSABLE PLASTICS
REMOVE STATEPRE-EMPTION LIMITING
LOCAL CONTROL
STATEWIDE BAN ONSTYROFOAM TAKE-OUTCONTAINERS, PLASTIC
BAGS, ETC.
© Eco-Cycle 2019.ecocycle.org
Colorado needs your leadership!
ecocycle.org/zerowastecolorado
Suzanne Jones, Eco-Cycle
Executive Director
