Today, on America Recycles Day, Eco-Cycle and CoPIRG, released our second annual State of Recycling in Colorado:2018 report. Our beautiful state continues to be one of the most wasteful in the nation. Our recycling rate statewide has stalled at 12%, far below the national average of 35%. But it doesn't have to be that way. This report highlights what's working in communities around the state and calls upon Governor-elect Polis to take action to transform Colorado into a recycling hub for the Rocky Mountain region. Highlights from the report include:
- The five cities with the best residential-recycling rates (from single-family homes) are Loveland (61 percent), Boulder (52 percent), Louisville (44 percent), Aspen (40 percent) and Longmont (40 percent).
- The City of Fort Collins diverts nearly 70 percent of its industrial waste, including wood waste, scrap metal, concrete and asphalt, which was a big reason why it has the best recycling rate overall (55 percent) when you include residential, industrial and commercial recycling.
- Longmont had the biggest improvements in their rates from last year, thanks to a new curbside composting program to collect food scraps and yard debris from residents.
- Edgewater, Morrison, New Castle, Rifle, and Silt reported data for the first time.
- Three businesses in Colorado that are processing recyclables, providing local jobs and contributing to a thriving recycling economy in Colorado.
We salute the cities, counties, and businesses that are innovating in the realm of Zero Waste to make recycling and composting more accessible and convenient for us all, and call upon our new Governor to help the entire state benefit from a robust recycling economy! |
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