Open your kitchen drawer—the one stuffed with plastic forks, soy sauce packets, and stray napkins. You didn’t ask for them and didn’t need them—but throwing them away felt like a waste, so there they sit. 

Now multiply that drawer by millions of households.

When you order takeout, the default is that utensils, straws, condiment packets, and napkins are automatically included, whether you need them or not. In the United States, restaurants distribute nearly 1 trillion single-use food service items every year, costing the industry an estimated $24 billion annually. 

Meanwhile, a significant portion of those items go straight from the take-out bag to be stored in a drawer or thrown in the trash. 

A new proposed bill, Senate Bill 26-146, would make single-use items available by request only, cutting costs, reducing trash, and giving customers more choice.

 Ask your state senator to support this bill—it takes less than one minute!

A Simple Shift with Big Impact

Senate Bill 26-146 offers a straightforward solution: instead of automatically including single-use items with every order, restaurants would provide them only upon request.

Single-use items are resource-intensive from start to finish—requiring oil, gas, trees, water, and energy to produce and transport, only to be used for minutes (if at all). This common-sense policy tackles that waste at the source while delivering real benefits:

• For businesses: Lower supply costs and less wasted inventory—often saving hundreds to thousands of dollars annually
• For customers: Fewer unwanted items and more choice and control over what you receive
• For communities: Reduced litter and an estimated $1 billion in taxpayer savings on cleanup costs
• For the environment: Less waste, less pollution, fewer resources used, and cleaner recycling and composting systems

It also builds on policies already working in other states and Colorado communities—helping make “by request only” the new normal statewide.

Take Action in Under One Minute

If passed, SB26-146 would align everyday systems with common sense: If you need it, you can still get it. If you don’t, it won’t go to waste.

If you believe takeout shouldn’t come with a side of waste, take a moment to tell your state senator to support SB26-146!

Thank you for taking one small action that helps shift a much bigger system!

The post Skip the Stuff: A Small Shift That Solves a Big Waste Problem appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

A Day That Sparked a Movement

The first Earth Day was held in 1970, when an estimated 20 million people across the United States took to streets, parks, and campuses to demand a healthier environment. It remains one of the largest civic events in history—and helped launch major environmental protections we still rely on today. More than 50 years later, Earth Day is now often celebrated for the entire month of April and has grown into a global movement, with over a billion people participating each year. But its core idea is still the same: real change starts with people coming together.

Global challenges like climate change and plastic pollution can feel overwhelming. But the solutions often start much closer to home. Join Eco-Cycle and our partners in these upcoming events!

Kick Off Earth Week with a Special Film Screening of Single-Use Planet

Tuesday, April 21, 2026
6:00 to 8:30 pm
Boedecker Theater at the Dairy Arts Center

Eco-Cycle is hosting a special Earth Week screening of Single-Use Planet—a documentary that explores the upstream incentives for the onslaught of single-use plastics that are impacting the health of our planet. 

The film will be followed by a panel discussion featuring local leaders and activists who are fighting for a different world. From recycling to reuse to policies that better protect people and the planet, you’ll hear what’s happening here in Colorado to address the problem of single-use plastics.

Space is limited. Get your tickets today!

Bring Your Hard-to-Recycle Materials to a Collection Event!

The Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) is traveling around the region collecting Hard-to-Recycle (HTR) materials! As a way to increase access to recycling we’ve partnered with local communities to offer subsidized (and in some cases free) public collection events to collect electronics, plastic bags, and more! Check out these upcoming events.

• Lafayette Hard-to-Recycle Event, April 25, 2026, 8 am–12 pm. Be sure to register here!
• Erie Clean-Up Event, May 2, 2026, 8 am–1 pm. Learn more here.
• Niwot’s Neal Anderson Clean-Up & Recycling Day, May 16, 2026 (times TBD).

If you’d like to volunteer with Eco-Cycle staff at one of these Hard-to-Recycle events, sign up for a shift here! No experience needed.

U-Fix-It Clinic

Join Resource Central at the upcoming Boulder U-Fix-It Clinic, where volunteer repair experts will help you troubleshoot and fix common household items like appliances, lamps, toys, furniture, electronics, musical instruments, jewelry, and more! 

Whether it’s a wobbly lamp, a torn jacket, or a gadget that just won’t turn on, repair coaches will work with you to bring it back to life. Not only will you save money, you’ll also keep usable items out of the landfill and learn practical repair skills you can use again and again!

Bring your item, your curiosity, and a willingness to learn! Sign up for a spot today.

Saturday, April 18, 2026
10:00 am–1:00 pm 
Resource Central (colocated with the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM, 6400 Arapahoe Rd, Boulder) 

Earth Month Celebrations

Eco-Cycle will be on-site at many of these Earth Month community celebrations, tabling and engaging with the public to share practical Zero Waste tips, answer questions, and connect people with local recycling and reuse resources. 

Broomfield Earth Day Celebration and Garden Tool Swap
Saturday, April 18, 2026
1–4 pm
Paula Derda Recreation Center

Bring your friends, family, and neighbors to discover, learn, and take action for a greener future at the Broomfield Earth Day Celebration, which includes a seed swap, bike repair station, garden tool swap, electric vehicle showcase, and kids’ activities!

12th Annual Longmont Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 18, 2026
10 am–2 pm
Timberline PK–8 SVVSD

“Our Power, Our Planet” is a free family-friendly celebration! Enjoy live music by Jen Cleary, animal encounters, a clothing swap, and a bike donation drive. Explore educational booths, cultural dance performances, and more, plus a special appearance from Congressman Joe Neguse! Indoor and outdoor activities will be offered.

Erie Arbor Day/Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 25, 2026
10 am–1 pm
Erie Community Park (Poor Weather Back-Up Location: Erie Community Library)

Enjoy tree giveaways, fun crafts and games, and hands-on learning about tree care and environmental stewardship. Hosted by local town departments and boards, this family-friendly event supports Erie’s Tree City USA designation and brings the community together to care for our environment.

Lyons Earth Day Celebration 2026
April 18–25, 2026
Locations and times vary

During the week of April 18–25, Lyons is hosting free events celebrating sustainability, community, and caring for our planet. Enjoy workshops, talks, film, and eco-friendly activities all week long. Then, on Saturday, April 25, from 10 am–2 pm, come together at Bohn Park along St. Vrain Creek for the Lyons Earth Day Expo!

Lafayette & Louisville Earth Day, Every Day
Saturday, May 2, 2026
10 am–2 pm
Bob L. Burger Recreation Center

This free, family-friendly event features live music, interactive activities, an EV showcase, food trucks, a sustainable makers market, and over 40 eco-focused vendors. Enjoy hands-on fun, live animals, and tours of the Outdoor Classroom—all while connecting with your community and supporting a more sustainable future.

Earth Day (and Earth Month!) is powerful because it reminds us what’s possible when we come together: building toward a more resilient, less wasteful, more sustainable future. We hope you’ll join us—not just to celebrate the planet, but to take part in shaping the systems that protect it all year long!

The post Earth Day Community Celebrations: Take Action with Eco-Cycle! appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

April showers (or snow) bring spring flowers—and for many of us, cleaning scours. But clearing the clutter from your home doesn’t have to be toxic, wasteful, or contribute to climate change. Here are some practical tips for spring cleaning, Zero Waste style.

Reuse First: Give Your Stuff a Second Life (Donations, Repairing, Sharing & More)

So much of what we toss still has plenty of life left in it. Even though we don’t want it anymore, someone else likely does. Before anything goes in the trash, think of reuse first.

Have you checked out the online Reuse Hub yet? Reuse is now easier than ever!

This Earth Month (which is all of April), Eco-Cycle and the City of Boulder are thrilled to announce the launch of the Reuse Hub for Boulder and Beyond—a new interactive platform making it easier than ever to find reuse, refill, and repair options across the Northern Front Range. At the heart of the Hub is the Routes to Reuse Map, a searchable map connecting you to hundreds of local reuse-focused businesses, from Zero Waste bulk grocery stores and repair shops to thrift stores and lending libraries. Businesses can also join the free Reuse Hub Business Network for visibility, incentives, and connections to fellow reuse companies. Start exploring at ecocycle.org/reuse-hub!

Repair Before You Replace: Fix It Instead of Throwing It Away

Before you toss or recycle that appliance, toy, garment, or gadget, consider repairing it instead. Extending a product’s life keeps its raw materials in use longer, reducing the need for new resource extraction. It’s one of the most impactful things you can do for both the environment and your wallet.

Search the Routes to Reuse Map within the Reuse Hub for many repair services throughout the region.

Recycle Hard-to-Recycle Items in Boulder

If something is truly beyond repair and can’t be reused, check whether a specialized recycling drop-off center will take it before sending it to the landfill. For example, the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), located at 6400 Arapahoe Rd in Boulder, accepts items such as appliances, electronics, mattresses, ceramics, books, and even solar panels. Before you visit, check out the full list of accepted materials with over two dozen items and applicable fees. 

For other items, Eco-Cycle’s A to Z Recycling Guide helps you search by material to find the right recycling solution.

Take Paints, Solvents, Batteries, etc. to the Hazardous Materials Facility

If your spring cleaning takes you to places like under the kitchen sink or out to the garage, you may turn up hazardous cleaners, solvents, motor oils, or pesticides in need of proper disposal. Please don’t pour them down the drain or into storm drains. The Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility is open to all Boulder County, Broomfield, and Erie residents, Wednesday through Saturday, 8:30 am–4:00 pm. Check their website before you go for a full list of accepted materials.

Switch to Nontoxic Cleaning Products

Zero Waste goes beyond reducing landfill waste—it also means limiting toxic chemicals in your home and environment. Many conventional cleaners and pest deterrents can harm people, indoor air quality, and ecosystems.

With just a few basic and inexpensive ingredients you may already have, such as baking soda, vinegar, and lemon, you can scrub, scour, deodorize, disinfect, and cleanse your entire home without the toxicity of conventional store-bought cleaners. And they’re likely far less expensive. Check out our earth-friendly cleaning recipes here.

When shopping, watch out for greenwashing—many products labeled “green” or “natural” don’t meet meaningful standards. Tools like the Environmental Working Group’s safe cleaning products database (also available as a free app) helps you vet products before you buy.

Organic Gardening: Reduce Pesticides and Build Healthy, More Drought-Resistant Soil

Government testing shows that glyphosate—the most widely used pesticide in the US—is detectable in more than 80% of Americans tested, including both children and adults. This spring, consider organic approaches instead.

Applying finished compost to your lawn and garden is one of the simplest and most effective tools: it enriches soil, helps retain moisture, and can naturally suppress weeds by improving soil health and reducing the conditions weeds thrive in.

Our Microbe Brew Compost Tea is back!

It must be spring because Eco-Cycle’s Microbe Brew Compost Tea is back for another growing season! The tea infuses your soil with beneficial microorganisms, helping create soil that retains more moisture, yields more plentiful vegetation, and grows more pest-resistant plants! 

Microbe Brew Compost Tea is available for purchase at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) window located at 6400 Arapahoe Rd. in Boulder.

Start Small, Think Big: Every Zero Waste Choice Adds Up

Spring cleaning is a chance to reset—not just your home, but your relationship with what you consume and discard. Start with one swap, one repair, or one new way to care for our soil. Over time, these small shifts add up to a cleaner home, a healthier community, and a more resilient future. Happy spring cleaning—the Zero Waste way!

The post Spring Cleaning Tips: How to Clean Your Home the Zero Waste Way appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

This Earth Month (which begins today!) there’s something new to celebrate! Eco-Cycle—marking its fiftieth anniversary this year—has teamed up with the City of Boulder to launch the Reuse Hub for Boulder and Beyond, a powerful new online platform designed to make reuse, refill, and repair easier than ever—from Fort Collins to Boulder County, and down to Denver and Colorado Springs.

It’s your go-to guide for all things reuse—and saving money while you’re at it!

A Fresh Tool for a Growing Movement

The United States represents just 5% of the world’s population but consumes about 25% of its natural resources. Our current “take-make-waste” system extracts materials, turns them into short-lived products, and discards them—wasting resources, energy, water, and economic opportunity.

Reuse is the next frontier of circularity. By switching from disposable products to reusables, we can create a new system of refill and return—keeping materials in use longer, reducing pollution, supporting local jobs, and often saving money. 

For Shoppers: Find Refill Groceries, Repair Services, Thrift Shops, Secondhand Stores, Used Furniture and More

At the heart of the platform is the Routes to Reuse Map, an interactive, searchable tool that helps you quickly answer a simple question: Where can I reuse, refill, repair, or share—right now?

The Routes to Reuse Map connects you to hundreds of options, including:

• Refill and Zero Waste grocery stores
• Secondhand shops and creative reuse centers
• Gear repair and outdoor reuse services
• Home and building material reuse outlets
• Online reused product platforms
• Repair services and community sharing networks

Whether you’re looking to fix a broken item, restock your pantry without packaging, or shop secondhand, the Routes to Reuse Map makes it easy to find what you need.

For Reuse Businesses: Leading the Way

The Reuse Hub isn’t just for shoppers—it’s also a free resource for businesses. Restaurants, retailers, and service providers can join the Reuse Hub Business Network at no cost, and gain:

• Visibility on the Routes to Reuse Map
• Access to incentives and technical support
• Connections to other reuse-focused businesses
• Tools to help communicate reuse options to customers

The Hub also helps businesses understand, and communicate to customers, that reuse is already supported under Colorado’s food code, including allowing customer-provided containers for leftovers and reusable drink vessels.

Built on Fifty Years of Partnership

This launch builds on a longstanding collaboration between Eco-Cycle and the City of Boulder. Over the past five decades, our partnership has helped make Boulder a national leader in Zero Waste—from rolling out one of the first curbside recycling programs in the country to the creation of the Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials. The Reuse Hub is the next chapter—one that expands that leadership across the entire region.

Start Exploring Today!

The Reuse Hub for Boulder and Beyond is live! Explore the map, discover local reuse options, and start building reuse into your daily routine. And if you know a business that should be included, you can submit your suggestions directly through the Hub.

This Earth Month, reuse just became easier than ever!

The post Eco-Cycle and the City of Boulder Launch a New Online Reuse Hub for Earth Month appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

In Boulder County, many of the solutions we may take for granted now—such as curbside recycling and composting, Zero Waste education, and specialty drop-off centers such as the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM)—began as innovative new ideas that needed testing, community support, and persistence. 

Eco-Cycle has spent decades helping design and implement Zero Waste solutions, supported by a community willing to try something different. Together, we’re not just managing waste, but designing new systems that prevent waste from the start.

Eco-Cycle Firsts Over the Decades

Since our founding in 1976, we’ve helped shape what Zero Waste looks like in Boulder County and beyond. Over the decades, we’ve launched a number of “firsts”—infrastructure, programs, and policies that helped create lasting systems change that other communities could adopt and build from.

Some of our most impactful “firsts” include: 

1976 – THE RECYCLING REVOLUTION BEGINS

In the 1970s, recycling wasn’t a household word or concept. Eco-Cycle launched one of the very first curbside recycling programs in the nation, using old school buses to collect materials directly from the community. Volunteers, neighbors, local government, and community groups all played a role in creating a new model that was shared with other communities as programs began to spread nationwide.

1979 – COLORADO’S FIRST RECYCLING FACILITY

Eco-Cycle, in partnership with the City of Boulder and Boulder County,opened the first multimaterial recycling facility in Colorado, accepting and preparing a variety of recycled materials for market, such as newspapers, glass, steel, and aluminum.

1986 – SCHOOL RECYCLING AND EDUCATION

In partnership with the Boulder Valley School District and St. Vrain Valley School District, Eco-Cycle created one of the first school recycling and education programs to help students understand how their choices impact the environment. That work continues today, reaching 58,000 students and staff each year.

1992 – FIRST COMMINGLED SORTING

Eco-Cycle staff designed and built the first commingled sorting system in Colorado, making it easier for residents to participate in recycling by allowing containers like glass and cans to be mixed together.

1999 – FIRST COMMUNITY COLLECTION EVENTS FOR ELECTRONICS RECYCLING IN COLORADO

Eco-Cycle moved to the next frontier of recycling and helped organize Colorado’s first electronics recycling collections, the beginnings of collections for “hard-to-recycle” materials that require special handling. 

2000 – THE ZERO WASTE MOVEMENT BEGINS

In 2000, Eco-Cycle helped launch the Zero Waste movement—locally, nationally, and even globally. At the time, the idea of rethinking the concept of waste and designing it out of the system was considered radical. We worked to define what Zero Waste could look like in practice, sharing a blueprint for Zero Waste models internationally.

2001 – TWO NEW RECYCLING FACILITIES ARE BORN

After Eco-Cycle and many partners throughout the community campaigned to pass a “trash tax” in 1992, the Boulder County Recycling Center was built in 2001. Eco-Cycle became its first (and current) operator, allowing us to move our twenty-five-year outdoor operations indoors. 

That created new opportunities at our old processing location. In partnership with the City of Boulder, we opened the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM)—the first facility of its kind in the nation—finding recycling solutions for now more than 25 different categories of materials that aren’t accepted in curbside programs.

2005 – ZERO WASTE SCHOOLS AND THE FIRST COMMERCIAL COLLECTIONS FOR COMPOST

Eco-Cycle became the first hauler to collect compostable materials from businesses, helping address 40% of the municipal waste stream made up of organic materials. This same year, we also launched our Green Star Schools Program, initially partnering with five Boulder schools willing to innovate with us to create the first comprehensive Zero Waste schools program in the nation.

2006 – FIRST ONGOING ZERO WASTE EVENT

Eco-Cycle worked in partnership with the Boulder Farmers Market vendors and farmers to becomethe first ongoing Zero Waste event in the nation. 

2016 – FIRST UNIVERSAL ZERO WASTE ORDINANCE IN COLORADO

Eco-Cycle successfully collaborated with City of Boulder officials and advocated for the passage of their Universal Zero Waste Ordinance, requiring all businesses to have recycling and composting services. Boulder became the first city in Colorado and the 3rd city in the US to mandate recycling and composting citywide.

2017 – FIRST STATE OF RECYCLING REPORT FOR COLORADO

Eco-Cycle and CoPIRG partnered to release the first annual “State of Recycling in Colorado” report, highlighting municipalities with innovative programs and infrastructure to divert natural resources from the landfill.  

2019 – COMMUNITY SCIENCE FOR CARBON FARMING

Eco-Cycle launched the Community Carbon Farming pilot, the first study in the nation to test the potential of sequestering carbon in residential backyards using carbon farming practices such as applying finished compost to landscapes.

2021 – COLORADO BECOMES THE FIRST INLAND STATE TO ADDRESS PLASTIC POLLUTION

Eco-Cycle, working with partners statewide, successfully advocated for Colorado’s Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, which prohibits restaurants from using toxic foam containers and large retailers from distributing plastic bags. Colorado was the third state to take such action, and the first inland state. Since implementation, it is estimated that over 1 billion  plastic bags will be conserved annually in Colorado.

2022 – COLORADO BECOMES THIRD STATE TO ADOPT PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY

Eco-Cycle successfully champions Colorado’s Producer Responsibility for Paper & Packaging law, making Colorado the third state in the nation to adopt this groundbreaking legislationthat provides free recycling to all residents through fees paid by producers.

ZERO WASTE MEETS ZERO EMISSIONS

Also in 2022, we deployed the first commercial-scale EV compost truck in the nation as part of our Zero Waste–Zero Emissions vision.

2024 – BUILDING COMMUNITY-BASED COMPOST INFRASTRUCTURE

Eco-Cycle launched the first community-based compost system in Boulder County in the spring of 2025, collecting the cleanest organic discards (food scraps) from local schools and businesses and delivering them to Boulder County farms, where they are used to produce high-quality compost for farmlands.

2026 – COLORADO AGGRESSIVELY ADDRESSES LANDFILL EMISSIONS

Eco-Cycle and our partners led a statewide campaign to cut methane emissions generated at landfills, Colorado’s third-largest source of methane emissions. As a result, Colorado became the first state to adopt such comprehensive state-specific standards for landfill greenhouse gases—a major win for public health, clean air, and climate action.

These firsts aren’t just a series of milestones—they’re proof that, working together, we can continue to replace broken, wasteful, and polluting systems with new, circular systems that protect our natural resources and the health of our planet for generations to come.

Looking Ahead

Each of these “firsts” began with identifying a challenge and working together with partners from all sectors of our community—residents, businesses, local government, schools, and farmers—to build practical solutions that protect our climate and natural resources, reduce waste, and create new systems that work better for people and the environment. 

There’s still much more work to do. But if the past has shown us anything, it’s that meaningful change happens when a community comes together around a shared vision.

Together, we can keep building what’s next.

The post From First Steps to Lasting Change: Eco-Cycle’s 50-Year History of Leading the Way appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Eco-Cycle brings decades of experience to advance practical, real-world solutions that make it easier to recycle, compost, and waste less. In a time when federal environmental progress is uncertain, the policy work happening here in Colorado matters more than ever.

Our voice is made stronger by people like you—people who engage with our work and help advocate for Zero Waste bills. Be a part of the momentum by signing up for our policy alerts! 

Key bills we’re focused on during the 2026 legislative session:

Support Senate Bill 26-003: End-of-Life Management of Electric Vehicle Batteries

The problem:
Electric vehicles are on the rise—but what happens to their massive batteries when they wear out? Without a clear system, these batteries can become a costly and potentially hazardous waste problem, even though they contain valuable critical minerals like lithium and cobalt.

The solution:
SB26-003 would create a Producer Responsibility program requiring battery manufacturers to fund and manage a system for collecting, reusing, and recycling EV batteries. The bill prioritizes reuse and repurposing first, and requires clearer labeling to make batteries easier to handle and recycle starting in 2028. It would also establish a national model that other states could follow, making sure that valuable minerals are being recaptured into the supply chain.

Why it matters to you:
This bill, if passed, would help keep toxic materials out of landfills, recover valuable resources, and avoid passing the cost of battery disposal to taxpayers and municipalities.

Eco-Cycle’s take:
We support the intent of this bill and are actively working with partners and legislators to strengthen it. We’re advocating for amendments that ensure costs don’t fall on local governments or landfills, and that strong environmental and safety standards are in place for battery recycling. We, along with partner organizations and local governments, sent a letter to bill sponsors last week asking for these amendments.

Status: Under consideration

Oppose Senate Bill 26-101 Landfill Methane Emission Reduction Regulations 

The problem:
Landfills are one of the largest generators of methane—a potent greenhouse gas. Without proper regulations, landfills can release harmful air pollutants that impact nearby communities.

The solution at risk:
Last year, Colorado adopted updated, science-based regulations to better manage methane monitoring, gas destruction, and leak repair. These commonsense rules were the result of over a year of collaboration between industry, local governments, and environmental groups.

Unfortunately, a bill has been introduced that, if adopted, would undermine these new landfill methane regulations, circumventing over a year of negotiations to reach consensus and a workable compromise between landfills, local governments, environmental groups, and other impacted communities.

Why it matters to you:
Strong landfill standards help protect air quality, reduce climate pollution, and safeguard the health of communities—especially those living near landfill sites.

Eco-Cycle’s take:
We oppose SB26-101, because it would weaken these hard-won protections and create loopholes that allow landfills to avoid compliance. We’re working with coalition partners to defeat the bill or remove the provisions that would roll back these important safeguards.

Status: Under consideration

Support House Bill 26-1219 Battery Assessment Submission Deadline Change 

Last year, we helped pass a bill (SB25-163) to create a Producer Responsibility program that will provide safe, no-cost collection and recycling of small- and medium-format batteries statewide starting in 2028. If adopted, HB26-1219 will correct a small date error in SB25-163.

Our take: We are supporting this bill to fix a minor mistake in last year’s successful battery bill. Batteries should NEVER be put in curbside recycling. Residents can safely dispose of loose batteries at no cost at the Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility, electronics with embedded batteries (like laptops and cell phones) can be recycled at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM). 

Status: Under consideration

Support House Bill 26-1132 Practices to Support Pollinators

This bill encourages state agencies to prioritize the use of in-state sources of native plants to support pollinator habitats, establish a training program for land managers, and integrate mowing and grazing practices from a 2022 Department of Natural Resources study. The bill will also require a study that assesses Colorado’s native plant supply chain to recommend actions to make more plants available.

Our take: Eco-Cycle’s composting and engagement teams are working to implement nature-based solutions in partnership with the City of Boulder’s Cool Boulder Program. We know that thriving ecosystems begin with healthy, nutrient-rich soils, and we support this bill as an effort to improve practices so that native plants and pollinators can flourish. 

Status: Under consideration

Support House Bill 26-1111 Pesticide Product Disposal and Container Recycling

Pesticides come in containers that cannot be disposed of in curbside recycling. If adopted, this bill will create a Producer Responsibility program, run by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), to collect and recycle pesticide containers. CDA will work with communities and household hazardous waste facilities to offer collection programs around the state, providing a safe and responsible way for farmers, landscaping companies, and other commercial and private entities to dispose of pesticide containers at a much lower cost than they pay now.

Our take: We support this bill to create a safe and responsible disposal system for pesticide containers. Eco-Cycle testified in support of the bill and an expected amendment to align the definition of recycling with other state laws.

Status: Under consideration

Support Senate Bill 26-016 Prohibit Discharge Preproduction Plastic Materials 

This bill preempts the State from awarding permits to discharge plastic pellets—the material that plastics are made from—into waterways or on land. While this action is already against federal law, the bill would make it clear that plastic pellets spilled in Colorado would need to be cleaned up.

Our take: We support the idea that plastic pellets should not be spilled into our waterways. Eco-Cycle worked with the sponsors of the bill to amend language that could have created unintended consequences for recyclers.

Status: Passed both houses, awaiting the governor’s signature

With two more months left in Colorado’s Legislative Session, we know there is more action to come on Zero Waste policies. We’ll keep you posted on these bills and others we expect to be introduced. 

Make sure to sign up for Eco-Cycle’s email list so you can weigh in on these issues when it matters most! 

The post Colorado Environmental Policy: Advancing Recycling, Composting, and Climate Solutions appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

This March 8, International Women’s Day, Eco-Cycle celebrates the talented and dedicated women helping lead the work to curb climate change and protect the planet for future generations. To highlight their voices, we asked six women on our staff three questions about their professional journeys with Eco-Cycle.

Sadie Gardner

oversees the Boulder County Recycling Center, also known as a MRF (Materials Recovery Center).
Job title: MRF Director
Amount of time working at Eco-Cycle: 6+ years

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Recycling is a tangible thing we can do collectively to move toward our sustainability goals. I’m lucky to be able to see it processed and shipped to mills on a daily basis. Just as important is the people I work with that make it happen—they are smart, hardworking and understand what a team really is. 

How about the most challenging part?
Trying to keep up with all the literal and figurative moving parts—equipment, machinery, optical sorters, and of course the most valuable component, the people. I’m balancing the fast moving pace of the plant while also running the business side and ensuring material gets to its proper end market so it can be made into a new product. 

If you could have a conversation over coffee with any woman, living or dead, who would that be and what would you ask her?
Michelle Obama. I’d ask: “as a career mom working in what is still a very male dominated industry, what advice would you give me?” 

Tina DeLisa

instills wonder and love for the earth in students while giving them lifelong actions that help keep the earth in mind with all their current and future endeavors.  
Job title: Environmental Education Teacher
Amount of time working at Eco-Cycle: 8 years

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is students connecting to and retaining information from our lessons. It is the absolute best when a student sees me at one of their Zero Waste evening or weekend events and tells me about something they did, or saw, or read that connects to part of an Eco-Cycle lesson.

How about the most challenging part?
The most challenging part is fitting all the incredible information and actions you want to teach students into an engaging concise lesson that fits into the allotted class time and curriculum. Thank goodness for our incredible schools’ team doing deep dives and working together to create environmental education lessons that not only fit the time we have with students but also meet the standards of each grade level, PK-12.  

If you could have a conversation over coffee with any woman, living or dead, who would that be and what would you ask her?
I would love to have coffee with Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I would ask her what she thinks about the situations we are currently faced with and how she would recommend that we overcome them.

Rachel Setzke

works on state and local Zero Waste policies and programming, helping communities and Colorado improve recycling, composting, and waste reduction.
Job title: Senior Policy Advisor
Amount of time working at Eco-Cycle: I started as an grad-school intern in August 2019, as an employee in March 2020.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I love getting to learn about what is happening around our state and country around recycling, composting, and reuse, and then using that knowledge to leverage opportunities and create solutions for Colorado that will help build recycling and reuse systems and rebuild our soil health through compost. 

How about the most challenging part?
There are so many policies and programs our team works on or would like to work on around recycling, hard to recycle materials, reuse, waste reduction, organics diversion and the use of compost, there is never enough time or capacity to address all of the issues we’d like to!

If you could have a conversation over coffee with any woman, living or dead, who would that be and what would you ask her? I am incredibly fortunate to get to connect with women working in this field both at Eco-Cycle and through the state and national groups I participate in! I am constantly inspired by these women and learning from them. I hope to continue meeting with them over Zooms, calls, and tea (I’m a tea-drinker) where I will continue to ask them, what are you excited to be working on and how can we work together to make the world a better place?

Audrey Wheeler

help communities around Colorado advance toward their waste diversion goals.
Job title: Senior Consulting Manager
Amount of time working at Eco-Cycle: 1.5 years

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I get to be part of the incremental progress being made across Colorado toward increasing recycling, composting, and Zero Waste efforts. Communities are taking advantage of new state programs and funding, and a lot of positive changes are happening. 

How about the most challenging part?
Encountering naysayers who think it’s not worth it to recycle or compost, and trying to calmly present convincing arguments. 

If you could have a conversation over coffee with any woman, living or dead, who would that be and what would you ask her?
I’d like to talk to Robin Wall Kimmerer, who has written several books about healing our relationship to the world using Indigenous wisdom. I would ask her about how she keeps up hope in dark times.

Lex Shannon

leads outreach and engagement efforts at Eco-Cycle, overseeing the Eco-Leader Network and connecting Colorado residents with Zero Waste resources. 
Job title: Public Education and Engagement Senior Manager 
Amount of time working at Eco-Cycle: 10 months (1 year in May!) 

If you could have a conversation over coffee with any woman, living or dead, who would that be and what would you ask her?
Rachel Carson, fellow Gemini and mother of the modern environmental movement. My question: how the heck was she able to stay so positive, inquisitive, and kind despite societal norms and industry trying so hard to discredit her work?

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I am constantly learning from everyone involved in Eco-Cycle! We have the most passionate and creative base of supporters that inspire me to keep fighting during these difficult times. 

How about the most challenging part?
Convincing others that recycling does work and it is only one of many tools at our disposal to conserve natural resources as we transition to a more circular system! 

Anna Leske

fundraises to provide support for Eco-Cycle’s Zero Waste programming.
Job title: Senior Advancement Officer
Amount of time working at Eco-Cycle: 3 years

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I love connecting with people who share our enthusiasm and dedication to building a Zero Waste future!

How about the most challenging part?
There are so many worthy causes to support, especially in the uncertain times we’re all living through. It sometimes feels like resources are spread thin, but there truly is so much support in our community.

If you could have a conversation over coffee with any woman, living or dead, who would that be and what would you ask her?
I would absolutely love the opportunity to speak with one of my favorite authors, Octavia Butler. Some people call her prescient, but I think she was just really adept at understanding systems. I’d love to ask her advice on how to effectively and joyfully build community in times of struggle and uncertainty. 

The post International Women’s Day 2026 appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Recycling can look completely different depending on where you live—but in some places, that is starting to change. States like Colorado are launching a precedent-setting policy that shows what universal, equitable recycling access can look like.

Across states and thousands of highway miles, trash cans are easy to find. Recycling bins are not. 

Recycling is promoted as a shared civic responsibility. But the infrastructure tells a different story. In many places, access to recycling remains inconsistent and fragmented. While recycling feels like a basic public service, in much of the United States, whether something can be recycled often depends less on your intention and more on your location. 

A Patchwork Recycling System

The US has no federal recycling program, no national list of universally accepted materials, no regulations around the use of the recycling symbol, and no guarantee of recycling access. Whether a recycling program exists—and what you can actually put in the bin—is determined locally.

In Boulder County, for example, the Cities of Boulder and Longmont have Zero Waste ordinances requiring recycling, compost, and trash service for every home and business. Residents recycle widely, and the system is designed with sustainability and strong end-markets in mind. But drive two hours south to Colorado Springs, and you’ll find there is no local recycling ordinance or municipal curbside recycling program. If you want to recycle, you must pay a private hauler or drive to a drop-off site.

This is not unusual. Step across a city or county line almost anywhere in the US, and the recycling rules change.

Why What You Can Recycle Changes So Much

Even amongst places where recycling exists, what’s accepted can vary widely. That’s because every recycling program is shaped by:

• Local priorities, such as reducing landfill waste, supporting climate goals, or boosting participation.

• Available end markets, which means whether there is a buyer for recycled materials nearby, and whether shipping to that buyer is affordable.

• Sorting machinery and facility design, which depend on local policies, end markets, funding, and material streams. 

A Game-Changer for Colorado’s Recycling: Producer Responsibility

Change that will address these inconsistencies is coming to Colorado—and it will make recycling easier, more consistent, and more accessible for everyone in the state.

In 2022, Eco-Cycle helped draft and champion a statewide Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Paper law that will provide universal recycling access to every Colorado household, with rollout beginning this year. Under the new law, recycling will be funded by the manufacturers that create packaging—not by local taxpayers.

The law also establishes statewide recycling guidelines, replacing the patchwork of recycling guidelines that previously varied from one community to the next. That means clearer expectations, less confusion, and a system designed to work for all Coloradans.

Colorado’s New Recycling System Supports a Circular Economy

Colorado’s Producer Responsibility law supports a recycling system that is accessible, consistent, and funded—building toward a more circular economy designed to prevent waste and keep natural resources in use. Key elements of this new system include:

1. Universal Access to Recycling

Every household should have curbside or convenient drop-off options, and recycling facilities need upgrades that can process common packaging materials.

2. Producer Responsibility

Manufacturers, not taxpayers, should fund the recycling system required for their packaging. This creates an incentive for companies to design packaging that’s recyclable, reusable, or compostable.

3. Reuse, Refill, and Repair Infrastructure

Reducing waste at the source—through reusable packaging, refill systems, repair services, and durable products—must become part of the mainstream system.

4. Safer, Smarter Packaging

Toxic additives and unnecessary and problematic products should be eliminated, packaging must be designed for recovery, and industries must create recycling markets for their own products. 

State Action Drives Change on the Federal Level

Federal policies like the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act would accelerate this shift nationwide. Meanwhile, state producer responsibility laws—like Colorado’s—are laying the groundwork for what an accessible and equitable recycling system can look like. But recycling shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code. With smart policies, fair funding, and needed infrastructure, recycling can become a consistent, reliable service across the country and a critical, domestic supply chain for our economy. 

The post Why Recycling Looks So Different Across the US appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Recycle Colorado’s Lobby Day is a chance for you to step into the democratic process and speak directly with state lawmakers about advancing recycling policies. By showing up, sharing your story, and engaging in meaningful conversations, participants help shape decisions that impact communities across Colorado.

Most of us have opinions about what should happen at the Colorado State Capitol, but far fewer of us have ever stepped inside the building to talk directly with the lawmakers who make those decisions. It’s easy to assume that influencing legislation requires policy expertise, years of experience, or specific knowledge.

In reality, it often starts with something much simpler: showing up as a constituent and sharing why an issue matters to you.

Join us on March 12, 2026, for Lobby Day!

Every year Eco-Cycle staff and volunteers head to the Colorado Capitol for Recycle Colorado’s Lobby Day—a supportive way for everyday Coloradans to participate in the legislative process, advocate for Zero Waste policies, and connect with other like-minded activists. Join us, and make a difference in Colorado’s Zero Waste future! 

Colorado Lobby Day
March 12, 2026
7:45 am to 4:00 pm
Colorado State Capitol (200 E. Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO)
Reception at Forte Wine Bar, 4:00–6:30 pm 

To kick things off, a virtual training will be held the morning before Lobby Day, on Wednesday, March 11, from 8:00–9:30 a.m. During the training, participants will receive an overview of the 2026 recycling bills moving through the legislature, learn how to identify and locate their elected officials, and review clear talking points and an easy-to-follow script to guide their conversations. The goal is to ensure that everyone arrives at the Capitol feeling informed, prepared, and confident.

On Lobby Day, Thursday, March 12, participants will meet at 7:45 a.m. inside the capitol after passing through security, where the morning begins with a light breakfast and time to connect with fellow volunteers. Advocates then break into small groups, each led by an experienced team leader who provides guidance, helps coordinate meetings, and offers support throughout the day. Equipped with a list of legislators to visit, teams move through the building to meet with senators, representatives, and their aides. Lunch is provided, and the day wraps up with a reception at Forte WIne Bar, to celebrate our collective impact!

No Experience Required

Lobby Day is a lot like swimming—you’ve got to jump in! For many volunteers, this is a completely new experience. The capitol is bustling with legislators, lobbyists, staff, reporters, and volunteer lobbyists like you. While this may seem a bit intimidating, every year new volunteer lobbyists say the same thing time and time again: “that was the most fun I have had in a long time!” 

More than knowledge, statistics, or well-developed arguments, your personal stories and viewpoints hold the greatest impact. Most legislators are so busy they don’t remember a lot of the detailed information and statistics about issues, but they will remember the interesting story you told about why an issue is important to you. It’s those connections that matter the most, and may have a significant impact on a legislator’s vote. In fact, legislators consistently express appreciation for hearing directly from constituents, and many prefer those conversations to meetings with professional lobbyists because they provide authentic community perspective.

Lobby Day demonstrates that influencing policy does not require insider status; it requires informed, engaged residents who are willing to show up. Join us this year at Recycle Colorado’s Lobby Day!

Please register before February 20 at 2026 Recycle Colorado Lobby Day Advocate Sign Up.

The post Democracy in Action: Join Us for Lobby Day 2026 appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

From mattresses to glassware, discover five surprising items you can recycle at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). 

Ever had an item that you knew couldn’t be recycled in your curbside bin, but still wondered, Can this be recycled . . . somewhere?

That somewhere just might be the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). This first-of-its-kind drop-off recycling and reuse center accepts electronics, appliances, some hard-to-recycle plastics, and other items that don’t belong in your curbside bin—but don’t have to go to the landfill.

Located at 6400 Arapahoe Rd. in Boulder and open Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., CHaRM makes responsible recycling simple. Here are five items you might be surprised to learn can be recycled at CHaRM:

1. Mattresses

Eco-Cycle partners with Spring Back Colorado to recycle mattresses and box springs of all sizes. After collection at the CHaRM, mattresses are transported to Spring Back’s facility in Commerce City where each mattress is carefully deconstructed into its core components by Spring Back staff. Foam and fibers are reused to create carpet padding, while metal is recovered and recycled into new products like kitchen appliances and automotive parts.

Fee: $3 facility fee for cars; $30 per mattress or box spring (covers collection and labor costs) 

2. Ceramics and Porcelain

Planning a bathroom remodel? Don’t send that old toilet to the landfill! The CHaRM accepts porcelain toilets, sinks, and urinals as well as ceramic materials like tile and pottery. These materials are crushed into sand and used as road base.

Please make sure all items are free of biohazards and thoroughly cleaned. Save money by removing all fixtures before dropping items off.

Fees:

• Toilets, sinks, and urinals without fixtures: $5 each
• With fixtures attached: $25 each
• General ceramics: $0.10 per pound
• $3 facility fee charged per vehicle

3. Textiles

The CHaRM accepts clean, reusable clothing and paired, reusable shoes. Items are donated to Pig + Pearl, a local thrift store that supports reuse and waste reduction.

Please note that underwear, bathing suits, and socks are not accepted.

Fee: $3 facility fee only, no additional charge. 

4. Paper to Be Shredded 

Please avoid shredding your paper as it shortens the life of paper fibers (meaning they can be recycled fewer times). But if you do need to shred, take your sensitive documents to the CHaRM intact. You’ll place the paper into a secured, locked bin. Our partner, Altitude DocuShred, will shred the paper onsite to become recycled into products like brown paper bags, toilet paper, tissue, and newsprint.

Fee: $3 facility fee for cars; $5 per file box of shredded paper

5. Glassware

Glass bottles and jars belong in your curbside recycling bin, but other glass doesn’t. Drinking glasses, tableware, vases, and candle holders have different melting temperatures and have to be handled separately. That’s where the CHaRM comes in. We accept these glass items so they can be properly recycled instead of landfilled.

PLEASE NOTE: Pyrex and other heat-resistant glass cookware is not accepted. They’re manufactured to withstand much higher temperatures than everyday glass (which is why they survive the oven)—and that difference makes them incompatible with the recycling process.

Fee: $3 facility fee; No additional charge

The CHaRM accepts dozens of hard-to-recycle household items! See a full list of what we accept (and related fees) here.

Know Before You Go (Hours, Fees, Location)

The CHaRM is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A $3 facility fee is charged per visitor arriving in a motorized vehicle (bikes are free!). 

We are located along Recycle Row at 6400 Arapahoe Rd in Boulder,  colocated with Resource Central. 

If you have any questions about what you can recycle and where, check out Eco-Cycle’s A–Z Recycling Guide (also available as an app)! 

The post Five Surprising Items You Can Recycle at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Looking to reduce plastic use this Valentine’s Day? Learn why plastic pollution, single-use packaging, and misleading recycling labels are red flags—and how to make more sustainable swaps.

Valentine’s Day is all about love—but it’s also a great time to rethink relationships that aren’t serving us anymore. You know the type: they promise ease, but create long-term problems and stick around far too long. 

Yes, we’re talking about plastics.

Plastic has been our clingy partner since the 1950s, when mass production took off. Since then, global plastics production has skyrocketed from roughly 2 million tons a year to over 450 million tons today. About 40% of that plastic is made for single-use packaging—used once, then discarded.

This Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about how to move on from this toxic relationship by recognizing plastic’s biggest red flags.

Your Values Don’t Match Up

Plastic doesn’t share your values—especially if you care about people and the planet.

Upstream, plastics production relies heavily on fossil fuels and toxic chemicals, disproportionately impacting communities located near fracking sites, refineries, and manufacturing plants. Downstream, plastic waste floods waterways, harms wildlife, and burdens waste systems. It’s estimated that 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. That’s not a misunderstanding—that’s fundamental incompatibility.

Breakup tip: Choose products with minimal or no packaging, and support companies that provide refill or reuse systems or take-back programs.

Gaslighting

You see the little triangle with a number in it on the bottom of a plastic container— the “chasing arrows” symbol—and think, “It’s recyclable! I’m doing the right thing.”

But that chasing arrows symbol identifies the type of plastic resin used in the product. That is it. It doesn’t mean the item can be recycled in your bin, or that it’s made of recycled material.

Breakup tip: Learn your local recycling guidelines instead of looking for symbols. When possible, choose items without packaging, or those packed in infinitely recyclable materials, like aluminum or glass.

They’re Overbearing

Plastic shows up fast and refuses to leave. A plastic bag might be used for 10 minutes, a coffee cup lid for mere seconds—yet plastic waste can take 20 to 500 years to break down. Fleeting usefulness, lifelong consequences.

And even then, plastic never really disappears. It just breaks into smaller and smaller pieces, lingering long after its usefulness is gone.

Breakup tip: Replace disposables with reusables—including a sturdy tote bag, a reusable water bottle and travel mug, and containers for leftover food.

They Ignore Boundaries

Once discarded, plastics break down into microplastics that can end up everywhere: in soil, oceans, food systems, and even the air we breathe. Microplastics have been found in seafood, salt, drinking water, and even human blood. While research is still evolving, early studies suggest potential links between microplastics and inflammation as well as other health concerns.

Even when we try to get rid of plastic, it doesn’t respect the breakup. It travels down rivers and across oceans, showing up in places humans never intended—including remote beaches, Arctic ice, deep-sea trenches, and even rainfall in the Rocky Mountains. 

Breakup tip: Reduce contact between your food and plastic containers by switching to glass or stainless-steel containers, skipping plastic wrap, and avoiding heating food in plastic containers. Make sure your plastic ends up in the correct bin (recycling or trash) to avoid plastic pollution in the environment.  

Falling for Better Alternatives

This Valentine’s Day, fall for materials—and habits—that actually show up for you: durable, reusable, and aligned with your values.  

• Know the red flags: Steer clear of plastics labeled #3, #6, and #7, along with black plastic food containers. They’re more toxic to produce and are challenging to recycle.
• Stop entertaining short-term flings: For single-use plastics like straws, utensils, take-out containers, and bags, say no when possible, and look for products with minimal or no packaging.
• Look for long-term compatibility: When you can, commit to reusables or products packaged in glass or aluminum instead of plastic. Unlike plastic, these materials are infinitely recyclable—no messy endings!
• Try a relationship that (re)fills you up: Buying food, soaps, cleaners, and other household items at bulk or refill stores cuts waste, saves money, and skips unnecessary packaging.

Breaking up with plastic doesn’t have to be dramatic. Like any healthy breakup, it’s about clarity, boundaries . . . and choosing better next time.

Need more tips? Check out our How to Quit Plastics Guide and learn how to ditch plastics for good!

The post How to Break Up with Plastics appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Sporting events are a popular way to gather with friends and family—but when tens of thousands of fans come together, even for just a few hours, a gigantic trail of waste often follows. 

Between tailgating and in-stadium concessions, a single NFL game generates an average of more than 80,000 pounds of waste. With more than 270 games each season, that adds up to over 24 million pounds of waste—and that doesn’t even include college football games.

Thankfully, many sports arenas are taking major steps to reduce this waste. NFL Green, the league’s environmental program, has made efforts toward sustainability since 1993. Locally, CU Boulder’s Folsom Field launched the first Zero Waste athletics program in the US. 

Here’s how Colorado stadiums and arenas are taking steps toward Zero Waste—and how fans can help.

How Colorado Sports Venues Are Designing Out Waste

Recycling and Composting Bins

Empower Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos, provides recycling bins throughout the stadium. At Ball Arena, home of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche, extensive recycling efforts include “Team Aluminum,”  staff members with mobile recycling backpacks who collect recyclables from fans in the stands—as well as “smart bins” with screens and cameras that guide fans on where to place their trash and recyclables. 

At Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, recycling bins are located throughout the stadium, with new compost bins offered in the 2025 season on club levels and premium seating areas. In 2024, the Rockies also composted grass clippings, food scraps, and other organics, diverting almost 72 tons.

Reusable, Recyclable, or Compostable Cups and Containers

Through partnerships with Ball Corporation, many Colorado venues—including Ball Arena, Folsom Field, and others—have replaced plastic cups with infinitely recyclable aluminum ones, dramatically cutting plastic waste, as long as event attendees recycle the cups!

CU Boulder’s Folsom Field—one of the first Zero Waste athletic programs in the US—sells all food and beverages in compostable, recyclable, or reusable containers, which dramatically increases waste diverted from the landfill. Committed student volunteers help fans sort discards correctly into recycling, compost, and trash bins. Stadiums like Folsom Field that combine volunteers, good signage, and limited bin options consistently achieve the highest diversion rates.

Water & Refill Infrastructure

Many Colorado stadiums—including Empower Field at Mile High, Ball Arena, and Coors Field—allow fans to bring empty, refillable water bottles and offer refill stations. These systems reduce plastic bottle waste and cut the environmental impact of beverage service.

Beyond the Bin: Food, Energy, and Community Impact

Ballpark Gardens & Local Produce

In 2013, the Colorado Rockies and ARAMARK launched the Coors Field Garden, planted and maintained by Produce Denver. The garden is the first sustainable garden in Major League Baseball and a model that’s since been replicated by stadiums nationwide. The 600-square-foot garden grows a variety of vegetables and herbs used by Coors Field chefs in the stadium’s restaurant and at salad stations.

NFL Green Tree-Planting & Restoration Initiatives

NFL Green’s “Greening Projects” support tree plantings, community garden installations, pollinator habitat creation, and habitat restoration in host cities for major NFL events. These efforts help offset the environmental footprint associated with large gatherings.

Energy & Resource Efficiency

Behind the scenes, Colorado stadiums are improving energy efficiency through lighting upgrades, kitchen equipment improvements, and responsible maintenance practices. Through a partnership with Filta Fry, Coors Field recovered more than 155,000 pounds of cooking oil in 2024, recycling it into cleaner biodiesel fuel. The emissions savings are equivalent to planting over 4,200 trees.

How Fans Can Help Reduce Stadium Waste

Even the best stadium programs rely on fans helping out. Here’s what you can do:

• Bring a reusable water bottle and use refill stations.
• Pick aluminum over plastic when buying beverages if a reusable refill isn’t an option.
• Sort your discarded items correctly—recycle empty cans and recyclable paper, and compost food scraps and certified compostable containers where available.
• Skip single-use plastics, especially wrappers, utensils, and bags.
• Support teams and venues that invest in Zero Waste and reuse programs.

Game day will always come with cheers, concessions, and celebration, but it doesn’t have to end with a mountain of trash. When stadiums build smarter systems and fans play their part, even the biggest crowds can leave a lighter footprint. So grab your reusable bottle, sort with intention, and remember that Zero Waste is a team sport—and Colorado is already winning!

The post Game Day Without the Garbage: Tackling Waste at Stadiums and Arenas appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

This year, Eco-Cycle marks fifty years of turning community vision into real-world Zero Waste solutions, beginning as one of the first recyclers in the country and becoming a national Zero Waste leader. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re honoring the past while setting our sights on what’s possible next. 

Five decades ago, a small group of Boulder visionaries looked at what others called “waste” and saw a profound problem in need of a solution. In the mid-1970s, when recycling wasn’t a common word and most materials were simply discarded, founders Pete Grogan and Roy Young, along with fellow conservation activists, imagined something fundamentally different: a community where natural resources were preserved, valued, recovered, and returned to use.

That idea led to the birth of Eco-Cycle and launched the recycling movement, making Boulder one of the first cities in the nation to offer curbside recycling.

The new organization sparked hope that systems change was possible when partners come together. Government leaders, educators, businesses, and residents formed a collaborative, community-based effort to trial and scale bold, practical solutions to the waste crisis. 

Over the decades, Eco-Cycle has become a founding leader in shaping what is now known as the “Zero Waste” movement. Our work has advanced sustainability goals across Colorado and influenced how communities nationwide think about the responsibility, stewardship, use, and misuse of our natural resources. What began as a grassroots effort is now one of the country’s largest and oldest nonprofit Zero Waste organizations.

A Legacy of Leadership

Throughout our history, Eco-Cycle, working in partnership with the community, has helped make a series of “firsts” possible—innovations that have gone on to serve as models far beyond Boulder County. Just a sampling of these examples includes: 

• 1979: Eco-Cycle opens the first post-consumer, multi-material recycling facility in Colorado, which grows to become the largest outdoor processing facility in the nation, processing 40,000 tons per year.

• 1986: Eco-Cycle creates one of the first school recycling education programs, beginning a long-standing partnership with Boulder Valley School District, St. Vrain Valley School District, and the municipalities they serve.

• 1992: Eco-Cycle staff design and build the state’s first commingled container sorting system in Colorado.

• 2001: In partnership with the City of Boulder, Eco-Cycle opens the Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), the first of its kind in the nation.

• 2001: After an Eco-Cycle led campaign to pass a tax to build a publicly owned facility, the Boulder County Recycling Center (BCRC) is built, and Eco-Cycle becomes the operator, allowing us to move our operations indoors for the first time in 25 years. The facility is the first publicly owned and privately operated Materials Recovery Facility in the state, establishing a new model for public–private partnerships in Zero Waste infrastructure. 

• 2005: Eco-Cycle is the first hauler to collect organic materials for composting from businesses. 

• 2021: Eco-Cycle led a statewide campaign to make Colorado the first inland state to pass a comprehensive Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, banning single-use plastic bags and expanded polystyrene (aka Styrofoam), taking effect in 2024.

• 2022: Eco-Cycle deploys the nation’s first commercial-scale compost collection EV truck.

• 2026: Thanks to an Eco-Cycle-led campaign, Colorado became the second state in the nation to implement Extended Producer Responsibility, requiring brands to take financial responsibility for the recycling and disposal of their products. 

Our milestones aren’t just markers of progress. They reflect how significant change can happen when communities commit to bold ideas and stay the course—creating a foundation for the next generation of solutions.

Eco-Cycle Today

We help change the systems by advancing programs, policies, and infrastructure that make recycling, composting, reuse, and waste reduction easier, more effective, and more accessible and equitable across Colorado. Our role is both practical and forward-looking: helping communities responsibly manage their “waste” while designing systems that prevent waste and its impacts on natural resources, climate, biodiversity, and health. That means moving beyond a system based on disposability toward one that is based on circularity, with fewer resources extracted, and products and packaging that are designed to be nontoxic, durable, reusable, and ultimately recyclable. 

Looking Ahead: Building the Next Era of Zero Waste

This anniversary is not just a celebration of where we’ve been. It is a launchpad for where we’re going. Eco-Cycle is entering its next chapter with a clear focus: expanding the policy, programs, infrastructure, and partnerships needed to accelerate Colorado’s transition to a circular, regenerative economy. From advancing markets for hard-to-recycle materials, to creating free access to recycling for all Coloradans, to modeling clean energy within the hauling industry, to deepening composting and nature-based approaches, our work is centered on innovating, advocating, and implementing scalable solutions for both people and planet.

The Next Chapter Starts Now

Eco-Cycle’s story has always been about what happens when communities believe change is possible—and work in partnership to make it real. YOU are an important part of the story, and we thank you for everything you do. As we celebrate fifty years of impact, we invite you to imagine the next fifty alongside us.

The future of Zero Waste is already taking shape. Together, we can build it.

Stay tuned throughout the year! We have many programs, new tools, and events planned to celebrate all that we’ve achieved together.

The post Celebrating Half a Century of Eco-Cycle—and the Future We’re Building Together appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Join Eco-Cycle in welcoming a creative take on reuse in Boulder at Music from Scrap, a performance and installation project by on view at the Boulder Public Library’s Canyon Gallery starting next month. 

Eco-Cycle is proud to support Music from Scrap, an imaginative exhibition and performance series that uses the power of art and music to explore how reuse can reshape the way we think about natural resources. This ongoing exhibition by composer-performer-artists Abby Kellems, Gavin Kitchen, and Jessie Lausé will run at the Boulder Public Library’s Canyon Gallery from February 7 through April 3, 2026, and features playable musical instruments and graphic scores created from found, recycled, and repurposed materials, inviting visitors to explore reuse through hands-on music-making. 

This project offers a compelling way to show how reused and repurposed materials can take on new life through music. By transforming discarded materials into fully playable instruments, Music from Scrap invites our community to consider how creativity and reuse can shape a more circular future.

Join us for the opening concert on Saturday, February 7, at 2:00 pm in the Canyon Theater at the Boulder Public Library, featuring a presentation by Eco-Cycle’s Lex Shannon.

As the saying goes, waste isn’t waste until we waste it. 

At Eco-Cycle, we believe the key to achieving circularity in Colorado is changing the way we interact with and consider natural resources. While recycling is an important part of this system, our goal is to encourage folks to see that resources are most valuable in their original form—still in the ground. Every time we can avoid extracting new materials, it’s a win for circularity. Music from Scrap reflects this philosophy by demonstrating how materials that already exist can be repurposed in meaningful and unexpected ways.

The project challenges the music industry’s reliance on virgin materials like wood and metal, which are typically extracted, processed, and shaped into traditional instruments. In contrast, the instruments created for Music from Scrap give new life to materials that have already been through that process. These are fully functional instruments used to perform original music—not novelty objects or simple craft projects.

A quick search for musical instruments made from recycled materials often turns up children’s toys or simple DIY projects, but rarely examples of instruments designed for serious performance. While shifting an entire industry toward circularity is a lofty goal, Music from Scrap focuses on empowering its community to find creativity and joy in climate change solutions at any scale.

The opening concert will feature original music written specifically for instruments built from reused materials, along with participation from Lex Shannon, Public Education and Engagement Senior Manager at Eco-Cycle. The performance will be followed by a reception in the Canyon Gallery, where community members will be invited to play the instruments and make music of their own.

Stay tuned (pun intended) for the latest on reuse!

Eco-Cycle will soon be unveiling our latest tool—designed to support businesses and consumers interested in reuse. The Reuse Hub for Boulder and Beyond is a virtual platform dedicated to celebrating and supporting eco-conscious shopping and dining options throughout our region. It will offer resources on best practices for integrating reusables, guides to secondhand and reuse-focused businesses, and much more.

The post Music from Scrap Exhibition appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

This New Year, set an intention to become a thoughtful consumer and avoid buying into a system that encourages you to spend money on stuff you don’t really need.

After the rush and excitement of the holidays, many of us look to this time of year as an opportunity to reset ourselves, our space, and our goals for the year. While everyone loves a good eco-resolution, this is also a great time to consider where and how you plan to invest your financial resources this year, and what that might mean for you and for the planet.

The constant barrage of advertisements we face in the Information Age are designed to trick us into looking to fast fashion and other costly quick fixes to whatever ails us. But the urge to buy is often rooted in something deeper—like boredom, stress, loneliness, or emotional fatigue. When you sense that impulse, try to refocus your energies toward solutions that bring long-term fulfillment instead of the temporary dopamine hit that comes with making a purchase. 

The convenience of online shopping not only influences us to buy, but also hides many inconvenient truths, including that returns are often not resold as you might think. Instead, they are often trashed, contributing to the global fashion waste crisis—the industry now generates about 92 million tons of textile waste each year, much of which isn’t recycled and ends up in landfills or incinerated, burdening waste systems in the Global South where discarded clothing from developed markets overwhelms local environments and communities. 

And a “good deal” is not always a good thing when customers are rarely the ones carrying the true social and environmental costs of what they buy. Documentaries such as The Story of Stuff (2007) and Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy (2024) tell the full story of how we as a society are manipulated into buying more stuff than we really need—or even want—to a degree that does real harm not only to ourselves, but to disenfranchised and disproportionately impacted populations, as well as the planet.

Enough Is Enough

Indulge the New Year urge to declutter and simplify your life by going through your belongings to evaluate what no longer serves you. What you don’t need and no longer sparks joy might be something that, in 2026, you can leave behind—but not in the landfill. First consider donating, trading, or selling usable items you have no use for through community swaps, Buy Nothing groups, online thrifting, local thrift shops, and consignment stores. 

These are also great avenues to look to first when you identify something that you do need to acquire. The reuse and repair economy is growing faster than ever, and participating in it is one of the most effective ways to prevent natural resources from being unnecessarily extracted to make new products and to prevent usable goods from wasting away in the landfill.

Some items, including books, can be reused or recycled through the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) facility. Find a full list of what we accept here.

Digitally Detox 

It can be empowering to unsubscribe from marketing emails that are cluttering your inbox and pressuring you to buy, buy, buy. Take back control and do some digital housekeeping to delete old emails, remove yourself from email lists that aren’t adding value to your life, and rid yourself of apps and subscriptions you don’t use. In return, you buy back not only your money but also your time!

Free Yourself from Mail Jail

Some advertisements still come in the mail in the form of colorful catalogs and tempting retail coupons. While this paper is recyclable, the harm to the planet is already done by the time it reaches your mailbox. The production and distribution of junk mail drive deforestation, consume vast amounts of energy and water, and—when landfilled—contribute methane, creating a carbon footprint equivalent to 11 million cars in the US alone. Follow these steps to prevent junk mail from ever visiting your home this year.

Food Is Fuel (for Fighting Climate Change)

For items you need to buy regularly, like food, choose to buy local whenever possible. Food from farmers markets and CSAs not only supports agriculture in your area, it reduces emissions through fewer miles traveled from the field to your home. 

Food waste is one of the top climate issues we face, accounting for nearly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and it’s one of the few we can meaningfully reduce right at home. Reduce food waste through careful meal planning as well as handy tips that get the most out of your food dollar. Double down on climate-saving choices by keeping your food scraps—which are valuable soil-making feedstocks—in your community through composting.

Do It Yourself

DIY can seem daunting, but it is often as simple as following a recipe. For example, you can keep your home clean without toxic commercial cleaners by making your own at home—not only saving money, but also avoiding unnecessary chemicals. Check out our Earth-Friendly Cleaning Recipes to learn more.

No matter which ways you choose to change your habits as a consumer this year, it all makes a difference, and we at Eco-Cycle are grateful to learn alongside you on another trip around the sun in 2026. Help us keep the conversation going and send your questions and favorite planet-saving consumer tips to recycle@ecocycle.org.

The post Make 2026 the Year of Mindful Consumption  appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

New landfill methane rules represent a step forward for nearby communities while tackling planet-warming pollution 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.

Colorado coalition to reduce landfill methane emissions: Brian Loma (GreenLatinos), Tom Bloomfield (Kaplan Kirsch), Rachael Lehman (Black Parents United Foundation), Ean Thomas Tafoya (GreenLatinos), Zan Jones (Eco-Cycle), Laurie Anderson (Moms Clean Air Force), Alexandra Schluntz (EarthJustice), Ryan Call (Eco-Cycle), Edwin LaMair (Environmental Defense Fund)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 16, 2025

CONTACT:
Elizabeth Schroeder, Full Circle Future
elizabeth@fullcirclefuture.org
 

DENVER – In a major win for public health, climate action, and environmental justice, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) today voted 6-0 to adopt updated rules to slash methane pollution from the state’s landfills. The landfill methane rule, a product of compromise from all involved parties, will reduce the highly potent greenhouse gas while also protecting nearby communities from smog-forming pollution and air toxics, like benzene and toluene. 

The landfill methane rule includes critical updates to hold operators accountable, including: 

• Requiring landfill operators to improve how they monitor for methane leaks;
• Strengthening requirements for how methane gas is captured and destroyed; 
• Requiring landfill operators to use landfill cover practices to control emissions; and 
• Phasing out open flares. 

In 2020, Colorado landfills emitted 4.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, the equivalent of driving more than 1 million gas-powered cars for a year. Once fully implemented, these new rules will drastically reduce harmful emissions. Additionally, Colorado advocates will continue to push for “upstream” solutions to eliminate the creation of methane in the first place, by increasing organics diversion programs that reduce the amount of methane-producing waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, buried in landfills each year. 

Below are statements from the coalition in reaction to today’s vote:

“Colorado has taken a major step in reducing waste-related emissions by adopting updated landfill methane regulations. We applaud the hundreds of Coloradans who provided feedback on this effort, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Air Pollution Control Division team for their collaborative and creative approach to navigating this complex topic. Eco-Cycle and our partners will continue our work to advance organic waste diversion systems across Colorado, keeping methane-generating materials out of landfills in the first place. – said Suzanne Jones, Executive Director at Eco-Cycle.

“By adopting the landfill methane rule, Colorado is taking an important step to protect our children’s health and future. Landfills are a major source of methane and harmful co-pollutants that can trigger asthma and other respiratory conditions in kids. These new rules will improve air quality and cut climate-warming pollution, helping us achieve the clean air and safe climate our children deserve—while demonstrating that Colorado is committed to safeguarding both for generations to come,” said Laurie Anderson, Colorado Field Organizer at Moms Clean Air Force.

“Today’s decision is a meaningful victory for the health of Colorado communities. Methane is a powerful climate pollutant that also worsens the air quality issues driving asthma, respiratory illness, and other preventable health harms – especially for children and those living closest to landfills. By requiring robust monitoring and stronger controls on landfill emissions, the Commission has taken a critical step toward cleaner air and a safer, healthier future for all Coloradans,” said Dr. Nikita Habermehl, emergency medicine pediatrician and Healthy Air & Water Colorado advocate. 

“Colorado communities have been paying the price of waste sector pollution for far too long, with 1 in 3 Coloradans living within five miles of a landfill. We’re proud to see Colorado’s air regulators take action to hold operators accountable and tackle one of our most solvable climate and health challenges. We look forward to continuing to build a cleaner future where families can breathe clean air and food no longer goes to waste,” said Lee Helfend, Director of Campaign Strategy at Full Circle Future. 

“Communities across Colorado are already grappling with the mounting consequences of climate change, like intense heat waves, persistent drought, increasingly destructive weather, and more severe wildfires. Local leaders across the state have voiced strong support for a robust rule, because cutting methane emissions from landfills – one of the state’s major climate offenders – is among the quickest and most achievable strategies for addressing this pollution. WLN commends AQCC for taking this important step and advancing modern, protective standards that will cover more landfills, improve monitoring, capture more gas and protect Coloradans,” said Liane Jollon, executive director of Western Leaders Network.

“So many hazardous toxics attach to methane as materials break down. These rules will ensure healthier air for communities ensuring the majority of these toxins are destroyed instead of being emitted in the atmosphere,” said Brian Loma, Hazardous Waste and Materials Diversion Advocate for GreenLatinos Colorado. “Health impacts of hazardous air pollutants can be seen as far as 60 miles from the landfill flare and this rule is calculated to avert over 10 billion in health and social impacts for Coloradans, especially those in rural communities.”

“Colorado’s poor air quality stems from a variety of pollution sources, including methane emissions from landfills. Communities served by the Black Parents United Foundation in Aurora, Denver, and Commerce City experience significant health challenges as a result, with asthma being particularly widespread. We are grateful to the AQCC for addressing this pollution source and providing another important tool to help protect public health.” said Rachael Lehman, Legislative Affairs, Black Parents United Foundation.

“Today’s vote puts Colorado on a stronger path to rein in one of the most harmful sources of methane pollution that threatens human health. By requiring better monitoring, stronger controls, and the use of advanced technologies to reduce methane leaks, the Commission delivered commonsense protections that will cut pollution faster and improve air quality for communities living near landfills,” said Edwin LaMair, Senior Attorney at Environmental Defense Fund.

“For too long, municipal waste landfills have been subject to lax air pollution standards. These new regulations will make meaningful cuts in emissions of methane and other harmful air pollutants from Colorado’s landfills,” said Leah Kelly, Senior Attorney with the Environmental Integrity Project. “We appreciate the time and attention devoted by Colorado regulators to this important issue.”

The post Colorado Air Regulators Approve Landfill Methane Standards appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

After years of planning, the State of Colorado approved the plan for implementing Producer Responsibility in the state, which will provide free recycling to all residents when fully implemented. 

On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) approved the Circular Action Alliance (CAA) plan to implement Producer Responsibility for paper and packaging in the state. This represents a major milestone in advancing this landmark legislation, which Eco-Cycle helped draft and champion in 2022 (HB22-1355 Producer Responsibility for Packaging Act).

With this approval, Colorado became the second in the nation—following Oregon—to adopt a plan and move forward with implementation. The program will provide convenient recycling access to all Colorado residents that is entirely paid for by the producers of the packaging—not by residents or local governments.

Colorado predicted to recycle as much as 60% of consumer packaging by 2035

The plan lays out the roadmap of how CAA Colorado, which is the Producer Responsibility organization for Colorado, will meet the State-approved recycling goal for recycling up to 60% of Colorado’s consumer packaging by 2035. CAA Colorado worked with CDPHE and the State-appointed Producer Responsibility Advisory Board over the past year to develop and refine the plan. Now that the plan is approved, CAA Colorado will start working to get no-cost recycling to Colorado households statewide.

The cost of recycling will shift from consumers and communities onto companies that sell packaged products in Colorado

Currently, the cost of recycling is paid for by you, the consumer, and by your municipality or county. As Colorado’s Producer Responsibility program is implemented, the cost of recycling will be paid for by the companies that sell packaged consumer products in Colorado, including items such as juice boxes, cans, bottles, the wrapping around clothes, and the boxes and mailers delivered to your door. 

How the new Producer Responsibility program will work

CAA Colorado will start working with local governments and recycling service providers to finalize details about how and when recycling services will be reimbursed. Some communities will begin being reimbursed for recycling services starting in June of 2026. 

• In communities where recycling services are lacking, or where the local government chooses not to participate in the program, residents will still receive no-cost recycling, but it will take longer to roll out. 

• If you currently live in a community that has either municipally run waste collection services (like Denver and Longmont), or municipally contracted services (like Lafayette and Arvada) your city will be reimbursed by CAA for the recycling services already being provided. If you live in a single-family home in these communities, you should either see a reduction in your recycling bill, or possibly an increase in other Zero Waste services—e.g., your community might choose to use the amount residents previously paid for recycling to add services like organics collection or hazardous waste collections. 

• If you live in a community that has an open market for waste collection, where homeowners choose their own hauler, each hauler will need to sign an agreement with CAA to get reimbursed for recycling services. It will probably take longer for CAA to start reimbursing individual haulers than it will in communities that have organized services.

The environmental and economic benefits of the Producer Responsibility Program 

• The program will increase access to recycling for an additional 500,000 households, providing no-cost recycling to ALL Coloradans by 2030.

• The Producer Responsibility plan creates one set of recycling guidelines for the entire state. That means locals and visitors alike will be able to recycle the same packaging in every Colorado town or city.

• By 2035, an additional 410,000 tons of valuable materials will be recovered, such as cardboard, aluminum, glass, and recyclable plastics, for a total of 720,000 tons recycled annually—a 132% increase from today. 

• This additional recycled material will be made available as post-consumer content for companies to include when making new packaging, reducing the need for natural resource extraction.

• The new, expanded system will create an additional 7,900 recycling-related jobs.

• The new system will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 278,000 cars off the road by 2035.

• The new system will save municipalities and residents millions of dollars each year. The state estimates the cost savings for Denver alone will be up to $16.3 million in 2035.

• The new system rewards companies that sell packaged products in Colorado to use less packaging and design packaging to be more recyclable and use more recycled content. This is because companies are charged according to the amount of packaging and types of packaging they use: the more sustainable their packaging is (i.e., reusable or recyclable) the less they have to pay into the system. For example, producers will pay less per pound for highly recyclable aluminum than they will for non-recyclable plastics.

What you can do to ensure that you benefit from the Producer Responsibility Program

If your community already has a coordinated recycling system—where your city or county arranges recycling collection through a unified program or hauler contracts—contact your city or county to ask them to seek reimbursement from CAA and learn how that reimbursement may affect your rates or service.

If you live in an open-market system, where individual households choose their own recycling and trash hauler, contact your hauler directly and ask whether they plan to seek reimbursement from CAA and what that could mean for your bill or service.

Cities and counties may choose to adopt coordinated recycling systems at any time. Coordinated recycling not only reduces truck traffic, air pollution, road damage, and safety risks, but also makes it easier—and likely faster—for CAA to reimburse recycling costs by streamlining how services and data are managed.

Free recycling applies to those living in apartment or multifamily buildings, or in a Home Owners Association (HOA)

The law requires the program to provide recycling services to all residents, including those in HOAs, and multifamily housing such as apartments. Haulers servicing multifamily buildings and HOAs will need to sign an agreement with CAA to be reimbursed. Contact your property owner or manager and inquire about the hauler getting reimbursed to ensure you benefit from the free service.

Communities currently without recycling can expect to see services by 2030

The law requires that recycling be as convenient as trash services. For residents that haul their own trash to the landfill, they will have free access to recycling drop-off sites (likely at the landfill). If you have curbside trash service, you will also gain access to curbside recycling service. Because recycling haulers will need to increase their capacity by hiring new drivers and buying new trucks in order to add new service routes, it will likely take longer for you to start receiving free recycling service. The goal is to add these services by 2030. Be sure to inquire with your local elected officials, city staff, or haulers to see if they are aware of the program and if they have connected with CAA. 

The Plan prevents greenwashing from plastics manufacturers by requiring verifiable and transparent tracking

The approved plan requires that materials considered “recycled” through the program must be verifiably tracked and accounted for. Some in the plastics industry argued for accounting methods that could not guarantee that materials were recycled into new plastic products rather than being turned into fuel. These so-called “free allocation” accounting schemes also would have allowed companies to market their packaging with higher amounts of recycled content than they might actually include. Eco-Cycle, along with other environmental organizations, and over 900 residents who submitted comments to the State, helped push CDPHE to keep free allocation out of the plan for this year. 

Some in the plastics industry are continuing to fight to get free allocation in the plan and are now suing the State to include it. We must ensure that we have an authentic and transparent recycling system in Colorado by requiring verifiable, transparent methods for tracking recycled content.

What’s next? 

While the program will begin June 2026, it will take several years to get recycling to every resident in the state. 

Over the coming months and years, CAA will continue to work with local governments and recycling service providers, like Eco-Cycle, to negotiate specific details of how the plan will fund education and outreach programs, expand curbside recycling programs, and process the resulting increase in valuable materials expected to be collected throughout the state.

Alongside our partners, Eco-Cycle will keep collaborating with CAA and CDPHE to help implement a plan that best serves Colorado’s communities. We’re excited to bring decades of real-world experience—from Boulder County to communities across the state—to support the rollout of strong, successful recycling programs statewide.

The post Producer Responsibility Plan for Colorado Approved appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

The holiday shopping surge means more boxes, more plastic mailers, and more waste. These easy tips will help you celebrate sustainably without sacrificing the joy of giving.

This holiday season, the waste forecast isn’t great: an estimated 2.3 billion packages will be shipped across the US—about seven deliveries per person on average. Those boxes, plastic mailers, padded envelopes, and layers of packing material add up fast. And when packages travel long distances, the energy, natural resources, and emissions required to manufacture, package, and transport them take a real toll on our planet. 

This year, show your love without piling up waste and environmental impacts by following a few easy tips:

1. Shop Local First

One of the easiest ways to avoid all that packaging is to skip the online cart and shop right here at home.

→ Visit craft fairs and makers markets.
Handmade goods = gifts with minimal waste and a lot of heart. 

→ Choose reuse with local thrift and secondhand stores.
You can find many “like new” products at far more affordable prices.

→ Give gift certificates for experiences.
Local restaurants, theaters, and music venues offer experiences—not packaging.

2. Return Less, Waste Less

Online retailers make returns easy—but the environmental cost is huge. About one in every five or six online purchases gets sent back during the holidays. Shipping those items to and from warehouses often costs more than the product itself.

What happens then? Often, it’s not worth it for retailers to inspect, repackage, and restock those items. Many returns end up thrown away or sold in bulk to secondary markets like discount stores and flea markets. 

To cut waste and emissions from extra transportation, buy thoughtfully. Choose quality gifts from reputable stores, and only purchase items you’re confident will be loved.

3. Recycle the Packaging You Do Get

Some packaging can go into your curbside bin, and some can be recycled at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). Here’s how to sort it: 

In your curbside recycling bin, recycle:

• Cardboard boxes & paperboard envelopes
• Paper packing sheets
• White or light-colored envelopes
• Dark or bright-colored envelopes that, when torn, are white inside 
• Plain paper envelopes mailers
• Paper envelopes with paper fiber padding

Take to the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM):

• Plastic packing pillows
• Bubble wrap & thin flexible foam
• Rigid white block foam
• Mailers made entirely from plastic

The following items are not recyclable. Please put these in the trash:

• Multi-material mailers (paper + plastic, etc.)
• Plastic or foam packaging peanuts* (though some packaging stores will take these for reuse)
• Foil or metallic mailers
• Bright or dark-colored envelopes that, when torn, the paper fibers inside are dyed all the way through

* Tip: Some packaging peanuts are made from cornstarch. If they dissolve with water, they’re compostable in your backyard bin.

Check out Eco-Cycle’s Packaging & Mailers Guidelines for a printable guide of what packaging goes where.

4. Choose Zero-Waste Wrapping

Traditional wrapping paper is difficult to recycle—it’s more clay, ash, and inks than recoverable paper fiber.

Instead, choose:

• Reusable gift bags
• Kraft paper wrapping paper—it’s highly recyclable
• Repurposed newspaper, calendars, or kraft grocery bags (turn them inside-out and decorate the blank side)
• Recycled-content wrapping paper without glitter or embossing

Skip these non-recyclable gift wrap options:

• Glitter, foil, metallic, or heavily dyed paper

Give More, Waste Less

There are countless ways to celebrate the season without the trash. Explore Eco-Cycle’s Zero Waste Holiday Guide for more ideas that keep the joy—and cut the waste!

The post How to Reduce and Recycle Holiday Packaging Materials appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

The holiday season should feel full of connection, not overstuffed trash cans. From gift wrap and shipping materials to leftovers that don’t get eaten, it’s easy for waste to pile up this time of year. Eco-Cycle’s 2025 Zero Waste Holiday Guide brings together simple, practical tips so you can enjoy the traditions you love while cutting back on what gets thrown away.

Eco-Cycle’s two-page 2025 Zero Waste Holiday Guide guide offers ideas for greener gifting, holiday decorating, and meaningful celebrations. For Boulder County residents, page 2 doubles as a quick-reference chart for what to do with common holiday items locally—what goes in your curbside recycling bin, what you can recycle  at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), and special tree recycling options across the county.

The guide is available in English and in Spanish: Guía para las festividades con cero desperdicios

What You’ll Find in the Zero Waste Holiday Guide

Inside the guide, you’ll find quick tips to help you:

• Rethink wrapping and packaging—Lower-waste options for wrapping gifts and shipping packages, plus what to avoid so your paper can actually be recycled where accepted.
• Give “more than stuff”—Ideas for experiences, donations, practical reusables, and homemade treats that don’t create long-lasting waste.
• Choose greener cards and décor—How to keep the sparkle and sentiment while steering clear of non-recyclable glitter, foil, and plastics.
• Host a Zero Waste gathering—Simple swaps to move away from disposables, reduce food waste, and make cleanup easier.

Cut back on junk mail—Steps to slow the flood of catalogs and sales flyers so you can focus on what you really need.

Dive Deeper: Holiday Recycling FAQs

Here are more details on some frequently asked questions.

• Gift wrap and packaging
  Learn why most traditional wrapping paper is so challenging to recycle and explore eco-friendly holiday wrapping alternatives in “Unwrapping Wrapping Paper Recycling”
• Broken holiday lights
  Find out where and how to recycle old string lights—and why they’re collected separately from other cables—by reading “How to Recycle Christmas Lights and Holiday Lights in Boulder County”
• Christmas tree recycling
  When the season winds down, your tree still has one more gift to give. “Where to Take Your Christmas Tree for Recycling in Boulder County” explains why tree recycling matters for climate and soil health and lists local drop-off and curbside options.
• Rigid white foam from shipping boxes
  Large gifts, such as electronics,  often arrive packed in rigid white #6 foam that can’t go in your curbside recycling bin. “Rigid White Foam Recycling: Why and How to Recycle at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM” walks you through how to recycle this material properly and what it becomes next.

Have a great holiday season, and cheers to a Zero Waste New Year!

The post Celebrate the Holidays with More Joy and Less Waste appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

A new era of recycling is coming to Colorado.

Protecting Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Law from Greenwashing

Tell Governor Polis and Director Hunsaker Ryan: Keep Recycling Honest

Deadline: Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Colorado is on the cusp of building one of the most transparent and trustworthy recycling systems in the country. But right now, that progress is at risk.

Some in the plastics and chemical industry are pushing for two major loopholes in Colorado’s landmark Producer Responsibility law (HB22-1355)—loopholes that would inflate recycling numbers, mislead the public, and weaken the system before it even begins.

These loopholes are technical by design, but the impact is simple: If they succeed, what you put in your recycling bin may not actually be recycled into new products. And companies could claim “100% recycled content” on packaging that barely contains any recycled material at all.

Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) took a strong stance earlier this year, rejecting these tactics and affirming that recycling must be transparent, trackable, and real. Now, industry lobbyists are pressuring the State to reverse that decision.

Colorado has a chance to build the most transparent recycling system in the nation— but only if Governor Polis and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Director Hunsaker Ryan hear from us.

• By this Tuesday, November 25: Send a letter urging Governor Polis and Director Hunsaker Ryan to stand firm in support of real and transparent recycling! It takes less than one minute.

What’s at Stake: Two Loopholes That Could Undermine Recycling in Colorado

Loophole #1: Counting plastics turned into fuel as “recycled.”

Some chemical or “advanced” recycling technologies turn plastic into fuel or chemicals that will become fuel. Some in the plastics industry want the State to count this as “recycling.”

But turning plastics into fuel is not recycling. These processes remove plastics from circulation forever, generate pollution, and require more virgin materials to replace what was destroyed. Colorado’s recycling system is meant to keep materials in circulation, not destroy them.

Solution: Colorado must require a verifiable accounting system that only counts plastics as recycled if they are turned into new products. Just as glass becomes new bottles and aluminum becomes new cans, only plastics made into new plastic products should count as “recycled.”

Loophole #2: “Free allocation”—an accounting trick that allows fake recycled-content claims.

Under free allocation, companies could claim recycled content in their packaging without any requirement to prove it with trackable data. A company could market a product as “100% recycled” even if the physical packaging contains little or no recycled plastic.

Solution: Colorado must require transparent and verifiable accounting methods for plastics, like those used to calculate recycled content of glass, paper, and metal. Producers should only be able to claim the amount of recycled content that can be transparently and verifiably shown to be reflected in their packaging. 

 Make Your Voice Heard

• Send a letter urging Governor Polis and Director Hunsaker Ryan to close these loopholes by Tuesday, November 25, 2025. It takes less than one minute!

A Deeper Look into the Issue

Protecting Colorado’s landmark Producer Responsibility Bill

The Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Paper Products Act (HB22-1355), passed in 2022, transforms Colorado’s recycling system. Starting in 2026, companies that sell products in packaging—not taxpayers—will begin to fund residential recycling services.

This new system will provide:

• Free, convenient, and consistent recycling for every Colorado resident
• Funding of recycling by producers, not consumers
• Incentives for companies to reduce packaging, design for reuse, and use more recycled materials

This approach of providing incentives—called eco-modulation—uses financial rewards and penalties to incentivize companies toward more sustainable packaging that uses more Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) content.

But for this system to work, we must close loopholes—including “free allocation” accounting methods—that some in the plastics industry are championing.

Transparent Accounting Is the Backbone of Real Recycling

Most recyclable materials—paper, glass, aluminum, and many plastics—follow verifiable accounting systems that track the average amount of recycled content going into products. This is referred to as the “rolling average.” The actual ratio of recycled material in a product line is tracked over a specific timeframe to report an average amount of recycled content in that product line. The amount of recycled material a company can claim is used to create packaging is what is actually used in that packaging, and is verifiable.

However, some in the plastics industry are currently lobbying the State for unverifiable accounting systems, including free allocation and “polymer-only” credit methods.

Here’s the difference:

Verifiable Accounting (Ex: Rolling average)

• Tracks recycled vs. virgin material through every manufacturing step
• Ensures recycled-content claims reflect a product’s actual constitution
• Is already used reliably for recycling glass, metal, and paper
• Aligns with Colorado’s intent for honest, transparent recycling

Non-Verifiable Methods (Ex: Free allocation and other credit methods)

• Assign “credits” in ways that don’t reflect real material use
• Allow companies to take recycled-content credits from one product and apply them to a different product
• Allow chemical byproducts that will be turned into fuel to count as recycled
• Lead to inflated, misleading, or false recycling claims

If these loopholes are allowed, companies could claim they’re recycling and using recycled materials—and receive eco-modulation benefits—even if their products aren’t truly recyclable or don’t contain recycled content.

Protecting Real Recycling for Colorado

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform how Colorado recycles—making it more accessible, effective, and transparent. But we must ensure the system is trustworthy and reliable. To protect the integrity of our new Producer Responsibility system, we must demand:

• Plastics used as fuel (or converted into chemicals that will become fuel) should never count as recycling.
• Post-consumer recycled content claims must be transparent, verifiable, and reflect the real recycled content in packaging.
• Eco-modulation must reward honesty: only companies that truly reduce, reuse, include more recycled content, and eliminate toxic chemicals intentionally added to their packaging should receive financial benefits.

Recycling should reliably mean RECYCLING. Products should reflect the truth. And producers should be held accountable for what they create. Tell Governor Polis and Director Hunsaker Ryan to protect real recycling in Colorado.

The post Getting Recycling Right for All Coloradans appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Every time food goes uneaten, it’s money wasted. The EPA estimates that the average person in the US throws away about $728 of food each year. For a typical family, that’s nearly $3,000 gone. Nationally, roughly one-third of the entire US food supply is wasted. And when that food ends up in a landfill, it breaks down and releases methane—a potent greenhouse gas that accelerates the climate crisis.

The holidays make the problem worse due to bigger meals, bulk shopping, and leftovers that often go uneaten. But they also offer a chance to change habits in a way that saves money, reduces waste, and supports your community.

Smart Ways to Reduce Food Waste This Season

Shop Smart

• Shop your kitchen first. Take inventory before heading to the store—you may already have what you need.
  
• Stick to your list. Avoid impulse buys and oversized holiday packages you won’t finish.
  
• Be thoughtful with bulk. Only buy large quantities if you know you’ll use them before they expire.

Cook Mindfully

• Make less food. If recipes yield too much, halve them or freeze a portion.
  
• Plan meals with shared ingredients. Choose dishes that use the same produce or grains.
  
• Schedule a “leftovers night.” Make it a weekly tradition, especially during the holidays.

Use What You Have

• Revive produce. Add wilted greens to soups, bake soft fruit into desserts, or blend aging veggies into smoothies.
  
• Pickle or preserve it. Quick-pickles, jams, and chutneys extend the life of produce.
  
• Share the abundance. Bring extras to the office, to neighbors, or—better yet—donate it.

Store Food Properly

A lot of food waste happens simply because items aren’t stored well.

• Prep and organize. Use clear, airtight containers so food is easy to see and stays fresh longer.
  
• Label everything. Add the date you opened or prepared an item.
  
• Freeze wisely. Most produce, bread, cooked meals, and leftovers freeze beautifully and last for months.

Donate Surplus Food to Support Neighbors in Need

If you’ve overbought or ended up with unopened, unexpired foods you won’t use, donate them instead of letting them go to waste. Local food organizations can turn extra pantry items or produce into meals for families across Boulder County.

Food donation prevents edible food from entering the landfill and strengthens community resilience by reducing food insecurity in your community—especially during a season when many households face additional financial pressure.

Don’t Forget to Compost!

Even with careful planning, scraps happen. Composting keeps organic material out of the landfill and returns nutrients to the soil. Just remember to remove produce stickers, rubber bands, twist ties, and any non-organic materials first.

If you don’t have curbside composting, check if your municipality or local hauler offers drop-off options.

Small Habits, Big Impact

Small habits matter: planning meals, donating extras, storing food well, composting what’s left. Together, these practices save you money, reduce climate pollution, strengthen local food systems, and ensure more of our community’s food nourishes people—not landfills.

The post Your Guide to Reduce Food Waste This Holiday Season appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

For decades—starting back in 1939 with the launch of the nation’s first food stamp program—federal funds have been allocated to helping Americans cover food costs and reduce hunger and food insecurity through the US Food and Nutrition Service’s program, what we now call “SNAP” (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

Currently, 42 million Americans are eligible for SNAP assistance—about 1 in 8 individuals. A high proportion of these recipients are children. Fortunately, SNAP benefits are now restored, and our neighbors who rely on this program to keep their families fed will be able to receive their benefits once more. But the food insecurity problem, both in our country and globally, goes much deeper.

In the US, up to 40% of our food goes to waste every year. Combatting food insecurity is not only an aspect of social justice, it lies at the intersection of social and climate justice. The fact is that our diets and consumer choices around food have a major impact on the planet and its people. If our society were to waste less food, and prioritize creating a food system that works in right relationship with the Earth, we would:

• prevent the unnecessary loss of resources used to grow food,
• prevent methane produced by food that is landfilled and doesn’t get composted, and
• lower the threshold of access to food, potentially driving down costs that are prohibitively expensive for some households.

The good news is, it is possible to go Zero Waste when it comes to the groceries you buy, through careful meal planning as well as pantry management and storage tips. Learn how to prevent food waste at home!

Ways to Get Involved

While it is good news that SNAP benefits are being restored, these resources can only go so far toward putting meals on the table and ensuring everyone in our community has access to healthy food. If you’re interested in helping address hunger in your community, there are so many ways that YOU can make a difference! Contributions can take many forms, including giving your time, sharing extra pantry items, and/or offering your expendable income.

Participate in a Food Drive

Many of our partner organizations listed below accept donations of shelf-stable foods and toiletries for those in need. Better yet—lean in at your workplace and other places close to your heart (community groups, places of worship, etc.) to find out if they have a food pantry or supply drive already in place. If they don’t, you could be the person to organize one!

Food and supply donations collected by staff at Eco-Cycle’s headquarters this month for one of our partner orgs, the Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA).

Donate Funds

For some organizations, the most helpful contribution that people can make is simply to donate funds that can be used to purchase food at wholesale prices and in bulk quantities in order to produce hot and healthy meals for large numbers of people, or to cover overhead costs at food banks. All of our partner organizations listed below accept monetary donations through their websites.

Other ways to help financially include sponsoring a grocery buddy if you know someone personally who could use support covering the cost of food on a short-term or long-term basis, or participating in an organized mutual aid program such as the Nude Foods Market SNAP Support program. This opportunity allows you to sponsor a gift card granted to those who apply for food assistance at Boulder and Denver’s cutting-edge Zero Waste and plastic-free grocery stores.

Volunteer

Your time is one of the most valuable resources you have to give. Whether you volunteer at a food bank helping organize donations or help a gleaning organization facilitate pickups from businesses, the person-power you have to offer can make or break the mission at organizations fighting food waste and insecurity.

Scroll to the bottom to find a list of partner organizations Eco-Cycle recommends working with!

Other ways to get involved independently include building a Little Free Pantry in your yard, or using an app like Hungree or Plentiful.

Partner Organizations

Eco-Cycle has partnered with many food assistance organizations over the years and would like to amplify their efforts, including:  

Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) – Supports families with food and essential services; accepts a wide range of donations.

• Volunteer
• Donate supplies – Find a list of priority items here!
• Donate funds

Harvest of Hope Pantry – A food pantry providing groceries to individuals and families; accepts canned goods, grains, and produce.

• Volunteer
• Donate Supplies – Find a list of priority items here!
• Donate Funds

Community Food Share – Regional hunger-relief organization serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties; accepts nonperishables, produce, and some perishables.

• Volunteer – Includes ways that kids can get involved in the classroom!
• Donate Supplies
• Donate Funds

Sister Carmen – A nonprofit religious agency offering food assistance and wraparound support; accepts fresh and packaged foods.

• Volunteer
• Donate Supplies
• Donate Funds

Food Not Bombs – A global grassroots network active in more than 1,000 locations that turns recovered food from farms, grocers, and restaurants into free vegan meals. In Boulder, they host a community lunch every Saturday at noon by the Boulder Central Library.

• FNB accepts volunteers as well as monetary donations—message organizers to get involved!

Vindeket Foods – Vindeket (a name that combines the words “vindicate” and “advocate”) is a nonprofit food rescue that partners with grocery stores, restaurants, and farms to reduce wasted food.

• Volunteer
• Donate Supplies
• Donate Funds

Gleaning organizations:

• Boulder Food Rescue 
• Uproot 
• We Don’t Waste
• Community Fruit Rescue

Are you already working with an organization not listed here? We’d love to hear more. Contact recycle@ecocycle.org and let us know the ways you’re combatting food insecurity where you live. Together, we can keep communities fed—and protecting the people means protecting the planet.

The post The Intersection of Food Insecurity and Climate, and How You Can Take Action appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Eco-Cycle and CoPIRG Foundation just released the 9th annual State of Recycling and Composting in Colorado report, and our findings show clear momentum. From Denver to Aspen to Longmont and Boulder, local leadership, strong policies, and community commitment are helping Colorado shift away from the old “take, make, waste” system to a circular future based on the wise use of valuable resources.

What’s driving progress?

The State of Recycling and Composting in Colorado report highlights a number of leading cities and businesses that have seen significant improvements in waste diversion over the last year as they build programs and implement policies that drive waste reduction and diversion, including:

• Longmont nearly doubled business and multifamily recycling and composting—from 35% to 59%—after implementing its Universal Recycling Ordinance.
  
• Aspen’s Organic Waste Ordinance led to a 350% surge in food scraps being composted and returned to replenish local soils.
  
• Denver expanded residential compost collections citywide to 75,000 homes, increasing organics diversion by 55%.
  
• Boulder’s deconstruction ordinance has diverted more than 105,000 tons of reusable materials since 2020, keeping lumber, concrete, and metals out of landfills.
  
• A small business in Commerce City—Perks Deconstruction—recovered over 1 million pounds of building materials for reuse and recycling in 2024 alone, demonstrating the potential of the growing reuse economy to provide local jobs and economic activity.
  
• Statewide, Colorado increased diversion of woody material—including yard trimmings, branches and logs from wildfire mitigation efforts, pallets, and clean lumber—by 50% in just one year.

Looking Ahead

Even bigger changes are coming in 2026, when the state begins to implement a Producer Responsibility program, which will ensure that the largest companies making everyday products that Coloradans buy will help pay for the recycling of the boxes, cans, bottles, and paper that those products come in. When fully implemented over the next few years, the program will: 

• Provide free, convenient recycling access for every Coloradan—no matter where you live.
  
• Expand recycling services to 500,000 more households.
  
• Recycle over 400,000 tons of packaging annually, more than twice what we recycle today.
  
• Ease the burden on communities and residents by requiring the companies that make packaging to pay for Colorado’s recycling system.

Progress Happens Community by Community

Across Colorado, communities, businesses, and local leaders are demonstrating that Zero Waste strategies can lead to big jumps in recycling, composting, and reuse. Together, we’re taking collective action to build systems that make sense, and lay the foundation for a truly circular system in Colorado.You can read the full State of Recycling and Composting in Colorado report at ecocycle.org/SORC.

The post Colorado Communities Are Driving Real Progress on Recycling and Composting appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

From refillable takeout containers to reclaimed building materials, communities across the state are rethinking waste—and proving that the most sustainable product is the one that’s used again and again.

To organize and accelerate the transition away from single-use systems in Colorado, Eco-Cycle created the Colorado Reuse Leaders Network, an initiative that connects municipalities, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals who are leading the charge toward a circular, waste-free future.

A Network Built for Collaboration and Action

The Colorado Reuse Leaders Network is a catalyst for systems change. The group convenes regularly online to learn from local and national experts, share challenges and best practices, and explore new policies that can advance reuse and refill as a new norm rather than an exception.

Members represent the full spectrum of Colorado’s reuse industry, from city staff implementing local ordinances to entrepreneurs and advocates pioneering reusable foodware and packaging systems. Together, we’re advancing practical solutions that reduce waste, save resources, and build resilient local economies.

• Sign up to join the Colorado Reuse Leaders Network

Turning Collaboration into Impact

When Colorado’s new Producer Responsibility for Recycling law was being developed, Colorado Reuse Leaders made our voices heard. The coalition submitted a public comment letter urging the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Circular Action Alliance to strengthen reuse, refill, and waste-reduction systems in the program’s implementation plan.

The letter—signed by 15 municipalities, nonprofits, and businesses—had a clear impact, with many of its recommendations being incorporated into the draft plan proposal. The success underscored the power of collective advocacy and showed that waste reduction systems can be accelerated through policy.

Learning from Leaders in Reuse

Since its launch in 2024, the Colorado Reuse Leaders Network has hosted a dynamic lineup of speakers and discussions that span the local, national, and even international reuse landscape.

Highlights include:

• Rachel Setzke and Ryan Call of Eco-Cycle: Colorado Reuse Leaders Kick-off meeting and overview of waste reduction and reuse laws in Colorado.
• Natalie Lana and Becky Goyton, of City and County of Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency: Denver’s “#SkipTheStuff” ordinance, plastic bag overview, and the “Reuse Denver” pilot project.
• Julia Heath of the City of Berkeley, California, and Miriam Gordon of Story of Stuff: Lessons from our nation’s first local “Dine in with Reuse” Ordinance.
• Emily Freeman of the City of Boulder: Municipal partnerships to advance reuse systems.
• Miriam Gordon of Story of Stuff: Lessons in policy advocacy and the economic case for switching to reuse.
• Kelley Dennings of The Center for Biological Diversity: The role of state and federal food codes in reusable food service ware.
• Jodi Tomchyshyn and Rachel Zerowin of Circular Action Alliance: A conversation on advancing reuse, refill, and waste-reduction systems through Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program.
• Sydney Harris of Upstream: Recommendations to improve the reuse and refill sections of Circular Action Alliance’s Producer Responsibility Plan Proposal.
• Carla Bitz of the Town of Banff, Alberta, Canada: Lessons from Banff’s innovative municipally led reuse programs.
• Becky Goyton of the City and County of Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency and Amber Barbella of Diversion Designers: Lessons learned from Denver’s “Dine in with Reuse” pilot program

To request meeting recordings and notes, please email Ryan Call at ryan@ecocycle.org.

Resources for Reuse

The network also shares resources to help Colorado communities take the next step:

• Circular Action Alliance’s Colorado Amended Program Plan (see Chapter 11: Reuse & Refill)
• Eco-Cycle’s Plastic Pollution Reduction Act Resource Hub
• Eco-Cycle’s Guide to Sustainable Serviceware
• Denver’s Reuse Business Directory
• Nonprofit advocates like Upstream and Story of Stuff

Join Colorado’s Reuse Revolution

Every reused item is a story of conservation—of materials kept in use and communities working together. By joining the Colorado Reuse Leaders Network, you’ll connect with others who are turning those stories into a statewide movement. Help shape Colorado’s circular future. Sign up today!

The post Building a Culture of Reuse in Colorado appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

]]> https://ecocycle.org/reuse-leaders/feed/ 0 https://ecocycle.org/recycling-myths/ https://ecocycle.org/recycling-myths/#respond Thu, 16 Oct 2025 23:54:30 +0000 https://ecocycle.org/?p=25259 Don’t let misinformation spook your good recycling habits—habits that are critical to protecting our natural resources and climate. This Halloween season, let’s illuminate the truth and lay these recycling myths to rest once and for all. It’s that time of year when scary stories and myths creep up—including about Zero Waste! Read on to learn the […]

The post Haunted by Recycling Myths? Let’s Bury Them for Good!  appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

]]> Don’t let misinformation spook your good recycling habits—habits that are critical to protecting our natural resources and climate. This Halloween season, let’s illuminate the truth and lay these recycling myths to rest once and for all.

It’s that time of year when scary stories and myths creep up—including about Zero Waste! Read on to learn the most common urban legends about recycling, composting, and reuse.

MYTH: Recycling is broken—it all ends up in the landfill anyway.

FALSE! This undead rumor just won’t die, but here are the facts: recycling works when we recycle right. If you live in Boulder County, your curbside recyclables are processed locally at the Boulder County Recycling Center (BCRC), operated by Eco-Cycle, where materials are sorted, baled, and sold to domestic and North American markets with whom we have developed partnerships since 1976. As a nonprofit mission-based recycler, it’s not in the realm of our business model to landfill materials.

The real problem isn’t recycling—it’s contamination and confusion. Stick to our Recycling Guidelines for Boulder County, and your recyclables will live to see another life! Still not convinced? Come see for yourself! Or watch a video showing processing at the BCRC.

MYTH: Recycling uses so much energy it’s bad for the environment.

FALSE! Don’t let this myth suck the life out of your recycling efforts! Recycling actually saves tons of energy compared to making products from virgin natural resources. For example:

• Recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy used to make new cans from raw materials. Recycling just one aluminum can saves enough energy to power your favorite spooky movie marathon for three hours!

• Recycling 10 plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a laptop for over 25 hours—long enough for a full day and night of Halloween chills! 

Recycling also conserves natural resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and supports local jobs. Now that’s a treat, not a trick!

MYTH: Rinsing recyclables wastes water, so it’s not worth it.

FALSE! The water used for rinsing is just a tiny fraction of what’s used in making new items from extracted natural resources. Recycling helps save much more water in the long run than what goes down the drain dishwashing!

You don’t need to give your recyclables a deep clean! Just make sure food and drink containers are empty and mostly free of residue. A quick scrape, rinse, or shake with a little water will do the trick. For those sticky containers (like peanut butter jars), scraping out the food thoroughly is good enough—or let your dog take care of it!

MYTH: Packaging labeled “biodegradable” is automatically green or compostable.

FALSE! Terms like “biodegradable,” “eco-friendly,” or “plant-based” may sound good for the planet—but these labels are not regulated in the US for packaging and often mislead well-intentioned consumers.

When used to refer to packaging, “biodegradable” simply means the material can break down into smaller components through natural processes over time. But here’s the catch: many so-called “biodegradable” packages are made from both plant-based AND plastic materials. When they do break down, they can produce microplastics—tiny pollutants that harm ecosystems. These items aren’t specifically designed to decompose safely in municipal compost systems, nor are they necessarily safer or made from “greener” materials.

REMINDER: Even products labeled “certified compostable” are not generally accepted in most Front Range curbside compost programs. Please use your curbside compost bin for food scraps and yard trimmings only, and check our compost guidelines to be sure of what goes where. 

MYTH: A recycling “chasing arrows” symbol on a package means it can go in the recycling bin. 

FALSE! That little “chasing arrows” symbol can be misleading! It is a largely unregulated symbol and doesn’t guarantee recyclability. Plastic manufacturing companies, in particular, put this symbol on nearly all their products despite the fact that many plastics are not recyclable.

The best way to know whether something is recyclable isn’t by the labeling on the package, but by looking at your local recycling guidelines. Our Recycling Guidelines for Boulder County include plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, and jars, which are most commonly labeled with a #1, #2, or #5 inside the arrow. Beware the “wanna-be recyclable” materials like styrofoam cups and meat trays that have a #6 inside the chasing arrows symbol. They are a recycling nightmare, and should stay out of your curbside bin!

MYTH: Food scraps and yard clippings decompose the same in a landfill as they do in a compost pile.

FALSE! Organic materials like food scraps and yard clippings need oxygen to break down. In a compost pile—with plenty of air flow—microbes help them decompose quickly, creating a nutrient-rich humus. When applied to landscapes, finished compost nourishes plants, improves water retention, and boosts the soil’s ability to store carbon. It’s a win all around! 

On the flip side, landfills are designed to be airtight. Without oxygen, organics break down anaerobically, producing methane, an extremely powerful greenhouse gas that traps 84 times more heat than carbon dioxide. Don’t let your food scraps or fallen leaves and grass clippings rot in the landfill’s crypt—compost it instead!

MYTH: All paper products are recyclable. 

FALSE! While most paper items like office paper, mail, newspapers, and cardboard are recyclable, there are some ghoulish exceptions that should steer clear of your recycling bin! Beware of paper towels, plastic-coated paper, and paper that is soiled with food or grease. Here’s why:

• Paper towels and napkins— The fibers in paper towels and napkins are too short to be recycled. These items can easily be avoided with reusable alternatives. If you do have single-use towels or napkins and reside in Colorado’s Front Range, including Boulder County, these items also cannot go in your curbside composting bin, but can be included as a carbon source in your backyard compost pile. Some programs in the state do allow these items in curbside compost collection, so check with your hauler’s guidelines before putting them in the compost cart…

• Plastic-coated paper—like frozen food boxes, ice cream cartons, and to-go cups—have a sneaky plastic layer that makes them non-recyclable in most areas. The exception is paper cartons for products like milk, juice, and non-dairy milks and soups; these items ARE widely recyclable. Check your local recycling rules to know what’s recyclable at your local recycling facility. 

• Paper and cardboard with food debris and grease are also cursed for recycling because they will start to biodegrade the fibers. Tear off the clean sections (like the unsoiled top of a pizza box) and recycle that—banish the rest to the trash!

MYTH: All glass is recyclable in your curbside recycling bin. 

FALSE! While glass bottles and jars are recyclable and can be turned into new glass infinitely, not all types of glass are recyclable.

• PUT IN YOUR CURBSIDE RECYCLING BINS: Glass bottles, jugs, and jars. But beware—leave the lids off, and check local guidelines to see if the lids are recyclable separately! In Boulder County, metal and plastic lids larger than 2 inches can be recycled, while smaller metal ones should be added to your scrap metal collection and brought to a special recycling facility that accepts scrap metal, such as the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) or Longmont Recycling Center. Plastic caps and lids smaller than 2 inches in diameter should be put in the trash.

• Other glass (drinking glasses, vases, plates, and cups, etc.): These glass houseware items have different melting points and can’t be recycled with food and beverage glass bottles and jars. Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM facility accepts them for drop-off, but your curbside recycling bin cannot!

Can’t get enough myth-busting?

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for recycling in Boulder County.

The post Haunted by Recycling Myths? Let’s Bury Them for Good!  appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

]]> https://ecocycle.org/recycling-myths/feed/ 0 https://ecocycle.org/prost-to-the-planet/ https://ecocycle.org/prost-to-the-planet/#respond Wed, 15 Oct 2025 02:25:00 +0000 https://ecocycle.org/?p=25226 Oktoberfests may be wrapping up around the world, but here in Colorado, beer season never really ends. Whether you’re filling a growler at your neighborhood brewery or cracking open a six-pack at home, what you do with the packaging makes a real difference for the planet. If you love your beer and love protecting natural […]

The post Prost to the Planet: How to Recycle Your Beer Right appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

]]>

Oktoberfests may be wrapping up around the world, but here in Colorado, beer season never really ends. Whether you’re filling a growler at your neighborhood brewery or cracking open a six-pack at home, what you do with the packaging makes a real difference for the planet.

If you love your beer and love protecting natural resources by keeping waste out of the landfill, read on to find out what to do with every type of beer packaging—from bottles and cans to cardboard carriers and hard-plastic toppers.

How to make sure your beer containers are recycled into another round:

Go Reusable When You Can

If your local brewery refills growlers or offers reusable bottles, start there! Reusable and refillable containers are the best choice of all—no new materials or remanufacturing—just clean, refill, and repeat! And most refills are often cheaper since you’re not paying for new packaging.

Recycle Your Glass Bottles

Glass is one of the few materials that can be recycled infinitely. And here in Boulder County, the bottles you recycle stay close to home—they’re sent to Glass to Glass in Denver for processing, and then to Rocky Mountain Bottling, where they’re turned back into new beer bottles.

• Empty: Please be sure to empty all beer and beverage containers to avoid getting liquids onto paper in the single-stream mix.

• Labels: No need to remove the labels on glass bottles.

• Caps: The metal caps on your beer bottle can be trickier to recycle in your curbside recycling bin because of their small size—they can fall through screens and end up in the glass where they don’t belong. The best choice for making sure small metal beer caps get recycled is to collect them and bring them to a scrap metal collection drop-off site, such as the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) or the Longmont Recycling Center for Longmont residents.

• Paperboard carrier: The paperboard carrier that holds glass bottles can be placed in your curbside recycling bin.

Recycle Aluminum Cans

Aluminum is another material that can be recycled again and again without losing quality, and it’s very valuable as a recycling commodity. An aluminum can you put in your curbside recycling bin today could be back on store shelves within six weeks!

• Empty: Again, all containers should be free of liquids and food.

• Cans with labels printed directly on the can: These cans go straight into your curbside recycling bin—no prep needed.

• Cans with plastic shrink sleeves, wraps, or peel-off plastic labels:  For smaller batches of beer, printing directly on the can can be cost-prohibitive. Instead, labels are printed on plastic that gets wrapped around or stuck to the can. If you can safely remove this label (many wrap-around labels now have perforated seams for easy removal that does not require scissors, and some plastic sticker labels have an adhesive backing designed for peeling off), please remove them before recycling so optical sorters designed to pick up plastic don’t “misread” the can as a plastic item and sort it incorrectly. Note: Paper labels do not need to be removed.

• Hard-top plastic four-pack and six-pack holders (with snap-on toppers): In Boulder County, these are recyclable in your curbside recycling bin. However, flexible plastic holders are not recyclable and should be put in the trash.

• Paperboard boxes: Cases of beer often come in paperboard boxes that are recyclable—simply flatten and put it right in your curbside bin.

Skip the Plastic Cups

Those red or clear plastic party cups? Unfortunately, they can’t be recycled curbside in Boulder County and end up in the landfill. Bring a reusable cup or stein to gatherings when you can, or drink directly from recyclable beverage packaging.

Keep It Local

Buying beer from local Colorado breweries helps close the recycling loop right here at home. Both your glass bottles and aluminum cans are recycled regionally, cutting down on transportation emissions and supporting circular economies in our state. 

Whether it’s Oktoberfest or any weekend get-together, make every “prost!” a toast to the planet. Choose reusables first, recycle right, and raise your glass (or can) to a Colorado recycling system that gives your beer containers another round!

The post Prost to the Planet: How to Recycle Your Beer Right appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

There’s nothing spookier than depleted soils! With an extra-long autumn season for brewing compost tea this year, it’s an ideal time to anoint your green spaces with Eco-Cycle’s Microbe Brew Compost Tea and reap the benefits. Every season has a reason, and in the fall, this liquid soil amendment supercharges roots, helping them dig deep to survive the winter.

Double, double toil and trouble;
Pathogens burn and brewers bubble.
Cool it with a wormie’s casting,
Then the soil is everlasting.

Cast a Spell of Longevity on Your Soils

As the leaves begin to fall and temperatures cool, many gardeners assume it’s time to bust out the brooms and hang up the gardening gloves until spring. But this is just a scary story when now is really one of the most important times to care for your lawn, trees, shrubs, and perennial flowers. Don’t miss your chance to apply Eco-Cycle’s Microbe Brew Compost Tea—a powerful, natural way to strengthen your plants before they enter dormancy, and make a real difference in the health and vigor of your landscape.

Why to Apply During Spooky Season 

In the fall, your plants are undergoing a transformation. The energy they stored during summer’s peak sunlight is no longer being used for leaf production or flowering. Instead, it’s being transferred into the roots. This is the time of year when your plants focus on building strong root systems, which are essential for surviving the winter, allowing them to reanimate and rise again when spring returns.

Compost tea contains a rich community of beneficial soil microbes that work in harmony with your plants. These microorganisms form a coven with root hairs, helping to extend their reach and increase nutrient absorption. It’s a natural way to help your plants recover from any hexes they endured during the growing season and turn them undead for the cold months ahead.

For even more magical results, consider adding a layer of compost over your garden beds before applying Microbe Brew. This biologically rich shroud allows microbes to thrive and plants to absorb the maximum benefit. Find the incantation in the helpful demonstration video at ecocycle.org/microbe-brew-how-to.

Available for a Limited Time—Through Oct. 31, 2025

Microbe Brew Compost Tea product is brewed locally in-house by Eco-Cycle, using the castings of redworms that live on-site.

It’s available for purchase Monday through Saturday, from 9 am–5 pm, at the drive-thru window at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), located at 6400 Arapahoe in Boulder.

Taking the time to support your plants in the fall will manifest a vibrant, healthy growing season ahead. Don’t miss out and risk your plants shuffling off this mortal coil before their time. Potions are on sale now through October 31, while supplies last.

The post Microbe Brew Compost Tea Available Through October 31 appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Your fresh, fragrant Christmas tree has been at the center of your celebrations—but when it’s time to pack the lights and ornaments away, make sure your tree is recycled! Recycling your holiday tree is a simple way to give it new life—here’s why it matters, what recycled trees become, and how you can recycle yours here in Boulder County.

Why Recycle Your Christmas Tree?

Christmas trees, when disposed of in a landfill, decompose without oxygen. This process of anaerobic decomposition produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. By recycling your tree, you divert it from the landfill and not only prevent the production of methane, you return the tree’s nutrients back to the earth in impactful ways.

What Happens to Recycled Christmas Trees?

Once collected, recycled Christmas trees are typically chipped into mulch (and often made available for residents to use) or made into finished compost. This mulch is used to:

• Enrich Soil: Mulch improves soil health, helping it retain moisture, regulate temperature, and prevent erosion.

• Support Parks and Landscapes: Local parks, gardens, and landscaping projects benefit from the use of nutrient-rich mulch sourced from the community.

• Protect Trails: Wood chips from recycled trees are often used to maintain hiking trails, creating safer, more sustainable pathways.

• Create Compost: Some trees are composted, providing a natural, nutrient-dense soil amendment for agriculture and gardening.

How to Recycle Your Tree in Boulder County

Before recycling your tree, be sure to remove all decorations—this includes string lights, tinsel, garland, ornaments, ribbons, and even tiny metal hooks, as they can contaminate the mulch or compost your tree will become.

Next, check with your waste hauler to see if curbside tree pickup is available after the holidays. Be sure to confirm specific dates and guidelines for your area.

If curbside collection isn’t an option, many communities offer free drop-off locations in early January, making Christmas tree recycling simple and convenient!

If you live in Boulder County, recycling your holiday tree is easy! Here are curbside and drop-off guidelines in Boulder County communities:

• Boulder County/City of Boulder: The Wood and Yard Waste Drop-Off Center, a City of Boulder and Boulder County–sponsored site at Western Disposal at 2051 63rd St., accepts trees from City of Boulder and Boulder County residents for free from 12/26/25–1/31/26. Western Disposal residential customers can set out trees curbside on your residential compost day until January 31 (if the tree is longer than 6 ft, please cut the top off and place it in the compost bin). If you have a hauler other than Western Disposal, reach out to them to see if they provide curbside service. 

• Erie: The Erie Recycling Center accepts trees of less than a 12-inch diameter year-round (weather permitting). Open daily, 8 am–4 pm, 1000 Briggs St., Erie. ID required.

• Lafayette: Republic Services will pick up Christmas trees for composting curbside during weekly residential service January–March. Trees must be cut to 4 ft in length and bundled with rope or twine.

• Louisville: The Branch Recycling Site is accepting trees 1/3/26 ONLY, 8 am–2 pm. Louisville ID required. Trees can also be collected on your residential curbside compost day if cut into pieces that fit in the cart with the lid closed.

• Longmont: From Dec. 26, 2025, through Jan. 5, 2026, the City of Longmont will provide four satellite Christmas tree drop-off locations:
  • Roosevelt Park, in the parking lot south of 8th Avenue and Pratt Street, by Roosevelt Activity Pool.
  • Garden Acres Park, in the parking lot at 18th Avenue and Tulip Street.
  • Kanemoto Park, in the parking lot at South Pratt Parkway and South Coffman Street.
  • Centennial Park, in the parking lot at Alpine Street and Verdant Circle.
  • The Longmont Recycling Center also accepts trees year-round; Mon–Sat, 8 am–4 pm. ID required. All trees will be ground into mulch and made available to residents.

• Superior: The Superior Yard Waste Site at 2125 Honey Creek Lane is accepting trees 12/26/25–1/31/26, 8 am–5 pm daily.

By recycling your Christmas tree, you’re helping nourish our parks, protect local trails, and enrich local soils. Check with your municipality—mulch is often made available to residents for free! Let’s keep the spirit of giving alive—one tree at a time!

Check out our Zero Waste Holiday Guide, available in English and Spanish, for more recycling tips for a sustainable holiday!

The post Where to Take Your Christmas Tree for Recycling in Boulder County appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Whether you’re channeling your inner Clark Griswold or just aiming for a cozy glow for the solstice season, we all know the sinking feeling of realizing a string of lights are broken and need to be recycled. Plug in to sustainability this winter by recycling your old stringed lights!

Where to Recycle Your Broken Holiday Lights

Don’t allow your broken Christmas lights to dim your shine—if you can’t repair your string lights, recycle them at the  Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) in Boulder instead! Holiday lights are accepted for recycling year-round since they contain precious copper metal resources, which can (and should) be recycled indefinitely!

Where Christmas Lights Go at the CHaRM

Throughout the holiday season and beyond, we have a bin for recycling Christmas lights at the CHaRM separate from the “Cables and Wires” bin we have year-round. Here’s why: One gaylord—that’s what the giant, industrial cardboard boxes you’ll see around the lane are called—is for thicker cables such as extension cords, which contain more copper per pound. Christmas lights go in a separate recycling bin (gaylord) because they typically have intertwining strands of tiny wires that are much smaller in circumference (like the ones you may have intended for a Christmas tree this season) as well as a higher proportion of non-recyclable plastic housing and bulbs. So when you visit the CHaRM, be sure to keep an eye out for the String Lights bin if you’re looking to recycle your old Christmas lights!

Why do we collect and recycle holiday lights separately? 

In turn, this gives the CHaRM a little more leeway in the budget to cover the costs of recycling materials that, while important to keep out of the landfill, do not have as much market value and are more expensive to recycle. And that’s just good business practice!

Recycling Christmas Lights Outside Boulder 

You do not need to be a City of Boulder resident to use the CHaRM, but if you need to recycle old holiday lights and the CHaRM in Boulder isn’t conveniently located near you, check your municipality’s website to see if they offer a seasonal collection for cables and wires in your area, such as Longmont’s drop-off program available through Jan. 5, 2025. You can also check out this mail-in program, which allows you to ship holiday lights if local options are not available.

And if you’re in the market to buy new holiday lights, be sure to opt for environmentally friendly LED lights instead of traditional incandescents—they use 90% less energy, and will last up to 25 times longer!

Learn more about recycling holiday items and find sustainable holiday tips in our Zero Waste Holiday Guide, available in English and Spanish.

The post How to Recycle Christmas Lights and Holiday Lights in Boulder County  appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

If you’ve recently unwrapped a new television, computer, or large appliance, chances are you’ve encountered rigid white foam—a lightweight material designed to protect items during shipping. Also known as expanded polystyrene (EPS), rigid foam is a type of plastic made from petroleum. While its protective qualities make it useful in packaging, its environmental impact requires responsible disposal.

Why Foam Doesn’t Belong in Your Curbside Recycling Bin

Rigid foam cannot be recycled through curbside programs due to its bulky structure and tendency to break into small fragments. Unlike easily compressible materials like bottles and cans, rigid foam takes up significant space and, if mixed into single-stream recycling, its fragments can contaminate other recyclables. To recycle rigid foam properly, it must be taken to a drop-off facility such as the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). At CHaRM, the foam is processed by grinding and densifying it into a compact, transportable form.

Recycle Rigid #6 White Block Foam at Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM Facility

The CHaRM is a hub for recycling materials that can’t go in your curbside bin, including #6 rigid white block foam. This holiday season, as you unwrap gifts and declutter your home, make a plan to recycle your rigid foam and other hard-to-recycle materials at the CHaRM. By doing so, you’re giving these resources a second life and keeping usable materials out of the landfill.

What Happens to Recycled Rigid Foam?

When you recycle your rigid foam at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM, it is broken apart and then compacted into dense blocks. These blocks are then taken to a third-party recycler to be processed into raw materials that manufacturers use to create new products. Common items made from recycled polystyrene foam include crown molding, insulation, and packaging materials.

This process not only diverts waste from landfills but also reduces the demand for virgin plastics, conserving natural resources and energy.

Why Rigid Foam Shouldn’t Go to the Landfill

Dumping rigid foam in the landfill poses environmental risks. Rigid foam, like most plastics, doesn’t biodegrade, meaning it can persist in the environment for centuries. Its lightweight nature also makes it prone to blowing out of landfills, where it can break into microplastics, polluting ecosystems and threatening wildlife. Toxic additives in rigid foam products, such as styrene, which has been identified by the Department of Health and Human Services as a possible human carcinogen, has the potential to leach into soil or water over time.

Small Actions, Big Impact

Next time you’re tidying up after a festive gathering or unwrapping presents or new purchases, set aside your #6 rigid white block foam and take it to the Eco-Cycle CHaRM. Together, we can create a more sustainable, Zero Waste future—one recycled foam block at a time!

Learn more about recycling holiday items and find sustainable holiday tips in our Zero Waste Holiday Guide, available in English and Spanish.

The post Rigid White Foam Recycling: Why and How to Recycle at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

The crinkle of wrapping paper being torn away, the shimmer of shiny bows under the tree—for many of us, there’s something nostalgic about traditional gift wrapping paper, evoking memories of childhood excitement and festive gatherings. But all that glitters isn’t gold: in the US alone, an estimated 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper are produced each year, and half of it ends up in landfills.

‘Tis the season to create new holiday memories with practices that reflect your sustainability values, without sacrificing the spirit of the season! Let’s explore why traditional wrapping paper isn’t recyclable in Boulder County and how to wrap gifts with creativity, sustainability, and joy!

Why is wrapping paper so challenging to recycle? 

Many types of gift wrapping paper are made from non-recyclable materials such as plastic coatings, metallic finishes, glitter, mylar, and foil, which are not recyclable. Even plain, traditional wrapping paper is difficult to recycle because it’s made of more clay and ash than paper fiber. And wrapping paper often comes with contaminants like tape, ribbons, and bows that are a no-no for paper mills that purchase recycled paper and turn it into new products.  

Green Gift Wrapping Ideas

You can still have beautifully wrapped gifts without creating unnecessary waste! Check out these creative, eco-friendly gift-wrapping alternatives:

Fabric Wrapping

Use scarves, cloth napkins, or other fabrics to wrap gifts in the Japanese style of furoshiki. These reusable wraps add elegance and can serve as part of the gift.

Reusable Bags, Boxes, and Containers

Try reusable tote bags, decorative boxes, or baskets for a double-duty solution—your wrapping is a gift in and of itself and can be reused for years!

Reusable, Recyclable Paper Gift Bags

Paper gift bags can be reused over and over, they make wrapping a snap, and when they begin to wear out, they’re fully recyclable in your curbside recycling bin—just pull off and toss any non-paper handles and decorations.

Recyclable Papers

Wrap your gifts in old maps, newspapers, or sheet music for a unique and eco-friendly look. If you can, reuse these items, and if not, they can be recycled as long as they are free of non-paper decorations.

Plain Kraft Paper

Brown paper bags turned inside-out and used as wrapping paper, as well as brown kraft paper, are recyclable—and customizable! Add festive touches with twine, hand-drawn designs, or sprigs of greenery for a rustic holiday look. Avoid using glue, glitter, or other non-paper decorations.

Nature-Inspired Alternatives to Bows and Ribbons

Reuse bows and ribbons whenever possible, or replace them with dried flowers, pinecones, or cinnamon sticks! These natural accents add charm and can be composted after use.

Sustainable Gift Wrapping Helps Create a Zero Waste Holiday

This holiday season, let your gifts reflect not only how much you care for your loved ones, but also your commitment to a world with less waste. Small changes, like avoiding traditional gift wrap, can add up to a big impact for the planet!

For more tips on sustainable  decorations, gifting, and eco-friendly celebrations, check out Eco-Cycle’s Zero Waste Holiday Guide in English and Spanish. Happy holidays—and happy wrapping!

The post Unwrapping Wrapping Paper Recycling appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

(Minneapolis, MN — October 3, 2025) On Friday, the Alliance for Mission-Based Recycling (AMBR) released a new report, “Designing Effective EPR: What to Do About Film & Flexible Packaging,” highlighting the significant problems associated with including flexible and film plastics in curbside recycling programs. 

Flexible packaging, from grocery bags and shipping mailers to chip bags and stand-up zip-top pouches, is one of the fastest-growing types of packaging in the US. But these materials create significant problems for municipal recycling programs. 

With many states implementing or considering Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies for packaging and paper that include recycling targets, top consumer brands are investing heavily in efforts to make this packaging seem recyclable. But what recycling operators have known for decades is that flexible and film plastics cannot be recycled on a large scale. We must pivot to real solutions.

Most flexible and film plastics cannot be effectively recycled through curbside programs due to the complex material composition and limited end markets. The end markets that do exist stretch the definition of recycling and raise environmental concerns. Current markets include plastic-to-fuel, road construction, burning in cement kilns, and use in aggregate, filler, or drainage systems.  

Additionally, when the material is included in single-stream curbside recycling, it creates costly contamination of paper streams, as well as delays and damage to recycling facility operations.

While flexible and film packaging has grown to account for as much as 50% of food packaging, it is estimated that US households generate more than 10 billion pounds annually, and only 2% of it is currently recycled, mostly through dedicated drop-off programs for clean, single-material films.

AMBR’s report provides guidance for states implementing EPR laws on how to ensure that recycling systems are not undermined, instead focusing Producer Responsibility efforts where they can have the greatest environmental and economic impact.

The report urges that as states pass EPR for packaging, they:

• Exclude flexible films from curbside programs to avoid costly contamination and equipment disruptions.
• Prioritize source reduction, reuse systems, and certified compostable alternatives.
• Require detailed producer reporting and adopt environmentally responsible end market standards.
• Ban counting incineration or fuel conversion as recycling and prohibit plastic recycling credit schemes for recycled content claims.

Download the full report here: Designing Effective EPR: What to Do About Film & Flexible Packaging

The Alliance for Mission-Based Recycling (AMBR) is a coalition founded by four of the original pioneers of mission-driven, community-based nonprofit recycling in the U.S., Eureka Recycling, Eco-Cycle, Ecology Center, and Recycle Ann Arbor. By revealing facts and myths about how recycling works, modeling innovative policies and practices, and influencing the national conversation, AMBR is guiding new recycling policies and infrastructure investments to rebuild credible, transparent recycling systems that support a sustainable circular economy and just, resilient local communities. For more information, visit ambr-recyclers.org.

The post National Recycling Alliance Warns Against New Efforts to Put Plastic Bags, Pouches & Wrappers in Curbside Recycling appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

As fast fashion churns out more clothes than the world can wear, mountains of textile waste are piling up around the world. Here’s how fast fashion drives pollution, labor abuses, and what’s being done to change it.

In northern Chile’s Atacama Desert, an unlikely landmark has emerged: mountains of discarded clothing. These piles—stretching across nearly 580 football fields—are made up of secondhand garments shipped from the United States and Europe, much of it never sold or worn. 

This textile mountain is a byproduct of the global fast fashion machine, a system that churns out clothing faster and cheaper than ever before. The clothes arrive faster than they can be sorted, leaving behind a growing symbol of the global fast fashion crisis.

A System Built on Speed

Just a generation ago, designers released two major collections a year: fall/winter and spring/summer. Now, brands rely on flimsy fabrics and trend-gathering algorithms to collapse the design-to-production timeline from months to as few as 10 days. Spanish retailer Zara introduces about 35,000 new styles each year. China-based Shein eclipses even that, with an estimated 1.3 million products annually. 

For consumers, it means the ability to copy an influencer’s outfit almost instantly. For the planet, it means staggering amounts of textile waste.

Fast Fashion’s Plastic Problem

The fashion industry generates 92 million tons of waste every year, and it’s growing. Much of it is plastic-based fabrics like polyester, nylon, and acrylic. Why plastic? Cost is one reason—it’s far cheaper than cotton. Plastic textiles also provide a new market for oil and gas companies. Today, we make everything from packaging to furniture to textiles out of plastic. 

The consequences are everywhere. Synthetic fabrics shed microplastics when worn, washed, and dried, making them a leading source of microplastic pollution globally. Once discarded, these garments don’t biodegrade but rather break into smaller fragments that persist in ecosystems and even human bodies. For example, even well-intentioned clothing donations often end up in places like Chile’s textile mountain or Ghana’s “obroni wawu” (dead white man’s clothes) river.

Compounding the problem, many textiles contain harmful chemicals such as phthalates, PFAS, and lead—sometimes at levels hundreds of times above legal limits, posing risks for both factory workers and wearers.

The Human Cost of Fast Fashion

“Fast fashion is far from cheap—someone, somewhere, is paying the price.”
– Broken Threads & Twisted Yarns: Legislating the Reform of Fashion

Behind the low prices of fast fashion items are unsafe conditions and labor exploitation. In fast fashion factories, workers are often paid pennies per garment—sometimes just $0.02 to $0.06 apiece, translating to less than $6 an hour. Shein employees have reported grueling 18-hour days to meet quotas of 500 garments, with only one day off per month. 

These injustices aren’t just happening abroad—a US Department of Labor investigation found garment workers in Southern California being paid as little as $1.58 an hour.

Policy Solutions on the Horizon

Governments are beginning to respond. Across Europe, reforms are underway to rein in the fashion industry. Emerging policies include: 

• Banning the destruction of unsold clothes and requiring alternatives like donation or repurposing.
• Phasing out toxic “forever chemicals” such as PFAS in apparel.
• Mandating Producer Responsibility to hold textile companies financially accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products.
• Developing required eco-design standards that necessitate labeling on a product’s durability, repairability, recycled content, and supply chain transparency.
• Requiring microfiber filters to be installed in all new washing machines to reduce plastic pollution at the source.

In the United States, reform is moving more slowly, but progress is happening. 

• California passed the first-in-the-nation Responsible Textile Recovery Act in 2024, requiring fashion companies to plan for how their products will be collected, recycled, repaired, and safely managed. They also passed protections for garment workers. 
• New York introduced an Extended Producer Responsibility bill for textiles in 2025 (Senate Bill S3217A) that would require large fashion retailers to map supply chains, disclose impacts, and pay into a remediation fund. 
• California and New York have both also introduced legislation to mandate microfiber filters on washing machines. A similar federal law was introduced in July 2025. 
• California, New York, and Colorado have limited or banned the intentional use of PFAS in textiles and other products. 

How You Can Reduce Your Fashion Footprint

Addressing textile pollution is one party we don’t want to be fashionably late to! Here are simple ways to look good while doing good:

• Choose wisely. Invest in well-constructed staples instead of cheap trends. Remember that while organic fibers are better than plastic fibers, they still have labor and environmental impacts.
• Shop secondhand. Check out local thrift shops and consignment stores. Boulder has a robust thrift and consignment shop scene, from Pig + Pearl (where Eco-Cycle currently brings all the clothing donated at the CHaRM) to Rags Consignment, Arc, Goodwill, and others. Online secondhand stores like Poshmark and ThredUp expand your options.
• Upcycle or repair. Add patches, adjust hems, or refashion old clothes to extend their life. Find inspiration in refashion blogs. 
• Rent or borrow for special occasions. Services like Rent the Runway and Nuuly let you dress up without the waste.
• Recycle responsibly. Use textile recycling programs and avoid dumping clothes into donation bins that may just export waste overseas.

Examples such as the clothing heaps in Chile’s desert show the true cost of disposable fashion. They are stark reminders that while fast fashion makes trends accessible, its legacy is measured in mountains of waste, plastic pollution, and human exploitation.

The post Fast Fashion’s Hidden Peaks: How Our Wardrobes Build Mountains Abroad appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Toxic chemicals don’t belong in the packaging that touches our food—or in our recycling.

This fall, Colorado will set the rules that decide whether producers are rewarded for safe, recyclable packaging—or allowed to keep using harmful chemicals.

Key Dates

• Colorado’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission’s Eco-Modulation Rulemaking
• Public comment period extended to Sunday, September 28, 2025: Act now—this is your chance to weigh in!

Download Eco-Cycle’s Eco-Modulation Factsheet (Note: The deadline was originally September 15, but has been extended.)

Why It Matters

Every day, packaging is the frontline between us and the products we use. Too often, it contains hazardous chemicals—such as lead, cadmium, mercury, PFAS, BPA, and phthalates—that can leach into food, water, and the environment. These substances also contaminate recycling streams, lowering the value of recycled materials and polluting future products.

Out of 16,000 chemicals identified in plastics, 4,200 are hazardous—persistent, toxic, and mobile in the environment. (PlastChem)

This is not just a recycling problem. It’s a health, safety, and economic issue.

We Have an Opportunity to Get Recycling Right

Colorado’s Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Paper Act (HB22-1355) will expand recycling to every household across the state in 2026. Companies that sell packaging in Colorado will begin funding the recycling system—and how much they pay into the system will depend on the type of packaging they produce. This system is called eco-modulation, where producers pay more for wasteful or hard-to-recycle materials and pay less for packaging that’s recyclable or reusable.

What Is Eco-Modulation?

Eco-modulation is a specific financial incentive system that determines how much producers pay into the recycling system by assigning:

• Bonuses: discounts for safer, recyclable designs (or environmentally positive changes in packaging). 
• Penalties (called “Maluses”): extra fees for harmful, wasteful packaging (or environmentally negative changes in packaging)

Right now, draft eco-modulation rules for Colorado don’t explicitly require reducing toxic chemicals in packaging.

>> Colorado’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission’s eco-modulation rulemaking this fall is our chance to ensure that the Commission approves the best possible eco-modulation rules for Colorado’s Producer Responsibility.

What’s at Stake

By reducing toxic chemicals through eco-modulation, Colorado can:

Protect public health. Align with states like California, Maine, Washington, and Minnesota, whose Producer Responsibility programs will cut toxic chemicals. 

Safeguard recycling value. Toxic additives contaminate recycling streams, make materials more difficult to process, and lower their market value—especially for food-grade packaging, where manufacturers need clean, high-quality recycled materials. We can protect the value of recycled materials by cutting toxins in the design phase.

Strengthen markets. Clean, toxin-free recycled material feedstocks are essential for manufacturers. Reducing toxics builds stronger markets and a healthier circular economy.

Lead the nation. With Colorado among the first US states to design eco-modulation rules, our decisions will help set the standard for the entire country and show how Producer Responsibility can protect health, improve recycling, and make safer packaging the norm.

What We’re Asking For

We urge Colorado regulators to:

1. Disallow bonuses for toxic packaging. Producers that intentionally add hazardous chemicals should not be eligible for eco-modulation “bonuses.” 

2. Expand and clarify eco-modulation rules. Eco-modulation rules must reflect the law’s  intent to minimize environmental, social, economic, and health impacts caused by packaging.

3. Define “toxicity” and “intentionally added toxic chemicals.” Regulations should spell out what counts as toxicity and include a list of banned chemicals.

4. Make incentives meaningful. Current draft rules offer just 1% bonuses, and are  capped at 10%—that’s not enough to drive change. Proven systems abroad offer bonuses of 20% or more—Colorado should do the same.

5. Align with existing Colorado laws. Producers that use materials already restricted in Colorado—like expanded polystyrene (banned under HB21-1162) and PFAS (restricted under HB22-1345)—should not qualify for eco-modulation bonuses.

How You Can Help

Your voice is critical. Submit your comment by September 28, 2025, to help Colorado cut toxic chemicals from packaging.

This is a critical moment. The Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission will decide how Colorado will reward (or penalize) packaging design.

Submit your written comment by Sunday, September 28: 

1. Email: EPRcomments@state.co.us

2. Suggested subject line: Support Strong Eco-Modulation & Toxicity Reductions

3. View a sample message you can personalize

Strong eco-modulation rules will protect our health, strengthen recycling markets, and set a model for the nation. Add your voice today—before the September 28 deadline—to make sure packaging in Colorado is designed for safety, not pollution.

The post Act Now: Cut Toxic Chemicals from Packaging in Colorado appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Discover how Eco-Cycle is shaping Colorado’s future with groundbreaking Zero Waste policies—from banning polystyrene to making recycling free and accessible statewide. Learn how your workplace can be a part of lasting environmental change with our expert-led Policy 101 trainings!  

Did you know that for almost a decade, Eco-Cycle has been involved in advocating for statewide legislation to support Zero Waste initiatives in Colorado? Many of these Zero Waste policies are already making a huge impact. 

We want to engage more Coloradans in advocating for change. We’re now offering Policy 101 trainings at your place of work, led by Eco-Cycle’s Director of Policy and Community Campaigns, Randy Moorman, and Senior Policy Advisor Rachel Setzke. These trainings will help staff understand the policy process in Colorado, as well as introduce the Zero Waste bills that are making a difference statewide. 

Eco-Cycle recently led a Policy 101 training for interns at Walking Mountains Science Center, helping future environmental leaders understand the process through which a bill becomes law, and the role we all have to play in advancing Zero Waste legislation NOW that will protect our planet for generations to come.

Catch the Replay

• Watch the recording here!

Read on for some examples of successful Zero Waste policy action that are now law in Colorado.

What You’ll Learn

Thanks to persistent advocacy by organizations like Eco-Cycle and our partners, including Recycle Colorado, CoPIRG, Green Latinos, and others, several landmark Zero Waste bills have become law.

Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (PPRA), 2021

The Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (HB21-1163) made Colorado the first non-coastal state to ban polystyrene takeout containers and implement a statewide ban on plastic checkout bags distributed by large retailers, with a fee on single-use paper bags.

With the passage of this bill, Colorado also became the first state to repeal a law championed by the plastics industry that prohibited local jurisdictions from adopting ordinances that ban plastic items.

Key Impacts:

• Banned polystyrene (Styrofoam) takeout containers statewide.
  
• Banned large retailers in Colorado from distributing plastic checkout bags, and added a mandatory fee on single-use bags to encourage reusable options.
  
• Repealed the prohibition on local plastic bans, allowing cities to lead on plastic waste reduction.

Right to Repair

Colorado made national news by passing three Right to Repair laws, giving consumers the tools to fix their products instead of throwing them away.

These laws cover:

• Powered wheelchairs
  
• Agricultural equipment (like tractors)
  
• Consumer electronics (appliances, phones, computers, HVAC units)

Producer Responsibility for Packaging, 2022

Under our current waste and recycling system, recycling costs fall on residents, businesses, and local governments—communities that have no say in how products are made or how recyclable they are. Producer Responsibility laws shift those costs to manufacturers, incentivizing better, more sustainable product design.

Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program for Recycling (HB22-1355) was written and championed by Eco-Cycle and passed in 2022. It makes Colorado the first state with a fully producer-funded, statewide recycling system for consumer packaging and paper.

When implemented in 2026, the law will:

• Provide free curbside recycling for all Coloradans
  
• Ensure producers fund recycling education and infrastructure
  
• Charge producers using less packaging, or more recyclable packaging, a smaller fee, incentivizing more sustainable packaging design.

By 2035, this law is expected to:

• Expand recycling to 700,000 more households in Colorado
  
• Divert 720,000 tons of packaging from landfills annually
  
• Reduce emissions equivalent to removing 278,000 cars from the road

Who Should Request a Policy 101 Training?

• People who want to effect change
• Organizations that want to learn more about Zero Waste policy in Colorado

Let’s talk! We may be able to provide Zero Waste resources and education in your community or workplace. Contact randy@ecocycle.org to learn more.

The post Eco-Cycle Could Teach Zero Waste Policy 101 in Your Workplace appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

If you’ve felt overwhelmed, confused, or even a little cynical about all the news headlines around plastics—you’re not alone. Join us for this free environmental webinar to learn the truth about plastics, whether they’re recyclable, and how you can help reduce plastic pollution.

From alarming reports about microplastics in our bodies, to conflicting messages on whether recycling plastics is real, the conversation around plastics can be confusing. That’s why Eco-Cycle invites you to watch a special Plastic Free July webinar:

Clear as Plastic: Demystifying Recent Plastics Headlines and Answering Your Most Burning Questions

Whether you’re just starting to rethink your plastic habits or you’ve been in the anti-plastic trenches for years, this webinar is for you! Click here to watch the recording.

What You’ll Learn

“Clear as Plastic” is packed with mythbusters and takeaways you can put into practice right away. Here’s a sample of what we’ll cover:

• “Is plastics recycling a hoax?” We’ll break down this controversial question, including why plastics are more complicated compared to other materials in the recycling system—and how that impacts what can and can’t be recycled.
• “How did we get here?” We’ll guide you through an overview of the plastics industry—how production exploded, who’s responsible, and how policy, profit, and public perception have collided.
• Plastic reduction tips that actually work. From smarter shopping to easy swaps that reduce single-use plastics in your home, you’ll walk away with practical tools to reduce your plastic use.

Stay until the end for the Q&A session and find answers to questions like: “What are the most effective ways to reduce plastic use now?”, “What plastics can go into my curbside recycling bin?”, and “What do I need to know about plastics incineration?”

Why Now?

Plastic Free July is a global movement to reduce plastic pollution—and it’s become a powerful movement to raise awareness and shift habits. But it can also leave people feeling discouraged—what difference can one person really make?

That’s exactly why this webinar matters. Understanding the system is the first step toward changing it. When we’re armed with facts, connected to others, and inspired by collective action, our individual choices start to ripple outward—and create real momentum.

Who Should Attend?

• Curious beginners looking for a better understanding of plastics and what’s really happening behind the scenes
• Long-time recyclers and plastic-free advocates ready to deepen their knowledge
• Teachers, parents, students, and community leaders seeking clear answers

Catch the Replay

This free, 90-minute webinar is available to view here.

The post Environmental Webinar Recording: “Clear as Plastic” appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

With a new school year on the horizon, we have a fresh opportunity to teach something lasting: how the small choices students make each day can ripple out into a more sustainable, climate-conscious world.

Schools are more than classrooms—they’re where lifelong habits take shape! That’s why Eco-Cycle’s environmental educators are heading back into the school year with renewed energy. Our School Recycling and Environmental Education Program helps students sort waste, recycle, and explore conservation through hands-on classroom lessons. The small, daily choices students learn to make—like what they do with a banana peel or juice box—can ripple out to homes, neighborhoods, and communities. 

Environmental Education: The Numbers Add Up

Eco-Cycle is helping schools in Boulder Valley, as well as St. Vrain Valley and Adams 12 Five Star School Districts make a big environmental impact through education and everyday actions. During the 2024–25 school year, we: 

• Reached 29,466 participants during 1,268 presentations and field trips.
• Delivered 174 presentations to Title 1 schools and 118 presentations in Spanish or bilingual format. 
• Redistributed 4,394 children’s books throughout Boulder, Broomfield, and Weld Counties, giving new life to beloved stories through the CHaRMed Books Program.
• Recycled 474,311 pounds of material across schools in the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD)—with even more impact coming from St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) and Adams 12 Five Star, data pending.

That’s hundreds of metric tons of CO₂ emissions avoided, thousands of gallons of water saved by students through daily Zero Waste hands-on practice! 

• Scroll through the full 2024–2025 annual report for Eco-Cycle’s School Recycling and Education Program here!

Green Star Schools^® Are Leading the Way

The Green Star Schools program builds on Eco-Cycle’s School Recycling and Environmental Education Program by going deeper—bringing composting to cafeterias, strengthening recycling systems, and finding creative ways to cut waste at every level.

This matters because the scale of school waste is staggering. Nationally, schools generate an estimated 530,000 tons of food waste each year—equal to 1.9 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions and nearly 21 billion gallons of wasted water.

Green Star Schools are setting a new standard. In the 2024–2025 school year alone, 68 schools (across three school districts), and 38,000 students and staff took part in the program, reaching waste diversion rates of up to 67%. Forty-three Green Star Schools in BVSD composted 222,515 lb of food scraps during the 2024–25 school year. (Data is not currently available for three mountain schools.) It’s a powerful example of how Zero Waste isn’t just something students learn about—it’s something they live, every day.

• Read the Green Star Schools Annual Report here!

Free Zero Waste Tools for Schools

Looking to bring Zero Waste practices to your school community? Check out these free resources from Eco-Cycle:

• Seven Tips for Going Zero Waste This School Year
  Quick, practical tips for students and families starting the year with sustainability in mind.
  
• Celebrate More, Waste Less!
  A guide to throwing school events that are festive and waste-free.
  
• Zero Waste Schools Activity Guide
  A flexible, downloadable toolkit packed with creative, low-cost activities on waste reduction, recycling, composting, and motivation strategies. Perfect for schools ready to launch or level up their Zero Waste efforts.

Want help getting started? Email schools@ecocycle.org—our team is here to support you.

Why This Work Matters—to All of Us

When students practice waste reduction, recycling, and composting every day at school, those habits don’t stay in the classroom—they follow them home, influencing families and communities. And the biggest impact? They learn to think critically about what they use and why—lessons they carry with them into the world, whether they’re headed for science labs, city halls, or back to the classroom to lead future generations of environmental stewards.

The post Zero Waste Schools: Turning Daily Habits into Climate Solutions appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Saying goodbye to Plastic Free July doesn’t mean we stop recycling plastics in August. Hard-to-recycle film plastics like bags and bubble wrap, large durable items like buckets, and rigid white block foam (often referred to as Styrofoam) are always accepted at the CHaRM in Boulder if they meet our recycling guidelines.

Let’s face it—despite our best efforts to go plastic-free, sometimes we find ourselves with a plastic bag or some bubble wrap we are now responsible for. A plastic item like a laundry basket we’ve used forever will finally break in a way that doesn’t lend itself to repair. Or we’ll finally upgrade a much-needed appliance, only to find inside the highly recyclable cardboard box there lurks a bunch of blocks of toxic-to-produce expanded polystyrene foam! Are all of these materials destined for the landfill?

Fortunately for those who live within driving distance of the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials, these items don’t have to be landfilled! These plastics can be responsibly recovered and turned into new products.

Plastic Bags and Other Film Plastics

Did you know you cannot recycle plastic bags or bubble wrap curbside? This special collection accepts soft, flexible plastics made from polyethylene (#2 HDPE and #4 LDPE). Items must be clean and dry, be mostly free of tape and labels, and should pass the “poke test” or “rip test.” While this type of plastic is not usually marked with a number, these tests are a good rule of thumb for determining whether your item is made from the right type of plastic for our recycling stream.

Polyethylene is stretchy and tears with a ruffled edge. If you can poke a finger through the material, or it tears raggedly, it is probably the correct stuff. The wrong type of plastic will probably sound crunchy/crinkly, and will tear with a straight edge—a good example is the type of plastic that is used to wrap a bouquet of flowers.

If your plastic will not let you poke a finger through it, it probably isn’t polyethylene (unless it is bubble wrap, an important exception—this is too thick for your finger to pass through but it IS made from polyethylene and is recyclable).

Items recycled in our Plastic Film collection are turned into composite lumber and used to make weatherproof decks and furniture with the help of our recycling partner, Trex.

Large Durable Plastics

Think buckets, milk crates, laundry baskets, lawn chairs . . . items for this stream are bulky, and are usually made from one piece of plastic, or are sometimes hollow with a visible seam where two halves were connected when the item was produced. 

To be recycled, these items MUST be made from #2 HDPE or #5 PP plastic only (and should be clearly marked). They must be less than 3 feet in length in every direction; customers may cut larger items down to size before bringing the pieces to the CHaRM facility. Finally, please make sure that all non-plastic parts, including screws, bolts, rope, and fabric, are removed before drop-off. Bucket handles are OK to stay.

We encourage folks to first offer reusable items to our next-door neighbor at 6400 Arapahoe, Resource Central, ahead of recycling. Items recycled in this stream become weather-proof railroad ties and car parts, among other applications.

Rigid White Block Foam (AKA Styrofoam)

Block foam usually comes part and parcel with a new fridge, stove, TV, or other electronic item. This means on top of making a large purchase you now have to deal with your typically landfill-only expanded polystyrene foam (EPS). But fear not—if your foam material is white, clean, dry, rigid (you should be able to break a piece off of it), and you can see round beads of foam in it, we can take it for recycling.

It may or may not have a #6 PS stamped on it. As long as it is not any color other than white, isn’t dirty, comes in blocks or sheets (no peanuts or food packaging, please), and doesn’t have a spongy, squishy texture that resists breaking (which would mean it’s not the right kind of plastic!) . . . then it is most likely expanded polystyrene that we can accept for recycling at CHaRM! 

We work with a recycler in Denver to transform EPS into lightweight and affordable building materials. Learn more about our foam recycling program here.

How to Find Us

6400 Arapahoe Rd. in Boulder
Open 9 am–5 pm, Monday–Saturday (follow closure notices here)
ecocycle.org/charm

Our facility is located in Boulder, Colorado, but we are dedicated to serving the recycling needs of all visitors, whether you live in Boulder County, Denver, or beyond. Please do not mail us materials—we only accept in-person drop-offs for recycling.

The CHaRM is owned and operated by Eco-Cycle in partnership with the City of Boulder, and is co-located on City property with another Zero Waste organization serving the community, Resource Central—so be sure to bring along with your plastics for recycling at CHaRM any reusable items for donation to Resource, and plan to take some time to shop the materials reuse yard! 

Whether you are a seasoned CHaRMer or this will be your first time visiting, we look forward to helping you go plastic-free, this month and every month. If you have any questions, please reach out to charm@ecocycle.org, or call 303-444-6634.

Want to make sure you stay in the loop on CHaRM news? Subscribe to our newsletter.

The post Hard-to-Recycle Plastics You Can Bring to CHaRM All Year Round appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

New rules are critical to reduce potent greenhouse gases, protecting communities from harmful pollution.

(Denver, CO – July 14, 2025) – Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Eco-Cycle submitted a prehearing statement underscoring the critical importance of the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission’s ongoing rulemaking process to establish stronger methane and air pollution controls on landfills. This rulemaking presents a vital opportunity to address a major source of climate pollution using commonsense measures that protect communities across Colorado.

Colorado has some of the largest landfills in the country, with many located near major population centers and disproportionately impacted communities. Landfills are Colorado’s third-largest source of methane—a potent climate pollutant with over 80 times the near-term warming power of carbon dioxide—and are likewise a source of other harmful air pollutants.

“Colorado has an important opportunity to set leading standards for landfill methane. Landfill pollution requires immediate action, and we urge the adoption of the most protective and effective rules, integrating commonsense solutions like advanced monitoring technologies to secure a healthier future for our climate and communities,” said Edwin LaMair, Senior Attorney at Environmental Defense Fund.

The proposed methane regulations aim to require operators to capture pollution using gas collection systems, more robustly monitor for emissions and leaks, and adopt other commonsense measures already required by other states. Once finalized, these standards will reduce pollution that destabilizes the climate and contributes to smog and other health-harming air pollution. 

“Stronger methane regulations are vital to minimizing the environmental impact of landfills,” said Suzanne Jones, Executive Director of Eco-Cycle. “These new rules would prioritize public health and climate protection, providing a critical complement to sustainable waste management practices that reduce the amount of organic material going to landfills in the first place.”

Landfill methane emissions have often been underestimated, with many landfills exhibiting large, persistent leaks. In addition to contributing significantly to global warming, landfill methane is co-emitted with hazardous air pollutants like benzene, toluene, and vinyl chloride that can harm human health and air quality. 

Learn more at ecocycle.org/landfill-methane.

The post EDF, Eco-Cycle Urge Robust Colorado Landfill Methane Rulemaking for Climate, Public Health appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

When we think of plastic pollution, most of us picture the obvious: grocery bags tangled in trees, foam cups littering sidewalks, bottles bobbing in the ocean. But the truth is, the problem runs much deeper. A significant portion of the plastic polluting our world is invisible to the eye—either embedded in everyday items or broken down into microscopic fragments—and it’s everywhere.

Many of the products we use daily contain plastic, even when they don’t look or feel like it. Sometimes it’s part of the material itself. Other times, it’s hidden in coatings, adhesives, or fibers.

The Hidden Plastics All Around Us

Here’s a list of everyday items that often contain hidden plastics:

• Clothing (especially polyester, nylon, spandex, and acrylic fabrics)
• Tea bags (often sealed with plastic or made from nylon mesh)
• Disposable coffee cups (lined with polyethylene)
• Receipts (often coated with BPA-containing plastic)
• Chewing gum (the “gum base” is usually synthetic rubber or plastic)
• Wet wipes and diapers (made with plastic fibers)
• Glitter and sequins
• Paints and coatings
• Paper plates and bowls (typically coated in plastic for waterproofing)
• Bandages and medical tape
• Feminine hygiene products (pads and tampon applicators)
• Frozen food packaging (may contain plastic films)

Once you start noticing, it’s hard to unsee: plastic is embedded in our lives in ways we rarely consider. And because many of these plastic items are used only once, they contribute to a growing global plastics crisis that can’t simply be recycled away.

Microplastics: Tiny Particles, Big Problem 

Microplastics are plastic particles less than 5 millimeters long—about the size of a sesame seed or smaller. They’re created when larger plastic items break down through sunlight, weather, and friction. Others are intentionally manufactured at this size for use in products like exfoliating scrubs or industrial abrasives (these are known as primary microplastics).

Microplastics have been found in:

• Ocean water and deep-sea sediment
• Soil and farmland (often through plastic mulch or sewage sludge)
• Drinking water and even bottled water
• Human blood, lungs, and placentas
• Fish, birds, and other wildlife

Microplastics are concerning not only because of their prevalence, but also their toxicity. They carry harmful chemicals and can potentially lead to DNA damage, organ dysfunction, metabolic disorder, immune response, neurotoxicity, as well as a variety of chronic diseases. Microplastics can also accumulate up the food chain, with wildlife often mistaking them for food, which can lead to starvation, internal damage, or poisoning. And humans are affected, too. Studies estimate that the average person inhales about 5 grams of microplastic per week—roughly the size of a credit card.

Systems Change: Policy and Innovation

The scale and reach of microplastics pollution can feel overwhelming, but there’s progress. Some microplastics have already been restricted or banned. In 2015, the US passed the Microbead-Free Waters Act, which banned plastic microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics like facial scrubs and toothpaste. Other countries—including Canada, the UK, and several EU nations—have passed similar or stricter legislation, targeting glitter, industrial microplastics, and synthetic fibers.

Beyond bans, innovation is emerging from both tech and nature-based solutions:

• Biodegradable materials are being developed from algae, mushrooms, and even milk proteins as alternatives to plastic.
• Washing machine filters and fiber-catching laundry bags can reduce the number of microfibers shed from clothing into waterways.
• Natural filtration systems, like constructed wetlands and biochar, are being tested to capture microplastics in stormwater and wastewater.

Going Beyond the Surface

Plastic pollution isn’t just what we can see—it’s hidden in our closets, cosmetics, food, and even our bodies. Change starts with awareness, but it doesn’t end there. We need continued investment in policy, innovation, and infrastructure that helps us phase out harmful plastics, hold producers accountable, and build a future that’s less toxic. By understanding the scale of hidden plastics and microplastics, we can support smarter choices—and stronger systems.

The post Hidden Plastics: The Problem We Can’t Always See appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

If you’ve ever flipped over a yogurt container or a takeout box, you’ve probably seen the little triangle made of arrows—the “chasing arrows” symbol—with a number inside. For many of us, it’s become shorthand for “recyclable.” Toss it in the blue bin and move on, right? Not quite. This common assumption is one of the biggest recycling myths out there.

That triangle on the bottom of your plastic bottle doesn’t actually mean it’s recyclable. It refers to the type of plastic resin used to make the product. A resin is essentially the raw, melted-down plastic material that gets molded into bottles, bags, wrappers, and clamshell containers.

The Truth About the Chasing Arrows Symbol

The Resin Identification Code (RIC) system was developed in 1988 by the Society of the Plastics Industry (now the Plastics Industry Association)—not by an environmental or governmental agency. It was originally intended to help plastics manufacturers and recyclers distinguish between different kinds of plastic, not to guide consumers on what could go in the recycling bin.

Unfortunately, the use of the “chasing arrows” symbol on plastic products has led to widespread confusion. Many plastics bearing the symbol can’t actually be recycled in most curbside programs. To address this, California passed Senate Bill 343 in 2021, banning the use of the recycling symbol on products unless they’re regularly collected and processed for recycling in the state.

The “Better” Plastics 

Nearly all plastics are made from fossil fuels—primarily oil and gas—and the process of extracting them and producing plastics exacerbates both the climate crisis and public health risks. That’s why avoiding plastic whenever possible is the best choice. Still, not all plastics are equally harmful—some are considered less harmful to human health and are more commonly recyclable, especially when they’re clean and properly sorted.

• #1 PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottles, tubs, jugs, jars, and clamshells: Commonly used for products like soda bottles, salad containers, berry clamshells, and some takeout boxes. Widely accepted in recycling programs. 
• #2 HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): Used in milk jugs, shampoo bottles, and detergent containers. It’s one of the most recyclable plastics.
• #5 PP (Polypropylene): Found in products like yogurt containers, hummus tubs, and margarine tubs. This plastic type is particularly hard and heat-resistant. It’s recyclable in Boulder County, but less widely accepted than #1 and #2 plastics.

See our Plastics Recycling Guide for Boulder County!

The “Worst” Plastics: Avoid When You Can

Then there are the plastics that carry bigger problems—both because they’re toxic to human health and nearly impossible to recycle.

#3 PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Used in cling wrap, some food packaging, medical devices, shower curtains, and even children’s toys.  #3 PVC are believed to contain carcinogens that can cause rare liver cancer, disrupt male endocrine systems, induce reproductive and birth defects, impair child development, and suppress immune systems.

#6 PS (Polystyrene, commonly referred to as Styrofoam)

Found in foam cups, to-go containers, and meat trays, as well as many red cups and black plastic containers. Lightweight and cheap, but made from styrene, a possible human carcinogen. It also lingers in the environment for centuries.

#7 PC (Polycarbonate) or sometimes labeled “Other” (the Catch-All Category)

This category is a catch-all for plastics that don’t fit into categories #1 through #6. It includes polycarbonate (PC), which often contains BPA, used in some water bottles, baby bottles (though now, thankfully, less common), 5-gallon water jugs, and can linings. It also includes a wide variety of other plastic resins and blends. Because this category covers many different materials, it’s nearly impossible to recycle and offers little to no transparency about its exact chemical makeup. Think of this as the “mystery meat” of plastic.

Black Plastics

Black plastics—like takeout containers or microwaveable trays—can contain unregulated amounts of toxic chemicals such as phthalates and flame retardants, as well as heavy metals. Black plastics with a #3, #6, or #7 have no recycling markets. Even if made from a more recyclable #5 plastic, black plastics are difficult to recycle because the dark pigment cannot be “read” by optical sorters at recycling facilities, so the plastics must be sorted manually, increasing sorting costs substantially. 

Print your Quick Guide to Plastics!

Effectiveness of Policies to Reduce Single-Use Plastics

To reduce the widespread use of two of the most problematic plastics—plastic bags and foam cups and containers—Colorado passed the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (House Bill 21-1163). This law, one of the boldest and most comprehensive plastic waste reduction laws in the country, combines two statewide bans, plus the nation’s first reversal of a plastic preemption law.

• A statewide ban on single-use plastic carryout bags at large retailers. Plastic bags are not biodegradable and are one of the most common pollutants in Colorado’s rivers and creeks, clogging waterways, leaching chemicals, and harming wildlife. In the first year of implementation, this law prevented approximately 1.5–1.8 billion plastic bags from being distributed in the state.
• A ban on polystyrene foam (commonly referred to as Styrofoam) food and beverage containers at restaurants and retail food establishments, due to its health hazards and low recyclability. Polystyrene carries serious health risks—like leaching styrene, a probable human carcinogen—and is notoriously non‑recyclable, fragmenting into harmful microplastics.
• Repeal of plastic preemption law. A preemption law is when a higher level of government (e.g., state) prohibits lower levels (e.g., cities, counties) from passing their own rules on a particular issue. In Colorado, since 1989, municipalities had been prohibited from regulating plastic products like bags or packaging. With the reversal, communities are able to take local action to further curb plastics, such as Breckenridge’s ban on the sale of single-use plastic water bottles (under 1 gallon) and single-use plastic containers and serviceware in retail food establishments, effective July 1, 2024.

Changing the System, Not Just Our Habits

Understanding which plastics pose the greatest harm—and which are more manageable—helps us make informed choices, rather than treating all plastics as equal. But avoiding the most toxic plastics isn’t something individuals can do alone—and we don’t have to accept toxic packaging and single-use waste as the norm. Smart legislation like Colorado’s Plastic Pollution Reduction Act drives real, systemic change away from a throwaway culture and toward systems where safer, more sustainable options become the standard.

The post For Better or for Worse Plastics: Which Ones to Avoid appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

In today’s fast-paced world, single-use plastics don’t just surround us—they define our convenience-driven society. But the scale of the problem is staggering. 

Global plastics production has skyrocketed from just 2 million tons in 1950 to over 430 million tons per year today. Of that total, approximately 36% is used for packaging alone—a category dominated by disposable, single-use items. These plastics are often used for just minutes, yet they make up a massive chunk of global plastics production.

From Reuse to Convenience: The Shift in Culture That Got Us Here

Before the 1950s, American households and businesses followed a model grounded in reuse. Milk was delivered in refillable glass bottles. Soda came in returnable containers. Families shopped with cloth bags, and tools and household goods were predominantly repaired—not quickly replaced. But this era soon gave way to a surge in plastics production, captured in a 1956 Life magazine article celebrating what it called “Throwaway Living” and the postwar rise of single-use products—from plastic plates and utensils to disposable diapers and packaging.

The petroleum industry, seeing opportunity in plastic as a byproduct of refining, began heavily investing in plastic manufacturing. Lloyd Stouffer, editor of Modern Plastics, Inc., addressed the 1963 National Plastics Conference in Chicago by writing, “You are filling the trash cans, the rubbish dumps and the incinerators with literally billions of plastics bottles, plastics jugs, plastics tubes [sic] . . . The happy day has arrived when nobody any longer considers the plastics package too good to throw away.”

This quote reveals how the plastics industry blatantly steered and celebrated a throw-away culture—praising the flood of single-use plastic waste filling our landfills and incinerators as a sign of progress, ignoring the lasting damage it would cause to our people and planet.

In 1950, 2 million tons of plastic was being produced globally. By 1963, it was 13 million tons. Today, it’s over 400 million tons.

In the US, only 5% of plastics are recycled annually

Americans produce roughly 51 million tons of plastic waste annually. Only 5% of that plastic waste was recycled. About 10% of plastic waste was incinerated, leaving approximately 85% of plastic waste in the US sent to landfill—or worse, polluting the environment. Why are plastic recycling numbers so low? One reason is that access to recycling across the nation varies. But the more alarming reasons that plastics aren’t being recycled include:

• Plastics aren’t designed to be recycled. There are thousands of different types of plastics, and these varying materials can’t be recycled together, making the collection, sorting, and processing of plastics for recycling much more complicated and expensive.
• Plastics contain hazardous chemicals. The chemical additives used to produce plastic are harmful to human health, and recycling plastics can result in negative health impacts for workers and local communities.
• Plastics are not infinitely recyclable. Unlike glass or metal, plastics can’t be recycled indefinitely—a plastic bottle can’t be turned into another bottle over and over. At best, plastics may be downcycled into lower-grade products that eventually end up in landfills. 
• The plastics industry doesn’t buy back its own product. Unlike metal, glass, and paper manufacturers, plastics producers rarely buy back and use recycled plastic in their products. Why? Because virgin plastic is consistently cheaper to produce, thanks to government subsidies that artificially lower the cost of fossil fuels. This creates a significant price gap that makes recycled plastics less competitive.

Ditching Single-Use Plastics

Rejecting a culture built on convenience and waste doesn’t mean giving up ease—start with a few tips that fit your life—and watch how one change leads to another!

• Bring your own reusable water bottle and/or coffee cup: Skip bottled water and disposable café cups—sip from your favorite bottle or tumbler. Many places will even offer a small discount for bringing your own.
• Say “no” to plastic cutlery. The life cycle of a simple plastic disposable fork shows the true cost of disposable plastics. Pack your own Zero Waste Kit made from a reusable fork, spoon, and napkin, and you’ll never have to throw away a plastic fork again!
• Pack a reusable bag. Whether carrying groceries or holding takeout, a lightweight reusable bag beats single-use plastic bags every time.
• Carry your own snack containers. Prepackaged snacks often come in non-recyclable plastic pouches; use small reusable containers or beeswax wraps to stash granola, fruit, or trail mix.

Build your own Zero Waste Kit—here’s what you’ll need.

Systemic Shifts: Holding Producers Accountable

While individual actions matter, real change requires shifting responsibility to the companies that design and profit from plastic packaging in the first place. That’s where Producer Responsibility laws come in, which shift the financial responsibility for recycling, disposal, or other end-of-life management of items from local governments and consumers to the companies that manufacture and sell the products. Producer Responsibility laws have passed in eight states thus far: California, Colorado, Maine, Oregon, Minnesota, Washington, Maryland, and New Jersey.

In 2022, Colorado became the third state in the nation to pass a Producer Responsibility Program for Recycling—House Bill 22-1355—one of the most ambitious Producer Responsibility laws in the nation. This law requires companies that sell packaged goods in the state to fund recycling programs, making recycling free and accessible for all Coloradans. Importantly, it incentivizes smarter, more sustainable packaging design by charging higher fees to producers that use non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle packaging, such as multilayer plastic film, black plastic trays, or materials without an end market. That includes many forms of single-use plastic.

On the flip side, companies using recyclable or reusable packaging will pay less. Over time, this system creates a financial reward for more sustainable design. It also ensures that the costs of waste aren’t unfairly borne by taxpayers and local governments, and instead are paid for by the producers creating the waste in the first place.

Looking Head: Curbing the Tide of Plastic

It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of global plastic pollution, but individual choices matter and build momentum toward larger systemic change. Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program is a model for how policy can rein in plastic pollution at the source, not just at the recycling bin. By pairing personal action with systemic reform, we can reduce plastic production—not just clean it up after the fact.

The post Single-Use Plastics: A Catastrophe of Convenience appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Take a moment to look around your home and you’ll find evidence of the global surge in plastic production everywhere—from the food packaging in your fridge, to the liquid soap by the sink, to the bag your dog’s treats came in—it’s all likely made of plastic.

Lightweight, durable, and inexpensive, plastics have made innovations in medicine, transportation, and food preservation possible. But in solving some problems, plastics have created others, becoming embedded in nearly every ecosystem on Earth—even our own bodies.

Every year, over 400 million tons of plastic is produced, with two-thirds of it being used once and then discarded. Plastic does not decompose and disappear. It breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually becoming microplastics. These fragments are now found in oceans and rivers, in the soil that grows our food, and even in the human body. It’s estimated that we inhale about 5 grams of microplastics each week—the size of a credit card.

Not only do plastics cause health and environmental problems, the production and disposal of plastics also disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Communities located near petrochemical facilities—where plastics are made—are exposed to health hazards that include an increased risk of asthma, metabolic diseases, obesity, diabetes, infertility, and cancer. A petrochemical and plastics processing hub in Louisiana known as “Cancer Alley” has been called by the United Nations a glaring example of environmental racism stemming from the plastics industry.

Start at Home: Simple Tools to Reduce Your Plastic Use

While our consumer choices can’t solve the plastics crisis alone, they do make a difference and can help pave the way toward larger systemic change. Are you looking to reduce your plastic use, but aren’t sure where to start? The first step is simply paying attention to the plastics we bring into our homes, and reimagining how we can live without them. To help you reduce your own plastic use, we created:

A Plastics Audit Toolkit. Over the course of a week, collect all your single-use plastics in one place. Take note of what you’re using most—and where change might be easiest.

A Plastics “Swap” Chart. Find simple ways to swap out plastic for more sustainable packaging, such as glass or aluminum—or, best of all, skip the packaging entirely by bringing your own reusables! Not every swap will be practical for every household, but even with one or two consistent changes, you can keep hundreds of plastic items out of the landfill or the environment each year.

See Reducing Waste Starts at Home for more tips on how to cut your waste in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and on the go.

Systemic Change Is the Only Way Out of the Plastics Crisis

However, we can’t “swap” our way out of a problem this large. Plastic waste is a structural issue. For decades, the plastics industry has produced more and more packaging, knowing that most of it was not designed to be recyclable. It’s a system designed for disposability, and requires systemic change. That’s where policy becomes essential—and fortunately, it’s already taking shape. Here in Colorado, we are moving toward a less plastic-dependent future, starting with two landmark laws: 

• The Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, championed by Eco-Cycle in 2021, is phasing out single-use plastic bags and polystyrene foam (aka “Styrofoam”) containers statewide, helping reduce the sheer volume of plastics entering our waste stream.
• The Producer Responsibility for Recycling law, championed by Eco-Cycle in 2022, is shifting the responsibility for managing packaging disposal back to the companies that create it—not only making recycling free and accessible for all Coloradans, but also creating incentives for companies to reduce plastic at the source.

These laws—and others being introduced across the country—shift the burden of addressing plastic pollution off consumers and onto the companies that produce these wasteful products, where it belongs. 

Building a Plastic-Free Future

The global scale of plastic pollution may feel overwhelming, but there’s a lot we can do—and a lot of meaningful action already underway. The plastics crisis didn’t start with individual choices, and it won’t be solved by them alone. But when informed and engaged,  individuals take action together, they can transform communities and drive the systemic change needed to reimagine entire systems. 

The post Reducing Our Dependence on Plastics appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Eco-Cycle recently wrapped up another successful legislative session, successfully advocating for bills that move Colorado toward Zero Waste. Whether supporting forward-thinking bills or opposing harmful ones, our work with state representatives helps advance policy solutions that support our vision of a world where we consume less, recycle and compost more, and keep fossil fuels and other natural resources in the ground. 

Eco-Cycle’s success at the Capitol depends on strong partnerships—with elected leaders, community groups, and  engaged people like you, including our network of volunteer Eco-Leaders!

Here’s a look at the key Zero Waste bills Eco-Cycle took action on during the 2025 legislative session, and why they matter: 

Huge first step for battery recycling in Colorado!

Signed by the governor! Senate Bill 25-163: Battery Stewardship Programs. Batteries contain valuable minerals that should be recovered to conserve energy, protect natural resources, and strengthen our economy. Yet, Colorado currently recycles just 5% of loose small- and medium-format batteries. Additionally, improperly disposed batteries are a leading cause of fires in waste and recycling facilities. Despite the environmental importance of recovering these materials—and the serious safety risks posed by improper disposal—many Coloradans still lack convenient access to safe, responsible battery recycling.

Eco-Cycle and a coalition of partners championed Senate Bill 25-163 to make battery recycling accessible to all Coloradans. By 2028, companies that sell small- and medium-format removable batteries in Colorado—including button batteries, AAA through D cells, power tools, and e-bike batteries—will be required to fund and implement a statewide collection and recycling program. The system will be managed by a producer-run Battery Stewardship Organization (BSO) and overseen by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The BSO will reimburse service providers to safely collect, transport, and recycle batteries.

Supporting food donation—a valuable step toward food security and diverting organics from landfills

Signed by the governor! House Bill 25-1166: Efforts to Reduce Food Waste aligns Colorado’s date labeling practices with California’s 2024 law to encourage food donation and reduce wasted food. Eco-Cycle supported this bill in partnership with food rescue organizations. It requires prepared foods—like those from deli counters—to use “best if used or frozen by” labels instead of “sell by,” reducing confusion about when food should be consumed or donated. The bill also expands Good Samaritan liability protections to more organizations, encouraging safe food donation. This is a meaningful step toward addressing food insecurity and keeping edible food out of landfills, where it would otherwise generate methane.

Tax code update will incentivize agricultural compost usage

Signed by the governor! Senate Bill 25-026: Adjusting Certain Tax Expenditures. This law extends a sales tax exemption for the purchase of wholesale “agricultural compounds” to include compost and mulch rather than only synthetic fertilizers. Making wholesale purchases of compost and mulch tax-exempt could save agricultural users significant money. It can also incentivize the use of compost, which helps rebuild soil health—unlike synthetic fertilizers. SB25-026 was supported by the Colorado Compost Council as well as by testimony from Eco-Cycle’s Director of Compost and Carbon Farming, Rutger Meyer.

Protecting Progress: Defeating Bills that Threatened Previous Wins 

Successfully defeated! A number of bills were introduced—and defeated—this year that claimed to “save Coloradans money” by eliminating fees. Two of the fees targeted through House Bill 25-1051 and Senate Bill 25-139 were from laws Eco-Cycle and our partners championed, and which cost very little to individuals while providing millions of dollars toward recycling, composting, reuse, and other sustainability programs in our state. The fees, which we successfully defended, include:

• The Plastic Pollution Reduction Act single-use bag fee that has successfully shifted consumer behavior toward reuse and eliminated over a billion single-use bags in Colorado. Customers can avoid this fee by bringing reusable bags instead of purchasing single-use bags. 
• The Colorado Circular Communities (C3) fee, based on the tons of material “tipped” at landfills, which goes into a fund to provide free technical support to local governments, as well as grants to governments, businesses, nonprofits, and schools, to further waste reduction and diversion.

Our work doesn’t end with the successful passage of laws. As the legislative session ends, we shift our focus to the details of implementing the laws we helped pass—and begin strategizing for next year’s session. Individual bills are often part of a multi-pronged, multiyear strategy that may include additional supporting legislation, local policy action, outreach and education, and on-the-ground work.

So stay tuned—there’s more legislative action to come! Sign up for our monthly newsletter and get updates delivered straight to your inbox at ecocycle.org/get-involved/subscribe.

The post Colorado Legislation in 2025 That Will Move the State Closer to Zero Waste appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

You’re standing at a Zero Waste station at a community event—half-eaten corn dog, plastic cup with ice, and napkin in hand. Which item goes in which bin? Check out our Guide to Zero Waste at Summer Events. And don’t forget to double-check your local recycling and compost guidelines—details matter!

June kicks off summer event season—with vibrant celebrations like Pride Month, Juneteenth, outdoor concerts, street fairs, farmers markets, and neighborhood block parties filling the calendar. These events can bring people together in powerful ways—but they can also generate a lot of waste.

From food wrappers and plastic cups to bottles and cans, it can be hard to tell what goes where. Here’s a quick guide to some common event items you might encounter this summer—and whether they belong in the recycling, compost, or landfill bin!

First, Reuse

Bringing your own reusables is the best way to reduce event waste (and avoid any confusion over what goes where!). Pack a simple Zero Waste kit with items you will need, such as:

• A reusable water bottle (many events now offer water refill stations)
• Durable utensils
• A cloth napkin
• A lightweight container (for leftovers)
• A reusable coffee cup 
• A small tote or bag for carrying your kit and any purchases
• A snack in a reusable container

Recyclable

These items are typically recyclable—but only if they’re scraped clean of food and empty of liquids. Recycling rules can vary from community to community, so check event signage before you toss something into the recycling bin.

Commonly recyclable items:

• Aluminum cups and cans (do not crush)
• Plastic bottles (empty liquids,  put the plastic cap back on)
• Glass bottles (empty liquids, remove the metal cap or cork)
• Paper, such as flyers and brochures (but not paper food boats, plates, or napkins)
• Foil (clean, balled-up foil 2 inches in diameter or bigger—but not yogurt lids or small scraps of foil)
• Durable plastic cups with a #2 or #5 on the bottom (empty of liquids)

If you’re still in doubt, throw it out to avoid “wish cycling” and contaminating the recycling stream!

Compostable

Composting is a powerful way to turn food scraps into a healthy soil amendment—but contamination is a big issue. Here’s what you need to know. If compost bins are available:

YES: food scraps, including meat and dairy

MAYBE: napkins, paper towels, popsicle and corndog sticks, and certified compostable items (BPI– or CMA–certified) are accepted only if specifically included on signage. NOTE: In most Colorado Front Range communities, compostable serviceware (cups, plates, utensils), as well as paper towels, napkins, sticks, etc., are not accepted, even if labeled “compostable.” 

NO: plastic utensils, cups, or containers—even if they look compostable. And keep food wrappers, plastic cling wrap, and chip bags out, too!

Trash

Unfortunately, many items you’ll find at community events belong in the trash can. These items are not recyclable or compostable in most places:

• Coffee cups (unless accepted locally in recycling, like in Denver—check event signage)
• Most plastic cups (other than a #2 or #5 durable cup)
• Straws
• Polystyrene (Styrofoam) cups, containers, or trays
• Paper food boats (unless certified compostable and listed as a “yes” on compost signage)
• Plastic Utensils
• Ice cream cups and plastic mini spoons
• Popsicle/ice cream wrappers
• Plastic cling wrap and plastic film
• Plastic bags
• Chip bags, candy wrappers, juice pouches
• Compostable plates, cups, and utensils (if your community accepts only food scraps in compost bins)
• Napkins and paper towels (if your community accepts only food scraps in compost bins)
• Mini condiment cups and lids, either paper or plastic

The best way to reduce waste is to plan ahead to reduce your waste in the first place!  Bring your reusables, sort your waste carefully, and help others do the same. Every small action can make recyclables more valuable, compostable food scraps cleaner, and summer celebrations more sustainable!

The post Your Guide to Zero Waste at Summer Events appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

From snowy Buffalo to sun-soaked Mexico, Thea Hassan—Eco-Cycle contributor and AMBR Communications Manager—spent two months exploring how to travel with a lighter footprint. In this blog, she shares her low-waste travel tips, the unexpected challenges she faced, and eye-opening observations about waste and sustainability in Mexico.

What does Zero Waste travel really look like in practice? From what you pack to how you move through the world, here’s how I (Thea Hassan, Eco-Cycle contributor and Communications Manager for the Alliance for Mission-Based Recycling) approached it on my two-month trip through Mexico.

Pack for Zero Waste

First things first, I pack to use less. My reusables—a stainless steel coffee mug, water bottle, and durable cutlery—are always easily accessible in my carry-on bag. Pro tip: TSA confiscates anything they consider “knife-like,” so leave your reusable knife at home to avoid bag searches, delays, and having your stuff thrown away (Denver airport, you owe me a knork!).

To get around liquid restrictions, I pack bar soaps for my face and body (bonus: they won’t explode in your bag). For longer trips, like my two-month Mexico stay, I waited until I arrived to buy larger items like shampoo, conditioner, and sunscreen. It’s a great way to experiment with local products!  

To avoid overpriced, plastic-wrapped airport snacks, I pack healthy, uncrushable snacks like apples, carrots, nuts, and crackers. Once I land, I continue carrying my reusables and snacks in my day bag to avoid on-the-go purchases. 

Learn Culture Through Infrastructure

One of my favorite things about travel is learning how things work in other places, and local infrastructure reveals so much about a place’s values as well as challenges.

In Mexico City, you’ll likely hear a rhythmic voice echoing through neighborhoods, chanting: “ColCHONES . . . estUfas . . . tambORes . . . refrigeradORes . . .” That’s a scrap collector, calling for old mattresses, stoves, and other home appliances. The call eventually blends into the sounds of the city, alongside barking dogs and bird calls.

Here’s what else stood out: 

• Reusables are common. Like so many places outside the US, convenience-driven, “to-go” culture is much less common. People sit at cafés and enjoy their coffee in real cups and guava rolls served on real plates. 
• Even street stands use durables. Mexico City’s famous street stands offer reusable plates. You eat your tlacoyo or quesadilla at the stand and then return the plate—no to-go waste! 
• Separating materials for recycling. In Mexico City, some separate their materials into four categories: PET plastics, aluminum, organic waste, and all other waste. I saw this type of separation in many places, even in a remote mountain town in Oaxaca. 
• No curbside bins. Instead of door-to-door pickup, neighborhoods have trash collection spots. When the trash truck arrives, it gives a call, and folks bring their garbage over. You’ll see lots of bags hanging from the side of the truck as workers sort valuable materials from the trash. Many trash trucks were decorated with salvaged treasures, like lights, stuffed animals, and other colorful and chaotic decor.
• Unnecessary plastic was still prevalent. Because the water is non-potable, I went through a ton of plastic water bottles. I did buy a large 5-gallon jug to refill my water bottle, but even one person drinks a lot of water in the hot Mexican climate. I was also frequently offered plastic bags at the checkout line, but a simple “No bolsa, por favor” did the trick.
• Water scarcity is a serious issue—especially in the city, where water is running low and shortages are common. You’ll see reduction strategies like collecting greywater from showers to wash patios and signs encouraging tourists not to waste water. 

Rethink “Single-Use” Transportation

When we talk about Zero Waste, we usually think of reducing packaging—but transportation habits matter, too. While traveling, we’re often tempted to prioritize efficiency over sustainability, and single-occupancy trips in taxis and ride-shares have a huge impact on the environment and the quality of life for locals.

As much as possible, I opt for public transit. In many places outside the US, public transportation not only saves money, but also offers a much more authentic experience—you see how locals live and move instead of getting the tourist’s drive-by view.

In Mexico City, I took the buses and metro every day. Some tourists expressed safety concerns, but I never felt unsafe. There’s a strong police presence, and the metro even has designated cars in the front for women and children under 12. I occasionally rode in the general cars during the crowded peak transit times, but usually preferred the relaxed women’s section, where people were reading and putting on makeup. 

I used ride-shares or taxis only when necessary—for example, in the early-morning hours after wandering through historic sites like Templo Mayor and the Zócalo. 

Better yet, if you are comfortable, ride a bike! I hop on a bike-share in every city I visit—an unforgettable way to learn a city. In Mexico City, every Sunday, about 30 miles of streets are closed to motorized vehicles and opened to bikes and other human-powered travel. Be observant and use caution, as traffic norms vary from place to place. 

Buy Less, Remember More

My trip covered many climates as I crossed from Buffalo to Boulder and then to Mexico (where I traveled in cities, mountains, and the seaside), so I had extremely limited space for souvenirs. When I buy things for friends and family, I try to get stuff I know they’ll use, like artisanal soap, weird-flavored toothpaste, unusual sweets, or coffee. I did pick up a couple of books (including a Spanish graphic novel of Albert Camus’s The Stranger) and some handmade art from Oaxaca, but I mostly let my memories be my souvenirs.

I made it back home to upstate New York with slightly improved Spanish, a deep appreciation for Mexican culture, and an obsession to learn more about pre-Hispanic history (did you know there were actually no people who called themselves Aztecs?!). With a little planning, travel can be both inspiring and lower-impact. The journey is the reward—but doing it thoughtfully makes it even richer.

The post Zero Waste on the Road: My Travels in Mexico appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

At the end of each school year, students pack up their backpacks and clean out their lockers, ready to welcome the summer break, but often that means an overwhelming amount of school supplies are left behind. These usable or recyclable materials could easily end up in the landfill—even items that have never been opened. Eco-Cycle’s Schools team is helping students at local schools save usable supplies . . . and now, families can use our new, FREE digital resources available in English and Spanish to figure out what school supplies go where.

Eco-Cycle’s Locker Leftovers and Classroom Cleanout events are an annual tradition in Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) and St. Vrain Valley Schools (SVVSD) in Colorado. This year, the Eco-Cycle Schools team led Locker Leftovers events at seven middle and high schools, and collected classroom cleanouts from two elementary schools. These initiatives give students and staff the opportunity to participate in hands-on sustainability by sorting through items that can be reused, donated, or properly recycled.

Reducing School Supply Waste: Locker Leftovers and Classroom Cleanouts

Eco-Cycle Schools staff helped students and teachers sort their materials during the final weeks of school. Recyclable paper, worn notebooks, broken pens, and empty glue sticks were separated from items that could be reused, such as gently used folders, binders, unused pencils, and art supplies. The goal? Prevent perfectly good supplies from being tossed simply because the school year has ended.

Once all the materials were collected, the Eco-Cycle team rolled up their sleeves and began the next phase—sorting and organizing. Items were carefully evaluated, with high-quality, reusable materials set aside for donation. In total, 30 boxes of school supplies were rescued and redistributed to six schools across the BVSD and St. Vrain Valley districts. These supplies will be used by students and teachers in the coming academic year, reducing the need for new purchases and supporting a circular, community-centered economy.

Without programs like this, these school supplies would likely have gone straight to the landfill! Instead, thanks to the efforts of schools staff and students, with Eco-Cycle support, the items will find their way back into classrooms as well as other reuse and recycling outlets, helping students learn while reinforcing the value of sustainability in action.

What Families Can Do with Extra School Supplies

The work doesn’t end when school does. Parents and caregivers, if your student came home with a backpack full of half-used notebooks, random markers, or mystery art supplies, you’re not alone. Many families find themselves wondering what to do with leftover school items. Luckily, the Eco-Cycle Schools team has created a helpful bilingual resource to guide you through your own cleanout. Our End-of-School-Year Cleanout guide (y en español!) offers tips for reducing waste, reusing supplies, and recycling right—for example, did you know that in Boulder County, you don’t need to remove the spiral from a notebook to recycle it in your curbside bin? 

Get more tips in our End-of-School-Year Cleanout Guide! 

This resource can help your family make thoughtful decisions about what to keep, donate, or recycle, supporting a more sustainable summer and an even greener start to the fall semester.

• English: End-of-School-Year Cleanout
  
• Español: Clasificando Materiales al Fin del Año Escolar

Happy summer from Eco-Cycle—let’s keep working together to build a Zero Waste future, one backpack or locker at a time!

The post That’s a Wrap on Another Successful Eco-Cycle Schools Locker Leftovers and Classroom Cleanout! appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Spring is in full swing, and lawn mowers are being called back into service. If your lawn mower’s days are done, find the inside scoop on best practices and tips for recycling locally!

The growing season has arrived in Colorado’s Front Range, and many of us are firing up lawn mowers for the first time. If your mower has seen its last summer, don’t toss it in the trash! Here’s how to recycle it responsibly—and keep valuable scrap metal from wasting away in a landfill.

Lawn Mower Recyclers around Boulder County

• The Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) located at 6400 Arapahoe Road (next door to Resource Central, which is a great place to take a working mower you no longer need!)
• The Longmont Recycling Center located at 140 Martin Street.
• Explore even more options for recycling lawn mowers in the Front Range in the Eco-Cycle A–Z Recycling Guide!

Recycling a mower at Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM is simple! 

The CHaRM in Boulder accepts all types of lawn mowers for recycling (aside from riding mowers, which should go to an automotive scrap yard instead). Fees vary depending on the type of mower. Read on to learn more about the different types of mowers, and find current recycling fees at CHaRM here—please note that prices are subject to change.

Gas Mowers

• If you’re recycling a gas mower, please be sure all gas and oil has been drained before drop off. The CHaRM window cashier will confirm that the mower is empty before it’s accepted. CHaRM does not accept gas or motor oil; these materials must be taken to a hazardous materials facility such as the Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility
• Not sure how to safely drain gas and oil? Find tips for draining mowers here.
• Gas mowers that are confirmed empty can be recycled as scrap metal for the $3 facility fee.

Electric Mowers

CHaRM takes all three types of electric mowers: 

• Corded: Safe to recycle as scrap metal for the $3 facility fee.
• Non-removable/internal batteries: Recyclable as e-waste for $0.59/lb plus the $3 facility fee. 
• Removable/external battery: These batteries are easily removed and usually rechargeable in a dock; the batteries can be recycled at CHaRM for $2/lb or can go to the Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF). The rest of the mower can be recycled as scrap metal for the $3 facility fee.

What happens to lawn mowers after recycling at CHaRM?

Most of the mowers brought to CHaRM are gas-powered, contributing to the roughly 7,800 lb of scrap metal we receive at the facility each day! Scrap metal is a very important recycling stream to a circular economy, because unlike many materials that can only be recycled a certain number of times before becoming too degraded, metal can be recycled indefinitely without any loss in quality. Recycling metal eliminates the need for mining new ore, which comes with a host of benefits for the planet! 

Through the scrap metal recycling program at CHaRM, eligible drop-offs ranging in size from tiny metal shavings and staples to water heaters, barbecue grills, and plumbing pipes will be recycled into new car parts and kitchen appliances (which could also very well be made from those same items to begin with!). Just about any object that is at least 50% metal by weight and does not contain fluids or hazardous materials is eligible for scrap metal recycling at CHaRM—and there are no additional costs besides the $3 facility fee! 

For electric mowers, especially those containing a battery, recycling is even more essential. Landfilling electronics is illegal in Colorado and can result in a hefty fine. More importantly, recycling lawn mowers allows us to safely capture heavy metals and other hazardous materials inside electronics that, when landfilled, become a dangerous pollutant to the water supply.

When recycling an electric mower or other electronics, Eco-Cycle recommends using an e-Steward Certified recycler to ensure your electronics are recycled to the highest ethical and environmental standards.

Mow Down Pollution Discount for Electric Mower Purchases

The Mow Down Pollution Program is currently encouraging use of the 30% state discount available for electric mowers purchased at participating retailers.

If needed, customers can request a receipt at the CHaRM window that specifically notes that a mower or other item was recycled at the facility. This documentation can be used to meet requirements for certain voucher or reimbursement programs.

Got questions?

We have answers. Contact recycle@ecocycle.org, call our recycling helpline at 303-444-6634, and learn more about what we accept at CHaRM at ecocycle.org/charm.

The post Where to Recycle a Lawn Mower in Boulder County appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Why Compost?

You might be surprised to learn that up to 40% of what Americans throw away is food. When those food scraps and yard trimmings end up in landfills, they break down without oxygen—producing methane, a greenhouse gas that’s more than 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.

It’s not just wasteful—it’s fueling the climate crisis.

Here’s the good news: composting turns those same materials into a nutrient-rich soil amendment that builds healthy soil, supports plant growth, and even pulls carbon out of the atmosphere. It’s a powerful way to turn a climate problem into a climate solution.

Composting in Your Community: Curbside and Drop-Off Centers

Eco-Cycle’s EV compost truck collects compostables from local businesses.

Curbside Compost Collection

Many Colorado communities offer curbside compost collection that takes organic materials to industrial composting facilities. These large-scale operations heat compost piles to temperatures of 131–170°F, breaking down bones, dairy, and other materials that backyard systems can’t handle, while destroying harmful pathogens. In just four months, your leftovers can be transformed into compost that, when applied to landscapes, restores soil and supports regenerative agriculture.

Don’t have curbside compost service? Check with your local waste hauler or municipality to see what options are available—and always follow your city’s composting guidelines to avoid contamination.

• Check the compost guidelines for Boulder County here!

Drop-Off Compost Locations

If curbside compost service isn’t available, you might still have compost drop-off locations nearby. Many cities offer designated spots where you can bring your food scraps and yard trimmings.

In Boulder County, check out just a few of the drop-off locations:

• The Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM): Accepts food scraps only—yard waste is not accepted here.
• Longmont Recycling Center: Accepts both food scraps and yard trimmings from Longmont residents.
• Western Disposal’s Materials Management Center in Boulder: Accepts yard trimmings and clean wood waste (no painted or treated wood). Discounts available for Boulder County residents.

Find more Boulder County drop-off locations for compostable materials in the Eco-Cycle Guide.

Curbside and Drop-Off Composting Tips:

• Follow your local guidelines. What goes in the compost is simple: food scraps (including meat, bones, dairy) and yard trimmings ONLY. Keep plastic, produce stickers, and other contaminants out of your compost bin—this ensures high-quality compost that’s safe to apply to veggie gardens.

• Minimize odor and pests. In warm weather, store food scraps in a countertop container or keep them in the fridge or freezer until compost collection day.

Composting at Home

No curbside or drop-off access? No problem! Composting at home is easy, rewarding, and connects you to the natural cycle of decay and regrowth!

Backyard Composting 

Backyard composting is a hands-on way to reduce waste and create your own soil amendment that feeds your garden, lawn, and flowerbeds. There’s something deeply rewarding about watching your scraps transform into something valuable, right before your eyes! 

To start backyard composting, you’ll need a bin or space about 3′ x 3′ x 3′—the ideal size to hold heat and support microbial activity. Aim for a mix of 2 parts “brown” materials (like dried leaves) to 1 part “green” materials (like food scraps, but skip meat and bones for a backyard bin as temperatures are not high enough to break them down and they will attract critters to your bin). Keep the pile moist (like a wrung-out sponge) and turn it regularly for airflow.

You’ll know your finished compost is ready to use when it looks like a dark brown rich soil with a crumbly texture and a pleasant, earthy odor.

• Follow Eco-Cycle’s step-by-step guidelines on backyard composting. 

Vermicomposting

Short on space? Live in bear country? Vermicomposting—composting with worms—is a great indoor option to composting at home using worms—specifically, red wigglers. These decomposers eat many of the same plant-based scraps we do and thrive in compact, contained environments. That makes vermicomposting ideal for people with limited outdoor space or those in wildlife-prone areas where backyard compost bins might attract animals. You can set up a worm bin indoors, on a porch, or in a garage—and with our DIY guide, it’s simple to get started!

• Learn how to build your own worm bin and choose the best worms for home composting.

Composting keeps valuable organic material out of landfills, protects the climate, and gives back to the earth. Whether you’re dropping off scraps at a local facility, rolling a bin to the curb, or stirring a pile in your backyard, your efforts matter—and they add up.

Happy composting!

The post Compost: A Simple Way to Turn Waste into Climate Action appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

What is the most overlooked source of methane? Our trash. When sent to landfills, food and other organic materials like paper products, wood, and yard trimmings decompose anaerobically (without oxygen) and release large amounts of methane.

The harms caused by methane extend beyond climate impacts. Communities located near landfills, often low-income and predominantly people of color, face disproportionate health risks from landfill methane emissions. These include exposure to hazardous air pollutants like benzene and toluene, which are linked to respiratory problems and cancer.

Championing Stronger Methane Regulations in Colorado

Eco-Cycle is advocating for the adoption of stringent landfill methane regulations in Colorado, in collaboration with groups like Industrious Labs, the Environmental Defense Fund, Healthy Air and Water Colorado, and many others. This coalition is leading the charge in championing the adoption of strong, nation-first landfill methane regulations by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Strong rules would require:

• Comprehensive landfill gas capture systems,
• Robust monitoring, and 
• Enforceable emissions standards.

Why do we need stronger methane regulations?

Industrious Labs’s report, “The Hidden Cost of Landfills,” highlights that many landfills exceed federal methane limits, with 711 recorded violations across 29 sites. At 48% of these sites, methane levels were higher than reported by operators, indicating significant underreporting.

In Colorado, landfills emitted over 6.2 million metric tons of methane in 2022, surpassing emissions from coal mining. Communities near landfills, such as those in Commerce City, Fort Collins, and Erie, experience elevated health risks due to proximity to these sites.

Composting: A Scalable, Circular Climate Solution

Even the best methane capture systems are a partial fix. A far more impactful solution lies upstream: reducing organic discards generated, composting what we can’t avoid, and applying compost to landscapes to build healthy soils that draw down and store carbon.

Step 1: Reduce Organic Waste

Prevention is the most effective strategy. This includes upstream interventions like improving food supply chains, educating consumers, and creating efficient paths to food redistribution. Less organic waste means fewer emissions.

Step 2: Compost What Remains

As we expand compost infrastructure and services, we can divert more organic materials from landfills and transform them into a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

Unlike anaerobic landfill decomposition, composting is an aerobic process that minimizes greenhouse gas emissions.

It also creates green jobs, supports local agriculture, and builds community-scale circular economies.

Step 3: Apply Compost to Soils for Carbon Sequestration

Here’s how composting helps increase climate mitigation: when applied to soil, compost enhances microbial activity, increases water retention, and most crucially, draws carbon from the atmosphere into stable and beneficial forms in the soil.

Composting: A Climate and Environmental Justice Solution

Composting isn’t just about diverting food scraps from the trash. It’s about shifting from a linear, polluting waste economy to a circular, regenerative model that restores soils, protects communities, and draws down atmospheric carbon.

In this era of climate acceleration, composting offers a grounded, science-backed, and justice-centered response to one of our most under-recognized sources of emissions. It’s time we stop throwing away that opportunity.

Learn more at: ecocycle.org/composting-and-carbon-farming

The post How Composting Can Dig Us Out of the Landfill Methane Crisis appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Every day in communities across the country, food waste ends up in the worst possible place: the landfill. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, food is the single largest component taking up space inside US landfills, making up about 24% of municipal solid waste. The United States discards more food than any other country in the world: nearly 120 billion pounds every year.

When organic matter like food scraps and yard trimmings decomposes without oxygen in landfills, it produces methane—a greenhouse gas more than 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term. Instead of nourishing the soil, this valuable material becomes a major contributor to climate change.

Even when food scraps are composted, municipal compost systems often fall short of their full climate and soil-building potential. Industrial composting facilities play a vital role, but their centralized nature can present challenges. For example, they are often located far from the communities they serve, requiring long-haul transportation that increases emissions and costs. These systems also tend to receive loads contaminated with plastic and other non-compostables, which slows down processing, drives up expenses, and can result in a lower-quality compost product that doesn’t meet farmers’ needs.

Expanding more localized and community-based composting options closes these gaps and builds healthier soils closer to home.

That’s where Eco-Cycle’s Farmer First Compost System is different. This closed-loop, super-localized model turns food waste into a local climate solution by collecting the very cleanest food scraps generated in the community and delivering them directly to local small-scale farms in Boulder County, where they are turned into high-quality compost for use on-farm. 

Here’s how Farmer First works:

1. Collect Clean Food Scraps: Eco-Cycle collects food scraps from local restaurants, schools, and businesses that produce high-quality, contamination-free discards.
   
2. Deliver Directly to Farms: These clean scraps are brought to farms, where they’re turned into high-quality compost on-site. Through partnerships with local farmers, Eco-Cycle has helped install innovative, small-scale Aerated Static Pile (ASP) composting systems—efficient, low-impact setups capable of producing top-tier compost that can be used right where it’s needed. The systems are highly functional, productive, and low-cost—made almost entirely from reused pallets sourced from our friends at Resource Central.
   
3. Apply Compost to the Land: Farmers receive training on how to maintain and utilize the systems. They apply the compost to their fields to restore and enrich the soil, increasing its ability to absorb carbon, retain water, and grow more nutrient-dense crops.
   
4. Harvest and Feed the Community: The food grown from this healthy soil stays local, reaching residents through farmers’ markets, CSAs, and local food providers. It also returns to the businesses, schools, and restaurants that generated the clean food scraps to make the compost.
   
5. Continue the Circular System. Clean scraps from this food come back once again to the farmers to keep the compost cycle turning. 

This model isn’t just about waste diversion—it’s about building a regenerative system where food “waste” powers healthy soils and food production.

Why Clean Compost Matters

Regenerative farmers rely on compost (rather than synthetic fertilizers) to build healthy, living soil. But not all compost is created equal. Contaminants like plastics, produce stickers, and other non-organic materials commonly found in industrial compost streams degrade compost quality and limit its use on food-producing fields.

By contrast, Eco-Cycle’s Farmer First model prioritizes “clean organics”—clean food scraps collected from local businesses, restaurants, and schools with strong waste-sorting practices. These clean materials don’t need additional processing to weed out contamination, and they allow farmers to make high-quality compost that meets their specific needs for growing food.

Environmental Benefits That Scale

This local, decentralized network of small-scale production sites on local farms offers major environmental advantages. In Boulder County, most organics generated in the community are currently delivered to a regional compost facility located over 50 miles away. By cutting long-distance transportation out of the composting process, the Farmer First method reduces greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel use. Applying compost to the land helps restore topsoil and boosts the ability of soil to sequester carbon from the atmosphere and store it safely and beneficially, reversing climate impacts.

It’s also a drought resilience strategy. Compost-rich soil retains water more effectively, reducing the need for irrigation and making farms more resilient in the face of increasing climate stress. 

A Stronger Local Food System

Keeping compost production and application local strengthens Boulder County’s food system. Farmers gain access to affordable, high-quality soil amendments produced on their own land. Food grown in compost-enriched soil is more nutrient-dense and resilient. And because the food stays local—sold through farmers’ markets, CSAs, and wholesale to schools and restaurants—the benefits come full circle, nourishing the same community that helped create the compost in the first place.

Ultimately, Eco-Cycle’s Farmer First compost model demonstrates what a truly circular, community-based food system can look like: one that values resources, builds soil, supports farmers, reduces emissions, and restores the health of both people and the planet.

• Learn more about the benefits of composting and how “carbon farming” builds healthier soils, more nutrient-dense foods, and draws down carbon in the atmosphere.

The post Closing the Loop: How Boulder County Farms Are Turning Food Waste into Climate Solutions appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

On April 22, 1970, twenty million Americans took to the streets for the very first Earth Day, demanding action on environmental degradation. Recycling became a significant aspect of the movement, with community-led recycling events inviting people to bring in glass, paper, and other recyclables for collection.

It’s no surprise that recycling played such a central role early in the environmental movement. Recycling is more than a waste solution—it’s a way to restore a more harmonious relationship with the planet and protect the health of communities.

Despite public support for recycling, recycling systems across the US have been underfunded and under-utilized for decades. Thankfully, new policies are on the rise—including in Colorado—that improve access, increase efficiency, and ensure that recycling actually works the way it’s supposed to. 

Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program for Paper and Packaging

Colorado’s recycling and composting rate has hovered around 15% for years, less than half the national average of 32%. But change is coming!

Colorado’s new Producer Responsibility law for packaging and paper will make recycling free for all Coloradans when it is fully implemented in 2026. Under this law, producers will be held accountable for managing the end-of-life disposal (including recycling) of their products. Beyond expanding recycling access, the policy offers key benefits, including:

• Encouraging manufacturers to design more sustainable, less toxic, and easily recyclable packaging and products.
• Shifting recycling costs from individuals and local governments to producers.

This law applies to all consumer-facing packaging, including:

• Bottles, cans, containers, boxes, and mailers
• Printed paper
• Food service packaging

A standardized statewide list of recyclable materials will also be established, ensuring consistent recycling guidelines across Colorado in 2026.

A Multi-State Producer Responsibility Program in Action

In addition to the upcoming Producer Responsibility Program for Paper and Packaging, Colorado has an existing Producer Responsibility law that mandates paint recycling. Rather than leaving the disposal of leftover paint up to the public, paint stewardship laws require manufacturers to take the lead. Launched in Oregon in 2009, PaintCare is a nonprofit that helps paint producers manage unused paint responsibly. Since Colorado joined the program in 2015, residents have gained access to hundreds of convenient drop-off sites, keeping millions of gallons of paint out of landfills and out of our waterways.

How does this Producer Responsibility program work? A small fee added to every new can of paint covers the cost of collection and recycling—shifting the burden away from taxpayers. Today, PaintCare operates in 11 states, including Colorado, California, Minnesota, and most recently, Illinois. It’s a powerful example of how smart policy can protect the planet and make recycling simple for everyone!

On the Horizon: Battery Recycling Stewardship

This year, Eco-Cycle partnered with Senator Lisa Cutter and Representatives Kyle Brown and Rebekah Stewart to champion Senate Bill 25-163—a groundbreaking proposal to create a Producer Responsibility program for small- and medium-format batteries, including button cells, AAs, e-bike, and power tool batteries. The proposed bill would have required producers to pay for battery collection sites across the state so that the valuable materials in the batteries can be conveniently and safely collected and recycled back into new batteries.  

Unfortunately, SB25-163 cannot be passed this legislative session, but we are urging legislators to consider Producer Responsibility for batteries in the next session, as it is critical to solving multiple environmental and safety issues, including:

Recovering Valuable Materials

Rechargeable batteries contain lithium, an essential material powering the clean energy transition. But extracting lithium comes with a steep environmental cost. Recycling it reduces the need for new mining and keeps toxic materials out of the waste stream. 

Preventing Fires and Protecting Worker Safety

Improperly disposed-of lithium batteries are a leading cause of fires in recycling and waste operations, with Colorado seeing a 41% increase in battery-related fires in the past five years. These fires pose serious risks to workers and can ignite in hauling trucks or on facility floors, driving up recycling and waste management costs.

The Future of Producer Responsibility 

It’s clear that real, lasting change happens when responsibility for sustainable resource management is shared. By holding producers accountable, we’re not just improving recycling—we’re reimagining our entire relationship with waste.

• Keep up-to-date on Zero Waste legislation—sign up here to receive policy updates from Eco-Cycle straight to your inbox!

The post Strengthening Recycling for a Healthier People and Planet appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

If you’ve heard of the CHaRM in Boulder, you already know that we are a collection center for hard-to-recycle materials, and that we recycle. 

But did you know that a large part of the circularity and resource recovery offered by the CHaRM facility depends on systems of reuse, not just recycling?

Top Reuse Materials at the CHaRM Facility

BOOKS

At the CHaRM, books stand out as the top item collected with a focus on reuse rather than recycling. Eco-Cycle’s CHaRMed Books Program is a collaboration among many partners, including our Schools and CHaRM/Business departments, a skilled independent bookseller who has helped manage the multi-stage sorting process for incoming books for many years, and a Denver-based vendor that recycles unusable books (those that are damaged or out of date) into cellulose insulation.

Around half of the book donations dropped off at CHaRM are unfit for reuse and get recycled into pulp. Gently used books are put back into circulation at schools and other organizations in Boulder County! 

• Learn more about the work the Eco-Cycle Schools department is doing locally to reduce waste!

TEXTILES

CHaRM has shifted its approach for textiles—we now serve as a hub for donation of reusable clothing and textiles. We partner with our neighbors on east Arapahoe, local thrift store Pig + Pearl, who evaluate the donations for resale, keeping usable textiles in our local community.

In the past, CHaRM was able to recycle unusable textiles into industrial rags, but unfortunately, those markets have since gone out of business. Currently, we are not aware of any viable textile recycling markets in our region. That could change with the launch of the forthcoming Circular Economy Development Center in Colorado, which aims to bring new recycling end markets to our state.

Of the 10 tons of textiles we receive annually, the vast majority of donations are suitable for reuse, but CHaRM does receive a small proportion of unusable textiles in our collection bin that must be landfilled. We kindly ask that customers do not drop off unusable textile items. Instead, we encourage upcycling fabric scraps, and whenever possible, repairing items to extend their usable life. 

BIKES

Eco-Cycle partners with Community Cycles to give usable BIKES brought to our facility a second life. Community Cycles takes bikes to their nearby shop, where they’re repaired and resold at affordable prices as part of their mission to make biking a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable transportation choice. Non-reusable bikes are recycled with scrap metal.

PRINTER CARTRIDGES & FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

For both printer cartridges and fire extinguishers, all drop-offs brought to CHaRM are evaluated for reuse. Units that meet reuse criteria are refilled and recirculated back into their original purpose!

Additional Reuse Opportunities at CHaRM

In addition to the reuse programs above, the CHaRM operations team is always striving to increase reuse solutions, even when small in scale. For example:

• Around 10% of our mattress donations are evaluated as fit for reuse over recycling and are diverted by a local charity benefiting the unhoused community.
• A staff-led pilot project is underway to recover usable cables and wire for resale in partnership with our neighbors at 6400 Arapahoe, Resource Central. 
• We are pursuing avenues for the repair and refurbishment of usable electronics with Blue Star, our electronics recycling partner, among other possibilities. 

Additionally, our hauling service for businesses will often present new opportunities for reuse in the form of unique material streams generated consistently by businesses, allowing items like milk crates, plastic buckets, and barrels brought in by CHaRM hauling to find new homes in nearby micro reuse markets.

What else happens to materials collected at CHaRM?

Check out our resource, The CHaRMed Second Life of Your Hard-to-Recycle Materials, to learn more, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 303-444-6634 or recycle@ecocycle.org with any questions.

The post Not Just a Recycler: Reuse Makes the CHaRM Go Round appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

At Eco-Cycle, we believe true sustainability begins with a mindset shift, rethinking how we use natural resources. Since 2005, our award-winning Green Star Schools^Ⓡ Program—the first Zero Waste Schools program in the nation—helps schools reduce waste, conserve valuable resources, save money, and foster a culture of environmental stewardship that students, staff, and parents can carry with them for life.

Waste Reduction Up to 67%

In the face of an escalating waste crisis, the Green Star Schools Program provides hands-on, age-appropriate strategies to reduce waste and protect the environment. Participating schools are able to cut waste by up to 67%, embedding sustainable practices into everyday school life and creating lasting change beyond the classroom.

Here are a few ways Eco-Cycle is helping schools reduce waste:

Zero Waste Event Kits: Celebrate More, Waste Less

School celebrations often generate huge amounts of single-use waste, from plastic cups to paper plates. To tackle this challenge, Eco-Cycle created Zero Waste Reusable Event Kits for Schools—a solution supported by funding from Boulder County, the Town of Superior, and the City/County of Broomfield. These kits provide everything needed for a waste-free celebration, including reusable plates, cups, utensils, and napkins. After the event, parent volunteers wash and return the items. Since launching, Eco-Cycle has distributed 74 kits to schools, including four Title I schools, proving that sustainability and celebration can go hand in hand.

CHaRMed Books Program

What happens to gently used kids’ books taken to the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM)? Eco-Cycle’s CHaRMed Books Program ensures that these books get a second life in classrooms across Boulder County, bringing joy to newer readers. Books are carefully sorted by grade level and distributed to schools, focusing on those in under-resourced communities, through partnerships with family liaisons and teachers. 

In the 2023–24 school year, Eco-Cycle redistributed over 4,600 books to 30 local schools in three school districts to promote literacy and sustainability while reducing waste. 

Locker Leftovers

At the end of each school year, Eco-Cycle staff help students clean out their lockers and identify reusable school supplies. Reusable Items like notebooks, pens, binders, and more are sorted and saved for next school year, redistributed to other schools, or donated to local thrift stores. Items that can’t be reused are recycled responsibly, ensuring that less waste ends up in landfills. This initiative not only helps schools reduce waste but also fosters a sense of community and responsibility, teaching students the value of reusing what they already have.

The Bigger Picture

By embracing reuse, Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools Program is teaching the next generation about the power of reducing consumption, making sustainable choices, and minimizing waste. With each redistributed book, reused plate, and shared school supply, we’re encouraging students to make mindful, sustainable choices that will help them become environmental champions in their homes, communities, and beyond.

Want to see how your school can reduce waste and promote sustainability? Explore more of Eco-Cycle’s Green Star School waste reduction initiatives!

The post Waste Reduction in Action: Building Lifelong Habits Through Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools Program appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Eco-Cycle is a founding member of the Alliance for Mission-Based Recycling (AMBR), which published a clarifying response to a recent New York Times piece that claimed recycling is a lie. The AMBR response sets the record straight—recycling is not a lie, but misinformation about it certainly is. Read AMBR’s response here. 

On a local level, we want to highlight Eco-Cycle’s efforts to ensure that the recyclable materials we collect and process from local communities in Boulder County go to responsible end markets in North America. As the contracted operator of the Boulder County Recycling Center (BCRC), Eco-Cycle does not ship BCRC–recycled material all around the world. Transporting materials long distances is expensive and uses more fuel, creating more greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, we prioritize using domestic and regional end–markets, and actively work to support more businesses in Colorado, and regionally, that use recycled materials in their products so we can market materials as locally as possible. 

The Truth About Plastics: What’s Recyclable and What Needs to Go 

Eco-Cycle believes it is crucial to reduce plastic production, which comes from fossil fuels, beginning with the elimination of the most unnecessary, toxic, and non-recyclable plastics—specifically, #3 polyvinyl chloride (PVC), #6 polystyrene (PS), and #7 polycarbonate (PC). We do not accept these plastics at the BCRC, and thankfully they represent only a small fraction of incoming material at the facility.  

We have long urged consumers not to purchase products or packaging made from #3, #6, or #7 plastic resins, because, in addition to being toxic to produce, they lack viable end markets to purchase them and turn them into something new; if any of these plastics mistakenly are put into recycling bins that come to the BCRC, these plastic materials are sent to the local landfill as trash. The plastics that we DO take for recycling are the least toxic and most recyclable plastics: bottles, tubs, jugs, jars, clamshells, and some rigid plastics labeled #1 PETE, #2 HDPE, or #5 PP.  These materials are baled and shipped to thoroughly vetted markets—some in Colorado, and some in the Southeastern US—where they are further sorted, cleaned, shredded, and then melted down into plastic pellets or “nurdles” that are used as feedstock for new plastic products. For more information, see Eco-Cycle’s guide to problematic plastics.  

Responsible and Ethical Recycling for Electronics 

Regarding electronic scrap (or e-scrap), Eco-Cycle is committed to ensuring we are not contributing to “garbage imperialism” impacting the Global South but instead are responsibly managing the recycling of e-scrap and supporting authentic recycling that is truly circular and reduces environmental and social justice impacts. To that end, Eco-Cycle collects computers, phones, televisions and other e-scrap at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) located at 6400 Arapahoe Road in Boulder.   

At the CHaRM, like countless other responsible electronics recycling facilities across the US, we rely on a well-established certification body to ensure NOTHING we collect for recycling is exported. This certification, known as eStewards, is managed by the Basel Action Network, an NGO that actively supports the United States’ adoption of the Basel Convention of the United Nations. This important agreement, unsigned by the US, mandates that developed nations cannot “export harm” to developing nations. To achieve this, eStewards are required to thoroughly audit and document all downstream pathways and markets for their materials. In addition to a rigorous export ban, eSteward certification mandates NAID certification to ensure no data is at risk of falling into the wrong hands or of being otherwise compromised. Other recycled electronics are sorted and disassembled into separate different materials and components. Valuable materials, such as metals and plastics, are recovered for reuse or recycling. Hazardous materials, like those found in screens and circuit boards, are safely removed and handled according to industry standards. Eco-Cycle offers a service that provides a formal “Certificate of Destruction” for data-bearing devices.  
 
We ensure that all e-scrap we collect goes to e-Steward certified end markets, which uphold the highest ethical standards for recycling electronics. We urge all consumers to make sure that they are only patronizing e-Steward certified facilities when they dispose of their electronics.  

Want to ensure you’re making a difference with your recycling? Get clear answers to your local recycling questions by exploring our FAQs.

The post Eco-Cycle’s Local Response: The Truth About Recycling in Boulder County appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

This content was originally published March 12, 2025, on the Alliance for Mission-Based Recycling website.

Every few months, another news outlet—most recently The New York Times—publishes a  “gotcha” headline claiming that recycling doesn’t work. That assertion is entirely false. While it may be an effective strategy for getting clicks, these misleading claims do a great disservice to us all. 

As recyclers, we know recycling works. We also intimately understand that recycling as a system needs investments and improvements. The solution to the waste crisis isn’t to give up on recycling. Instead, we need strong policy on every front, including global limits on plastic production through a strong global plastics treaty. 

Recycling Works

As recyclers, we collect and sort thousands of tons of recyclables every day. Each day, we sell these materials to responsible end markets and manufacturers that turn those valuable materials into new products—supporting our domestic supply chain and keeping natural resources in the ground instead of their being needlessly extracted.

That’s why we know the real lie is in these misleading headlines.

What is a responsible end market?

A responsible end market is a processor or manufacturer that ensures recyclables are managed in an environmentally and socially responsible way. This means:

• Transparency & Traceability: There is a clear, verifiable chain of custody showing where materials go and how they are used.
• Environmental Integrity: Materials are actually recycled into new products rather than landfilled, incinerated, or illegally dumped.
• Local or Regional Processing: Whenever possible, materials are processed domestically or in facilities that meet environmental regulations.
• Ethical Labor Practices: The market does not rely on exploitative labor conditions or unsafe work environments.

Waste Colonialism Continues to Assault Communities

While Alexander Clapp’s NYT article had the destructive and misleading headline that “the story you’ve been told about recycling is a lie,”  he tells a broader story that is observably current, devastating, and true. Waste colonialism is alive and well, and we must confront it. 

Beyond the headline, you’ll find some important truths: 

• Our linear economy of resource extraction, production, consumption, and waste disposal is failing the planet, people, and future generations; 
• We must reduce plastic production and overall consumption while investing in reuse systems; 
• We need to keep natural resources in use longer by reusing, repairing, and recycling more materials—rather than sending them to incinerators, landfills, or unregulated markets in the Global South.   

For decades, the plastic industry has used the promise of recycling to give brands cover and consumers confidence in their toxic packaging, which is overwhelming our oceans and environment. They stamp misleading recycling labels on products that were never designed to be recycled. Late last year, California Attorney General Bonta sued ExxonMobil for lying about recycling’s potential to solve the plastic pollution crisis it created. Under consumer pressure to take responsibility for their products, the industry has revived dirty, outdated 20th-century petrochemical processes that mostly turn high-grade plastic scrap into low-grade bunker fuel. They have cleverly rebranded this as “advanced recycling,” but, in truth, it is neither advanced nor recycling. It is simply a desperate and costly attempt to distract us with the hope of technological innovation to justify their continued extraction, waste, and harm.

This is especially true with post-consumer plastic where only #1 PETE and #2 HDPE bottles, tubs, jugs, jars, and sometimes #5 PP containers and lids are consistently recycled in the US. The plastic industry’s ongoing efforts to create “pathways” to recycling for chip bags, food pouches, and other soft plastic packaging is indeed the next big lie.

The Solution to Waste Colonialism Isn’t Less Recycling: We Need Strong Limits on Plastic Production and Infrastructure Investments

We cannot recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis, nor will we solve it with sham technologies. We cannot let the plastics industry hide behind deflective media campaigns that dupe the public. We must agree to create meaningful change on a global scale with a Global Plastics Treaty that: 

• Prioritizes plastic reduction and the elimination of the most problematic toxics from production and circulation.
• Transitions production systems toward reuse and refill systems to ensure the highest and best use of the natural resources we do extract.
• Prioritizes environmental justice and just transition, protecting the health and safety of those on the frontlines of the waste crisis.
• Ensures that products are designed for true recyclability, using materials with responsible and reliable end markets.
• Holds producers accountable for the life cycle of their products and supports recycling infrastructure to ensure equal access for all communities.
• Supports investments in stronger recycling infrastructure for materials like textiles, electronics, and other hard-to-recycle items.

The real lie isn’t recycling—it’s the petrochemical industry-driven narrative that shifts blame onto consumers or recyclers while protecting corporate polluters. Recycling is a critical part of the solution, but it must be in the context of a larger strategy that reduces plastic production, holds producers accountable, and invests in authentic, transparent reuse and recycling systems. The next meeting to negotiate the Global Plastics Treaty is expected to take place in August 2025. This is our opportunity to demand bold action. The world can’t afford more distraction and delay—we need systemic change now.

• Read our follow-up piece, Eco-Cycle’s Local Response: The Truth About Recycling in Boulder County

The post AMBR’s Response: Lies About Lies About Recycling appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Right now in the Northern Hemisphere, nature is starting to come alive around us as the days grow longer and the temperatures warm, signaling winter is nearly at an end. Soon, we will start seeing hibernating creatures back in wilderness spaces again. 

What we hope not to spot on the trail OR in the recycling? Cans of bear spray! This item is a highly impacting non-recyclable contaminant at the Boulder County Recycling Center in Boulder. When well-meaning recyclers attempt to dispose of bear spray canisters—even if they’re empty—in their recycling, dangerous problems arise! For this reason, we are asking folks NOT to put cans from empty, unneeded, or expired bear spray in their recycling.

Why Bear Spray Can’t Be Recycled in Boulder County

Those in the know will tell you that the recycling guidelines for Boulder County DO NOT accept bear spray cans, even when empty! 

A can of bear spray is likely to go off inside the recycling sorting facility and be dispersed quickly throughout a large space filled with sorting line workers. Perhaps even more hazardous, because even empty canisters are still pressurized, they may explode when they get compressed by baling equipment. 

In either scenario, the bear spray puts workers’ health at risk and requires staff to stop the sorting line to rinse their faces, hands, and eyes in a hazardous chemical washing station. 

The plant must be vacated and remain immobile for enough time that the air clears sufficiently for staff to breathe safely. These delays are costly to the operating budget, and drive up the costs of recycling for recyclers and consumers alike.

Feeling confused about why empty bear spray cans are a NO when seemingly similar items are accepted for recycling, such as empty aerosol cans that contained hairspray or cleaning products? 

Take it from our staff of Eco-Cycle experts who operate the Boulder County Recycling Center, where all of the recyclables in Boulder County are collected, sorted, and baled for recycling markets: Bear spray is simply too powerful to risk bringing into the facility, even in very small quantities, including what you’d find in an “empty” canister. 

Bear Spray Disposal in Boulder County

If you’re looking for a bear spray disposal option near you, please take bear spray canisters, whether empty or partially full, to a hazardous materials management center.

The Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility accepts bear spray canisters from all residents in Boulder County, City and County of Broomfield, and the Town of Erie at no cost. Customers who live outside of these regions may drop off bear spray canisters and up to 40 gallons of household hazardous materials for a $45 fee.

Learn more about the top twelve recycling contaminants in Boulder County at ecocycle.org/dirty-dozen.

The post Bad News Bear Spray: How to Dispose of Expired Bear Spray appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Colorado’s combined recycling and composting rate has remained steady at around 15% for years, which is less than half the national average of 32%. To increase this rate, Coloradans urgently need better access to recycling. Colorado’s Producer Responsibility program (sometimes called Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR) program for packaging and paper will begin to implement the roll-out of no-cost recycling access for all Coloradans in 2026.

Eco-Cycle has been actively involved in shaping Colorado’s Producer Responsibility laws. In partnership with Recycle Colorado and other allies, we’ve helped draft, advocate for, and now implement these policies. Eco-Cycle is uniquely positioned to drive impactful Zero Waste policies, drawing from both our hands-on experience educating residents about recycling and Zero Waste, and our direct role in collecting and processing materials at the Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) and the Boulder County Recycling Center.

Colorado’s Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Paper Incentivizes Better Packaging Design 

Colorado’s Producer Responsibility law for packaging and paper requires producers to take responsibility for the end-of-life management of their products. In addition to expanded recycling access, key benefits of the policy include:

• Creating incentives for manufacturers to design more sustainable, less toxic, and more easily recyclable products and packaging; and 
• Shifting the costs of recycling from individuals and local governments to producers.

The law applies to all consumer-facing packaging, so it includes:  

• Bottles, cans, containers, boxes, and mailers; 
• Printed paper; and
• Food service packaging. 

Additionally, a statewide list of recyclable materials will be established, meaning recycling guidelines will be the same throughout the state.

Curious how the new Producer Responsibility will change recycling for Coloradans?

We’ve got answers! Earlier this month, Eco-Cycle hosted a webinar on Colorado’s Producer Responsibility laws both for packaging and printed paper and architectural paint as well as the bill we’re advocating for in the legislature right now that will set up a system for battery collection and recycling throughout the state. 

• If you missed the webinar, you can view it on our YouTube channel. Below are a few highlights from the webinar, including how you can get involved. 

Producer Responsibility Means Recycling for All Coloradans, Paid for by Packaging Producers

The key benefit of Producer Responsibility for Colorado residents is expanded recycling services to all single- and multifamily homes, funded by producers—not taxpayers. This includes infrastructure improvements to make recycling collection as convenient as trash collection. By 2028, the program is also required to provide recycling services to some non-residential entities which could include schools, small businesses, and government buildings across the state. Residents must be given opportunity and access to recycle, but they are not required to do so. 

Cost and Funding: The program is 100% producer-funded, with producers paying based on the type and amount of packaging they put into the market. Fees will be just fractions of a penny per package, with lower fees for easier-to-recycle packaging to drive more sustainable design. Decades of similar programs worldwide show that Producer Responsibility laws do not increase consumer prices, as product costs are driven by much larger factors like labor, fuel, supply chain expenses, etc. In fact, Colorado residents who currently pay for recycling services will save money, as those costs will be covered by the program. Those without recycling services will receive them for no cost.

Timeline: This February, the implementation plan for the program was completed by the Producer Responsibility Organization, composed of producers that sell packaging and/or paper into the state. This plan is now under review by a State-appointed advisory board representing communities, environmental groups, recycling experts, and others. The plan will ultimately be reviewed and approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the program is expected to launch in early 2026. 

Colorado’s Current and Proposed Producer Responsibility Policies:

Colorado already has one Producer Responsibility law in place, with a second under consideration.

• PASSED: In 2014, Producer Responsibility for architectural paint was passed, creating a program to provide convenient collections so that at least 95% of Colorado residents have a permanent collection facility within a 15-mile radius of their home and yearly collection events in areas without drop-off sites. This is paid for through a small point-of-sale fee when paint is purchased. This program successfully collects more than 800,000 gallons of paint every year, the majority of which is recycled or reused. Without this program, local governments would have to fund paint collections or deal with paint improperly disposed of in sewer systems or by other means.
• PROPOSED: In 2025, a Producer Responsibility program for small- and medium-format batteries—including button batteries, toy batteries like AA and others, and e-bike and power tool batteries—has been introduced and is currently being heard in the state legislature. Batteries improperly disposed of in recycling or trash are a leading source of fires in waste and recycling operations​. This proposed bill would require producers to pay for battery collection sites across the state so that the valuable materials in the batteries can be safely collected and recycled back into new batteries. 

How to Get Involved

If you’re ready to support Zero Waste in Colorado, here’s how to get involved: 

• Become an Eco-Leader​! Learn more and sign up here. As an Eco-Leader, you can sign up for the Policy Action Team to be in the loop to take legislative and policy action​, and get involved with other Zero Waste policies in Colorado, like:​
  • Plastic Pollution Reduction Act implementation​
  • Truth in Compostables Labeling implementation​
  • Landfill Methane Emission rulemaking​
  • Battery Stewardship

You can learn much more about product stewardship and Zero Waste by watching our recent webinar!

The post Colorado’s Landmark Producer Responsibility Laws: What They Mean for Recycling and Zero Waste in the State appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

As we explored in From Land to Table to Landfill Part 1: An Analysis of the Plastic Fork’s Life Cycle, creating plastic begins with fracked gas—a fossil fuel that requires intensive extraction processes. From there, it’s refined in facilities that consume energy, emit pollutants, and contaminate local water supplies, affecting entire communities. And for what? A disposable fork is used for just minutes before it’s discarded—usually contributing to the growing pile of waste in landfills, or worse, to be incinerated or end up in the environment. Plastic forks (and most single-use plastics) aren’t recyclable, leaving us with an ongoing environmental burden for something we barely even think about.

Why isn’t my plastic fork recyclable?

For something to be recycled, it must meet the following criteria: 

• It must be designed for recovery. Some standards are also needed to ensure compatibility of the product lines for recycling (e.g., all plastic forks would be made of the same plastic resin). Right now, forks are made of two resins—polystyrene and polyethylene—which are molecularly different. Their odd shape also makes it difficult for sorting equipment at recycling facilities to separate them from other materials. 
• There must be end markets, ideally created by the industry producing the item, that buy back the recycled material and are transparent about what products the material will be made into. (For example, a market that wants to buy and actually recycle plastic forks. This currently does not exist.)
• The material must be high quality enough to be recycled multiple times, even infinitely, as is the case with glass, steel, and aluminum. 
• There must be cost-effective value to efficiently collect, sort, and ship the material—the sale of the material must be greater than these processing costs. There must also be sufficient market value for the material that is high enough to incentivize the market to buy and use the recycled material for remanufacturing. 

Worse still, if you do put your plastic fork in the recycling cart, due to its size, it may end up getting mixed in with other streams of recyclable material and contaminating them, driving down the quality of the material and increasing processing costs. 

What About Biodegradable Plastic Forks, or Plastics Made of Compostable Material? 

“Biodegradable plastics” are actually a greenwashing product. They typically refer to plastic products made from both plant and synthetic material. They are even worse than fully plastic utensils because when the plant component breaks down, the synthetic elements of the fork remain and become microplastics, which are so small they easily move into our water, soils, foods, and even bodies. These plastics are not recyclable with other recyclable plastics like #1 PET and #2 HDPE because the plant components of the plastic weaken the durability of the remanufactured plastic. 

Certified compostables are, in theory, better than synthetic plastic, though they take an enormous amount of water and typically petrochemicals and polluting fertilizers to grow the monocrop that is used for their manufacture. But they should not be landfilled (or even worse—recycled!). They are designed to be sent to a dedicated compost facility that accepts these types of products. 

We currently do not have composting infrastructure available at scale throughout the country to facilitate their widespread use, nor the consumer awareness to ensure the right materials end up in the right bins. 

We also do not have widespread labeling standards for packaging (though we do now have a Compostable Product Labeling Law in Colorado!), so there is currently a lot of misleading branding and greenwashing that is very confusing for consumers to follow. In states without a labeling bill, items may be labeled “plant-based,” “biodegradable,” or “eco-friendly,” for example. None of these labels reliably indicates if the product is certified as compostable.

Finally, any single-use item—whether certified compostable or bound for the landfill—uses many resources and harms many communities when made, and is generally used for only a few minutes. 

How do we have our cake and fork, and eat it, too—without harming people and the planet? Simple: Reuse. 

Reuse Is the Best Option!

Reuse is always the best option—economically and environmentally. Eco-Cycle’s Sustainable Serviceware Guide reports the average savings for small businesses switching to reusables is between $3,000 and $22,000 annually! 

Choosing a reusable fork over a single-use fork, and other single-use products, saves water, reduces the amount of plastics ending up in our environment and water bodies, and reduces harm caused to people and places throughout the item’s life cycle.  

So, next time you throw a party or go out to eat, consider a reusable fork over single-use!

The post From Land to Table to Landfill Part 2: The Downstream Impacts of a Plastic Fork appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Here’s what Denver residents need to know to keep up with the recent changes in the city’s recycling, composting, and waste collection program:

Most Compost Carts to Be Delivered by the End of March

If you requested a compost cart by January 10, Denver’s on track to provide your compost cart.

Recycling Goes Biweekly

Recycling now happens every other week, freeing up city resources to expand composting services. To maximize your recycling bin cart space, make sure to break down cardboard boxes. If needed, you can request an extra recycling cart starting in April 2025.

Large Item Pickup Throughout the Year

Large item collection now happens every 9 weeks, and you can toss out up to 10 bags and 5 large items per collection. Large items are bulky items that are safe for disposal but cannot fit in a trash cart. Acceptable items include:

• Furniture
• Large toys
• Non-electric bicycles
• Rugs
• Exercise equipment
• Bundled branches (no more than 4 ft. in length and 4 inches in diameter)
• Mattresses and box springs (must be bagged and wrapped)

Items not accepted for Large Item Pickup include:

• Electronic waste
• Construction materials (including concrete, bricks, fencing, and pallets)
• Automotive materials
• Unbundled branches, stumps, dirt, and sod
• Commercial and industrial waste
• Hazardous materials (including paint, batteries, and tires)
• Appliances
• Loose trash

Check this schedule for Large Item Pickup collection dates for your residence.

Stay Connected and Make a Difference

The Denver Trash and Recycling app (download on Google Play or the App Store) has collection reminders and schedules. Plus, the Wastewise newsletter is your go-to for all the details on service changes.

These changes reflect Denver’s commitment to cutting waste and hitting ambitious sustainability goals. By recycling smarter, composting more, and fully utilizing the city’s Zero Waste services, Denver residents will see our collective impact grow!

Visit Denvergov.org/compost to learn more.

The post New Changes to Denver’s Waste Collection System: What You Need to Know appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Did you know that fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors expire? This time of year is known for incorporating healthy habits, and a good one to add to your resolutions list is performing an annual safety check of these items, marking your calendar for when to recycle and replace them.

With the devastating fires currently impacting Southern California, as well as Boulder County having recently reached the three-year mark following the Marshall Fire—one of the most destructive urban fires in US history—there’s no time like the present to ensure your home’s fire safety devices are up to date. 

Fire Extinguishers

The Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) works with a company based in Denver called Cintas that collects the fire extinguishers dropped off at the CHaRM facility, then evaluates them for reuse. First they discharge the contents of the extinguishers into a “hopper” sealed containment system. Extinguisher cylinders that are still up to code (which means the valve and threads are still viable) get refilled with these reused contents. For units that are not viable, the vendor will destroy the threads and then recycle the cylinder as scrap metal.

Our recycling partner recommends that extinguishers be maintained every six years regardless of expiration date. If the extinguisher is left in one spot immobile for a long time, the contents can settle and it will not be functional.

CHaRM accepts the following varieties of fire extinguisher in connection with our vendor:

• any dry powder extinguishers (ABC, BC, D, K)
• pressurized water extinguishers
• CO₂ extinguishers 

Fire extinguishers collected at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM facility.

Fortunately, there is an option for recovering some varieties that we do not accept at CHaRM. The Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF) can take the following styles of extinguisher:

• aerosol
• hand pump

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are consumer products that have specialty disposal processes and requirements. Complicating matters further, some models contain materials that are more hazardous than others. Fortunately for folks who live near the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM, our facility can accept both the older, more toxic models as well as newer “smart” devices.

Smoke detectors packaged for monthly shipment to Curie Environmental.

Here are a few details for the different varieties of detectors on the market as well as associated processing fees for those accepted at CHaRM*:

• Photoelectric smoke detectors: These are considered e-waste and sent to our downstream electronics recycling vendor, Blue Star Recyclers, and incur a cost of 59 cents per pound. Sometimes a detector has features that are both photoelectric and ionization in design, but whenever they contain microcuries of a radioactive isotope, indicating ionization, they must be handled as such to ensure appropriate processing.
  
• Ionization smoke detectors: These detectors contain small amounts of hazardous, radioactive materials, and the first step for CHaRM staff is to confirm which kind of isotope is used and whether it’s within the margins we’re certified to handle. CHaRM can accept units that contain the isotope Americium-241 (abbreviated as “Am-241”) in quantities of less than 1 microcurie, and they incur a fee of $15 per unit. If the detector contains between 1 and 5 microcuries of Am-241, we refer customers to our downstream recycling vendor, Curie Environmental, which is based in New Mexico and offers mail-in programs. If your detector contains over 5 microcuries of Am-241 or any other isotope, such as Ra-226 or Ni-63, please contact the Radioactive Materials Unit of CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) for guidance.
  
• Carbon monoxide detectors are classified as e-waste, and cost 59 cents per pound to recycle—unless the item is both a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector, in which case it will be charged as a smoke detector according to type.

Not sure what you have? Please bring your item to the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM facility any time during business hours and our staff would be happy to evaluate your materials and assess the cost to recycle. Contact us at recycle@ecocycle.org, or 303-444-6634 with any further questions. 

* Please note that fees are subject to change. Find the most current pricing information at ecocycle.org/charm-fees.

The post Fire Extinguisher Recycling & How to Recycle Smoke Detectors in Boulder County appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Eco-Cycle, represented by the Alliance for Mission-Based Recycling (AMBR), is helping ensure the voices of mission-based, Zero Waste recycling operators are heard at the negotiations for the global plastics treaty. Eco-Cycle cofounded AMBR in 2019 with fellow mission-based recycling operators in the United States. Together, we advocate for equitable, Zero Waste solutions and policies to ensure the role of recycling is to keep resources in the ground and reduce harm to people and communities. 

Late last year, AMBR attended INC-5, the fifth round of negotiations for the global plastics treaty. This week, Eco-Cycle and AMBR hosted a webinar to unpack what we heard at the convening. 

View the webinar at: https://youtu.be/8GvUCaX5ydw

Here’s a quick recap of the discussion: 

“AMBR Knows Where Your Water Bottle Goes” 

As Zero Waste recyclers, our focus during the negotiations is on waste reduction in packaging. We use the Zero Waste hierarchy to evaluate proposed solutions, ideally not only solving today’s problems but also preventing tomorrow’s. We encourage redesign and rethinking packaging first and foremost with reduction in mind, and considering reuse options before designing a package for recycling. 

Informed by the reality of what we see coming through our recycling facilities every day, we view plastics recycling as a bridge strategy to total elimination. We know recycling is a key part of a Zero Waste future, but it is absolutely not the solution to the global plastics crisis. 

AMBR’s Ideal Treaty Includes a Significant Reduction in Plastic Production 

AMBR believes a global plastics treaty must: 

• Significantly reduce plastic production; 
• Eliminate problematic and unnecessary plastics;
• Stop investments in false solutions like chemical recycling and instead make strategic investments to support proven solutions; and 
• Prioritize reuse and redesign targets. 

Treaty Negotiations Bring Together an Incredible Array of Interests, Perspectives, and Lived Experiences

• Only roughly 180 government delegates from variouscountries can speak and have a vote at the negotiations. Representatives from organizations like ours, frontline communities, nonprofit organizations, businesses, retailers, petrochemical industry, and manufacturers can observe the negotiations but cannot speak or vote. There were about 3,000 observers present. Because we can’t speak or vote, we host workshops and meet with delegates from around the world to share our knowledge and expertise. 
• Indigenous nations are not able to vote and generally not able to speak directly to the convening. However, including Indigenous peoples’ knowledge and voices in the treaty and proposed solutions is imperative, as many of these communities have been acting as environmental stewards for centuries. 
• The petrochemical/fossil fuel industry was a dominating presence at the negotiations, working to encourage false solutions like chemical recycling or scapegoating mechanical recycling as the solution to the plastics crisis. Their main goal is to push back against a treaty that includes concrete goals for a global reduction in plastics production, which many countries, frontline communities, and environmental groups are advocating for (including Eco-Cycle/AMBR).  
• Many countries in attendance are dealing with material waste they didn’t create, and they often don’t have the capacity, resources, or technology to manage this material. Ideally a treaty would include resources to help these countries deal with existing waste. 
• Waste pickers had representation. In some countries, these groups are organized and unionized. For example, a waste picker group of about 1 million people from India was present. 
• INC-5 was scheduled to be the last negotiation session, but no final treaty text was agreed upon. Instead, delegates will meet again this year at INC-5.2 (not yet scheduled) to try to come to an agreement. 

Producer Responsibility and Improved Recycling Infrastructure Really Work

Here’s an inspiring story: Our colleague Alex Danovitch of Recycle Ann Arbor is currently living in Taiwan, and he spoke to the impact of Zero Waste infrastructure on behaviors. Taiwan has one of the highest recycling rates in the world (~60% nationally, and nearly 90% for some materials) and has many of the policies and infrastructure models in place that AMBR and Eco-Cycle advocate for, like Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging, and financial incentives for Zero Waste behaviors. For example, curbside recycling and compost are free but people “pay as you throw” for trash. 

The post Webinar Recap: Zero Waste Recyclers Reflect on Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations  appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Want to reduce your waste in 2025? If living a more sustainable, Zero Waste lifestyle is on your list, Eco-Cycle is here to help you succeed with these simple, impactful steps.

1) Trim Your “Waste” Line

Did you know that Americans generate over 292 million tons of trash annually—4.9 lb per person per day. Of this, only 32% is recycled or composted. In Colorado, the burden of our waste is much heavier! Coloradans produce on average over 5.6 lb of trash per day, and of that amount, only 16% is recycled or composted—half the national average! While systemic changes like Colorado’s Producer Responsibility legislation and the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act are making a difference, individual actions still matter. 

Start by auditing your trash and identifying areas for improvement with Eco-Cycle’s How to Quit Plastics Guide.

2) Save Money

Zero Waste can lead to big savings! For example:

• Thrift Shopping: Discover unique finds at thrift stores for a fraction of retail costs. Use our Tour de Thrift map to locate reuse stores in Boulder County.
• Repair Clinics: Fix items instead of replacing them at free repair events like Boulder’s U-Fix-It Clinic.
• Bulk Shopping: Cut costs by not paying for packaging. Locate bulk stores near you, or head to the bulk aisles of your local grocery store!

3) Eat Healthier

Avoiding unnecessary waste is a major goal for those striving for Zero Waste, and a lot of that excess comes in the form of food packaging. Opt for more “unpackaged” foods, such as fruits and vegetables, as well as bulk items like grains, nuts, and seeds. Go a step further by reducing not only packaging, but also the amount of food that ends up uneaten. Try these simple tips for reducing food waste, including planning out meals and using up food scraps to make soup broth and smoothies. 

What you can’t eat, make sure you compost! Composting not only cuts methane emissions from landfills but enriches soil, helping it sequester carbon and combat climate change.

4) Spend More Time Outdoors and Support Your Soil

Make 2025 the year you start a composting pile at home! When organic waste (food scraps, yard trimmings, etc.) is buried in landfills, methane—a potent greenhouse gas—is released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Composting organic waste avoids those methane emissions. In addition, healthy, compost-rich soil actually pulls significant amounts of carbon out of the atmosphere. 

Check out our step-by-step guide on how to compost in your own backyard!

5) Be More Active by Volunteering 

Hit the ground running in 2025 by becoming an Eco-Leader! Join a community of more than 1,000 local sustainability-minded individuals who stay active by attending Zero Waste trainings, getting involved in local Zero Waste campaigns, and serving as a sustainability resource for their offices, schools, and neighborhoods. Some Eco-Leaders take on big projects, and some take on small tasks, but any action makes a big difference in helping you and your community reduce waste. 

Sign up to become an Eco-Leader today!

6) Declutter Mindfully

Following the holiday festivities, January’s quieter days can be the perfect time to clear out and clean up. Here’s a look at some items commonly purged in the New Year that typically can be recycled (but check your local guidelines to make sure!):

Recycle these “hard-to-recycle” items at the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) located at 6400 Arapahoe Rd. in Boulder:

• Electronics
• Mattresses
• Small appliances
• White block foam
• Plastic bags
• Scrap metal
• and more!

You can add these items to your curbside SINGLE-STREAM RECYCLING BIN in Boulder County:

• Corrugated cardboard: It might look like nothing special, but this material is the bread and butter of recycling operations like the Boulder County Recycling Center. Please flatten boxes and remove excess tape.
  
• Newspapers, office paper, and kraft paper: These items are typically recyclable in your curbside bin.
  
• Calendars: Paper calendars are a fine addition to your recycling bins. Please remove any plastic covers.
  
• Spiral notebooks and old planners: These are recyclable without removing the spiral binding, which gets screened out from paper in the remanufacturing process. Please remove plastic or non-paper covers and dividers, however.
  
• See what else can be recycled in Boulder County curbside bins in Eco-Cycle’s recycling guidelines!

Finally, prevent the need to declutter by looking for ways to reduce waste at home, including cutting out the biggest “wasters” and swapping in the best Zero Waste “winners”!

However you plan to approach the New Year, we at Eco-Cycle hope that 2025 brings you closer than ever to living in harmony with this beautiful planet. Cheers to a Zero Waste future!

The post This Year, Make Sustainable New Year’s Resolutions appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Key Takeaways:

• The Alliance for Mission-Based Recycling (AMBR), cofounded by Eco-Cycle, sent a delegation to the fifth round of negotiations for the global plastics treaty in Busan, South Korea.
  
• AMBR representatives pushed back against recycling being positioned as the solution to the plastics crisis, advocating for global limits on plastics production and against false solutions like chemical recycling (also referred to as “advanced recycling”).
  
• The negotiations did not result in a final treaty as planned, and another round of negotiations will be held in 2025.
  
• The plastics crisis affects all people, communities, and ecosystems globally and must be addressed through international actions, like the treaty, and local efforts, like Eco-Cycle’s work to reduce single-use plastics in Colorado.

At the end of November, more than 3,300 delegates, including representatives from more than 170 nations and observers from upwards of 440 organizations, gathered in Busan, Republic of Korea, for the fifth round of negotiations to develop a global plastics treaty to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.

The Alliance for Mission-Based Recycling (AMBR), an organization cofounded by Eco-Cycle, participated in the negotiations. AMBR brings together some of the nation’s first mission-driven recycling organizations, including Eco-Cycle, to advance a shared vision worldwide. Together, we advocate for keeping natural resources in the ground, eliminating waste and pollution, and ensuring all products are reused, refilled, recycled, or composted.

Recycling Is Not the Answer to the Global Plastics Crisis

At the negotiations, AMBR colleagues met with US legislative leaders, fellow advocates within the global Break Free From Plastic movement, and representatives of the petrochemical and packaging industries.

Our message: Recycling is NOT the solution to the global plastics crisis.

As Boulder County’s recycling operator since 1976, it may seem ironic that Eco-Cycle is advocating against recycling as the solution. However, decades of experience building Zero Waste communities illustrate both the opportunities and limitations of recycling in tackling the plastics crisis.

While recycling is essential to a Zero Waste, circular economy, it cannot solve the plastics crisis alone. The massive volume of plastic produced, its toxic composition, and the lack of demand for recycled materials from the plastics industry make it impossible to recycle our way out of the crisis.

False solutions such as chemical or “advanced” recycling also exacerbate the problem. These carbon-intensive technologies worsen climate change and fail to address the root causes of the plastics crisis. Eco-Cycle has consistently and vigorously opposed chemical recycling, from local advocacy in Colorado to AMBR’s work on the global stage.

Why a Global Plastics Treaty Matters to Coloradans

While these negotiations happened on the other side of the globe, and ocean plastics are identified as a top concern, the outcomes could benefit communities everywhere, even in landlocked Colorado, by reducing single-use plastics, toxic chemicals, pollution, and plastic waste exported overseas.

If successful, the treaty could lead to: 

Limiting Plastic Production

A global treaty could lead to less unnecessary plastic packaging in our stores and restaurants. The Bridge to Busan declaration, signed by 85 countries ahead of the negotiations, calls for clear limits on plastics production. Eco-Cycle and AMBR support these provisions and advocate for strict limits on plastic production.

Studies demonstrate that plastics production equals plastic pollution. There can be no successful solution to plastic pollution without first limiting the outpour of plastics being produced.

Phasing Out Toxic Plastics

Plastic packaging could become safer. Many countries are also demanding the phase-out of the most harmful plastic products and chemicals used to produce plastics. Locally, Eco-Cycle and the Boulder County Recycling Center stopped accepting some of the most toxic and non-recyclable plastics like #3 PVC, #6 PS, and #7 PC. These materials are harmful, rarely recyclable, and have little to no market value.

Eco-Cycle has also helped implement Colorado policies banning #6 polystyrene food and beverage containers and incentivizing recyclable packaging. AMBR partners in California and Minnesota are introducing similar measures, showing the nationwide potential of these efforts.

Even the packaging industry agrees that some plastics and additives are so bad they should be eliminated! 

A Return to Reuse

Remember when coffee shops served “for here” orders in ceramic mugs, or when milk came in glass bottles? A successful treaty could bring back reusable systems. AMBR is advocating for treaty provisions supporting reuse models, such as producer-return systems or refillable containers. We’re already seeing these systems piloted (again) in the United States, including by our fellow AMBR founder Recycle Ann Arbor, which is testing the viability of reusable packaging with recovery supported by their recycling facility.

Reducing US Plastic Waste Overseas

The US produces and wastes more plastic than any other nation by far. We lead the world in plastics production, making about 286 pounds of plastics per person in one year. And that amount is predicted to increase. Some new rules have prevented the global plastic waste trade. In 2018, China passed the National Sword policy, banning the import of most plastics, stating they no longer wanted to be the “world’s garbage dump.” Furthermore, the Basel Convention developed in 2019 placed strict limits on plastic waste from rich countries being exported to poor countries (though of the 180 nations that signed the agreement, the US was not among them). 

These global policy changes have had an impact: US exports of plastic waste to poorer countries have been declining. But far too much of our plastic waste is still ending up overseas. The US still sends more than 220,000,000 lb (or 100,000,000 kilograms) of plastic waste overseas each year, disproportionately affecting countries lacking the infrastructure to manage it effectively.

A global treaty could build on these policies and their reach by further limiting waste exports and providing financial support to recipient nations to manage plastic waste sustainably. Simplifying the global plastics trade would reduce environmental and human harm worldwide.

Sign up here to receive alerts on how you can support a global plastics treaty and help reduce plastics in Colorado!

The post When Is Recycling Not the Answer? appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

What does it take to create a plastic fork—the kind used for a few minutes at a party? To understand, we must go back over 65 million years, to when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Decomposed plants and animals from that era, subjected to immense pressure and heat, transformed into natural gas—a finite resource at the heart of modern plastic production.

Plastic forks, like many single-use items, are made from petrochemicals derived from natural gas. These ancient resources, once extracted, cannot be replaced. Yet, in a culture of disposability, we convert them into products that are often discarded after mere minutes, harming people and the planet throughout their life cycle. 

Let’s break down the life cycle and impact of a disposable plastic fork step by step!

STEP 1: Extracting the Gas

Oil and gas are extracted from deep within the Earth, from either large rock-bound chambers or small pores embedded in rock formations. While extraction from small pores in rocks was previously cost-prohibitive, federal subsidies and advancing technology reduced the cost and allowed fracking to explode in the early 2000s. Fracking now accounts for over 75% of US oil and gas production.

“The superabundance of fracked gases has turned the US into the global engine of plastics production.”
– The New Coal: Plastics and Climate Change, Beyond Plastics

The Harm: Living near fracking wells has been linked to health risks, including cancer, respiratory problems, prenatal harm, heart disease, mental health problems, and premature death. Fracking also pollutes surface and groundwater, decreases air quality, damages land, causes earthquakes, and exacerbates climate change. 

Real-World Example: Children living within a mile of one or more fracking wells had a five-to-seven-fold increased risk of lymphoma according to a study by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the University of Pittsburgh.

STEP 2: Cracking Ethane and Producing Plastic

Mixed in the oil and gas are petrochemicals, which include ethane and styrene, used to make plastics. To turn ethane extracted from fracking into plastic, the ethane must first be cracked at an ethane cracker plant before it can be pelletized and then melted into a plastic fork. The gas from the fracking sites is delivered to the cracking facilities by pipelines, during which methane seeps into the atmosphere, releasing about 4.8 million tons of CO₂e gasses per year—the equivalent of about two average-sized coal-fired power plants. At the ethane cracking facility, a tremendous amount of energy is used to crack ethane into ethylene and propylene. These chemicals are then polymerized, mixed with additives, and melted into the more than 561 billion disposable food service items Americans use and dispose of each year—including nearly 100 million plastic utensils used every single day.

The Harm: Ethane cracker plants release pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous chemicals, posing health risks like respiratory and neurological problems. These facilities disproportionately affect low-income communities and people of color.

“The [petrochemical] industry releases more than 90% of its reported climate pollution into 18 communities, mostly along the coastlines of Texas and Louisiana. People living within 3 miles of these petrochemical clusters earn 28% less than the average US household and are 67% more likely to be people of color.”
– Beyond Plastics

Real-World Example: In 2022, Shell’s ethane cracker in Pennsylvania exceeded its annual emissions limits for hazardous pollutants within six months of operation, leading nearby residents to describe the plant as “hell opening a portal.”

STEP 3: The Fork Hits the Store

While the US exports much of its plastic, it also generates more plastic waste per person than any other country—286 pounds annually, nearly double that of China.

STEP 4: A Few Minutes of Use

Despite the millions of years required to create the raw materials and the pollution-intensive production process, the typical plastic fork is used for only a few minutes.

STEP 5: The Fork Is Tossed

Approximately 40 billion tons of individual plastic cutlery is wasted in the United States every year.  Plastic forks are not recyclable. After use, they typically end up in a landfill or incinerator. In landfills, they can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, ultimately breaking into harmful microplastics. If incinerated, the process releases toxic pollutants into the air, impacting nearby communities.

In the worst-case scenario, the discarded plastic fork will end up in the environment. A recent study found that 18% of ocean plastics are plastic cutlery, food containers, and wrappers. In the environment, the plastic fork will break down into microplastics, which are eaten, drank, and even inhaled by living organisms, including humans and the animals we eat. 

The Harm: While the full impacts of microplastics on the body are not fully understood, scientists know they impact the digestive, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive, and immune systems. When plastics are incinerated, particulate matter, including nitrous oxide, lead, mercury, and other contaminants, are emitted into the air of nearby neighborhoods. 

Real-World Example:  A 2019 study found that 79% of the United States municipal incinerators are located in low-income communities and/or communities of color. 

Why Isn’t My Plastic Fork Recyclable?

That’s a story for another time! Stay tuned for the answer. In the meantime, learn more about how reusables are a good solution to single-use disposables.

The post From Land to Table to Landfill: An Analysis of the Plastic Fork’s Life Cycle appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Eco-Cycle has taken another significant step toward sustainability by deploying a 100% electric recycling truck this fall, funded by Xcel Energy’s EV Accelerate Innovation program. This addition builds on our acquisition of the nation’s first commercial-scale compost collection truck, deployed in the summer of 2023, and signals our steadfast commitment to a Zero Waste–Zero Emissions future. 

Fleet Electrification: A Crucial Step in Colorado’s Climate Strategy

Governor Polis’s plan to electrify transportation is a key element of Colorado’s climate strategy, with a goal of reaching nearly 1 million electric vehicles on the road in the state by 2030. 

In the United States, medium- and heavy-duty trucks make up just 4% of vehicles on the road, yet generate 23% of the transportation sector’s greenhouse gasses, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While diesel trucks emit high levels of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, electric trucks produce zero tailpipe emissions. In Colorado, where the sky is often hazed by wildfires and ozone pollution, the urgency to reduce emissions is clear. Our fleet electrification is a response to the pressing needs of our time. 

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, electrifying all US trucks would increase national electricity consumption by 13%, but would reduce the total demand for energy by 71% due to the efficiency of electric vehicles compared to diesel ones.

More Than Just Zero Emissions: Promoting Clean Energy, Reducing Noise Pollution

Eco-Cycle’s commitment to Zero Waste, Zero Emissions goes beyond just electrifying our fleet. We’re working toward being able to charge our electric trucks using solar energy, thanks to charging stations funded by Xcel Energy. By powering our EV trucks with solar, we would ensure that they operate with a minimal carbon footprint. 

Another benefit of electric trucks is their quietude. Traditional diesel trucks contribute to noise pollution in neighborhoods, where trash, recycling, and compost collection often happens early in the morning, multiple times a day, or continuously throughout the week. In contrast, our electric-powered compost and recycling collection trucks operate almost silently.

Eco-Cycle’s drivers are at the forefront of our transition to an electric fleet, pioneering the use of heavy-duty EV trucks in the field. After initial concerns about the vehicles’ range and the shift away from gas station pit stops (where they had the chance to take a quick break to buy their favorite snack), our drivers have quickly grown to appreciate these vehicles and are passionate about demonstrating that EV trucks represent the future of the hauling industry.

As early adopters, our hauling team is not just operating these trucks—they’re championing them. They actively promote the potential of EVs in commercial hauling, sharing their expertise with other fleet managers to help them navigate the transition and integrate electric vehicles into their own operations.

Through fleet electrification, eventually charging up with solar energy, and cutting noise pollution, we’re demonstrating that sometimes sustainable changes in the waste industry come not with a roar, but with a whisper.

Are you a driving professional looking to work on the cutting edge of sustainable hauling? Eco-Cycle seeks a CDL Class A driver to join our team. Find job descriptions for this and other open positions at ecocycle.org/careers.

The post Eco-Cycle Adds New EV Recycling Truck, Supporting Colorado’s Shift to Fleet Electrification appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Key findings from the report include: 

– Waste has decreased while the population has increased. Total municipal waste generated dropped from 7.1 million tons in 2018 to 6.9 million tons in 2023. In the same timeframe, the state population has increased, and the benefits of recent waste reduction policies have yet to be realized.

– Colorado’s recycling and compost rate stubbornly stagnates at 15.5%. Disappointingly, Colorado’s recycling and compost rates remain low. However, the roll-out of curbside recycling for ALL Coloradans in 2026, thanks to a new policy championed by Eco-Cycle and partners, is expected to increase this rate.

– The cities of Boulder, Loveland, and Fort Collins have the highest recycling rates on the Front Range. Aspen and Durango have the best rates in Greater Colorado. Top recycling cities have a few things in common, including:

• Every resident is provided a curbside recycling cart; 
• Volume-based pricing for trash encourages recycling and composting;
• Convenient drop-off centers and access to curbside collections are available for food scraps and/or yard trimmings; and
• Strong education programs exist to provide clear guidelines on what can and cannot be recycled, reused, and composted.

Read the Report: The State of Recycling and Composting in Colorado (8th Edition) 
Read the executive summary here.

Looking forward, we encourage state and local leaders to focus on the following areas:

• Divert More Organics: Diverting organic matter such as food scraps and yard trimmings from landfills avoids methane emissions and creates valuable soil amendments for depleted Colorado soils, including compost, biochar, and mulch, which protect and build healthier soils. A recent state report shows we could increase organics diversion from around 10% of organic materials to 60% by 2036 by adding more collections and processing infrastructure as well as policies that require the diversion of organic material from landfills through donation of useable food and composting of non-edible organic material, similar to the policy the City of Aspen adopted in 2023. 
• Implement Producer Responsibility for Batteries: Batteries contain various materials, some of which are very valuable. However, when improperly disposed of in the trash or curbside recycling, batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries, pose a serious fire hazard. Battery-caused fires in collection trucks, material recovery facilities, and waste facilities are increasingly common, endangering employees, damaging infrastructure, and significantly increasing operational and insurance costs. Adopting a producer responsibility program for batteries would provide funding for appropriate disposal, a mechanism to reduce battery waste, and ensure valuable materials are recovered and recycled.  
• Support Reuse: Reuse offers significant environmental benefits by reducing the need for new products and saving consumers and businesses money. The potential for reuse is vast, spanning many sectors such as reuse/refill businesses (bulk food, serviceware, etc.), resale markets (thrift/consignment, used books, gear and cars, auction, pawn, etc.), rental services (cars, bridal, equipment, etc.), and repair services (tailoring/mending, shoe repair, electronic repair, auto repair, etc.).

Stay tuned for ways you can help build circular economies in Colorado, including supporting upcoming legislation for battery producer responsibility in 2025!

The post The 8th State of Recycling and Composting Report Outlines Colorado’s Waste Reduction Successes appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Need to shred paperwork but not sure who you can trust? The Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) is the place to do it! 

We’re proud to help Boulder County area residents shred paper securely and sustainably through our partnership with local green paper shredders Altitude DocuShred. Founded in 2019, Altitude DocuShred is a NAID AAA certified business based in nearby Arvada that has quickly grown to be the premier document shredding service in the Boulder and Denver Metro area—and best of all, 100% of the paper they shred is recycled into new products such as paper towels, toilet paper, and brown bags. 

The Benefits of Shredding Paper at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM in Boulder

This beats shredding paper at home, as once paper has been shredded, your options for recycling become very limited due to the logistics of collecting, sorting, and maintaining quality control for this material. Shredded paper is not curbside recyclable or compostable in many Colorado communities, including Boulder County. This is unfortunate when paper is one of the most environmentally beneficial materials to recycle, saving water, energy, transportation emissions—and of course, trees the planet needs to thrive!

The good news is, if you bring your old bank statements, tax documents, and other identity-compromising paperwork to the Eco-Cycle CHaRM in Boulder for shredding, not only do they get recycled, but you can rest assured that your information is handled securely to the highest standards while on-site at the CHaRM, and onward down the supply chain.

Just ask Greg Miller, co-owner and operator of Altitude Docushred: “We became business partners with CHaRM when they were struggling with a vendor they had that did the paper shredding. I met with Justin Stockdale [the director of CHaRM at Eco-Cycle] and we talked over what his main concern was: security, and customer service, and that’s really our bailiwick. It’s been a great relationship for a couple of years now.” 

This family-owned and operated local business has a mobile shredding service area in Colorado that includes anywhere from Cheyenne, Wyoming, all the way down the Front Range to Colorado Springs; as far east as Aurora, and west to Golden. While they do not service locations in the mountains, Greg adds, “We’ll work with companies that are in areas where we don’t go, and they’ll bring it down into our drop-off area, where we’ll shred it in one of our trucks.”

Eco-Cycle and Altitude DocuShred Partner for Secure and Sustainable Paper Shredding 

Documents dropped off at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM in Boulder are assessed a small fee for quantities equal to one or more “banker’s boxes” (check our fee chart for current pricing), and then customers are welcome to empty their container into our large blue vault containing wheeled collection toters that are out of reach from the drop-off window, locked securely outside of business hours, and regularly emptied into Altitude’s state-of-the-art mobile shredding truck to be shredded right here on-site. Your documents never leave the property intact when dropped off at the CHaRM in Boulder. If you live at a distance from CHaRM, you may also be glad to know that Altitude offers drop-off shredding service at their main office and warehouse in Arvada, Colorado. 

• Watch the video to learn more about their operation, family story, and the finer points of their security protocols, as well as how their truck facilitates the recycling process!

These expert shred professionals can truly do it all, according to Altitude director of operations Spencer Tscherpel: “We provide residential service, business-to-business service, recurring service, putting a secure bin in your office, shred events—anything that has to do with keeping secure information safe and destroyed properly.” 

Small pieces of metal attached to papers do NOT need to be removed. Spare yourself some effort and leave those staples, paper clips, binder clips, spiral notebooks, and hanging file folders intact! The shredding truck contains rotating knives that make short work of these small, soft metal items—but please remove large metal objects such as three-ring binders, and any other non-paper items such as CDs and plastic, which are contaminants.

Look for Altitude’s green logo on their mobile shredding trucks around the Front Range, inspired by a vintage green Chevy pickup on display in their Arvada warehouse that belonged to Greg’s beloved late father and has been refurbished by Spencer and their family. Lori Miller, co-owner of Altitude DocuShred, explains how this truck helped shape their brand: “It’s kind of the icon of our family, so we had to stick with the green. It’s a reminder that we are all your family, that we come from a line of hard workers, and that we stick together.”

Wondering what else you can recycle at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM? Click here to learn more about what we accept!

The post Paper Shredding Services in Boulder appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

More than 1 million people have their identity stolen every year in the US. That’s a nightmare no one wants to face! When this happens, credit cards may be opened, tax refunds stolen, or health insurance used fraudulently. Even scarier, victims typically spend between six months to several years recovering and securing their accounts. 

Why Recycling Electronics Matters

On top of protecting your data, recycling your electronics keeps harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury, and flame retardants out of the environment. The impact of these toxins on people and the planet is the reason why, in Colorado, it’s illegal to throw electronics in the trash. Plus, electronics contain valuable metals including copper, silver, and other rare earth elements that can be reused, reducing the need for mining.

Safe and Secure Electronics Recycling at CHaRM

To protect your data—and the environment—take your electronics to the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), located at 6400 Arapahoe Rd in Boulder, and open Monday–Saturday, 9 am–5 pm. 

Our electronics recycling partner, Blue Star Recyclers, is certified in the most rigorous data-destruction standards through the National Association of Information Destruction (NAID AAA Certification®), ensuring your personal information is secure. Blue Star Recyclers is also E-Steward certified, ensuring that they are adherent to the highest standards of environmental responsibility and worker protection. 

What happens to your electronics?

After you drop off your electronics at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM, they are transported to Blue Star Recyclers’ Denver facility, where the e-waste is sorted by category. General electronics (like vacuum cleaners, keyboards, DVD players, etc.) are processed by third-party recyclers. Electronics that could contain sensitive information, like computers, laptops, and servers, are processed on-site. These devices are brought to a secure storage area, where hard disk drives, solid state drives, and other data-containing storage devices are either physically destroyed or digitally wiped.

Data destruction protocols at a glance:

• Any computer that can be refurbished is first digitally wiped with special software to ensure all stored data is deleted, ensuring no sensitive information carries over to the new user.  

• If a computer is not recoverable as a whole, some parts may still be functional for reuse. This includes the processors, RAM, solid-state drives, and hard disk drives. The data drives are digitally wiped and then tested for functionality before resale. 

• If a computer’s drives are not recoverable and thus destined for scrap, the drives are physically destroyed. This is done with a drive shredder, which mechanically destroys the drive, rendering it unreadable. 

Don’t let your old electronics and personal data come back to haunt you! Drop them off at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM and rest assured that your identity and the environment are well protected. Learn more at ecocycle.org/charm!

The post Don’t Let Your Data Haunt You: Safely Recycle Electronics at CHaRM appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

For over three decades, we’ve partnered with Boulder, Broomfield, and Weld County public schools through our Schools Programs to support waste reduction and provide extensive environmental education. This education is amplified when sustainability practices are incorporated at home!

Here are 7 tips to help you reduce your family’s impact this fall:

1. Shop what you already have before buying new stuff.
   Before filling your shopping cart with brand-new school supplies, figure out what you already own. Reuse is always the best option—plus you’ll save a few bucks! If you’ve been buying supplies for a few years, there’s a good chance you already have some of the stuff on the school supply list. 

2. Host a supply swap.
   If you still don’t have everything you need, host a party and swap some supplies. Double win: You can finally get rid of that drawer full of pencils you’ve been hanging on to!

3. Pack your lunch with reusables!
   Food packaging is a significant source of waste in schools. To reduce your personal impact, replace single-use disposable items such as Ziploc–type sandwich bags, plastic straws, and juice pouches with reusable food containers, beverage bottles, cutlery, and lunch containers. 

4. Buy snacks in bulk.
   To reduce single-use disposable food packaging—such as single-serving chip bags—buy snacks in bulk and pack portions in reusable containers each day or during meal prep.

5. Reduce wasted food.
   If your student eats a hot lunch at school, remind them to take only what they can eat, since they can always go back for more. Ask your student if they have a food share station at their school where they can share packaged food and uneaten whole fruit. Remind your student they can save uneaten snacks to eat after school.

6. Label everything.
   Make sure your child’s name is visible on all of their stuff to avoid accidental loss. This includes clothes, jackets, reusable food containers (including the lids), backpacks, etc. The best way to reduce waste is to avoid buying new stuff, and keeping track of items is a great strategy. 

7. Celebrate more, waste less!
   Classroom celebrations are fun for everyone, but it’s an easy way to create a lot of waste, from non-recyclable plastic cups and utensils to plastic-coated paper plates. A surefire way to reduce party waste is to swap out single-use cutlery, plates, cups, and napkins for reusables. See our tips for Zero Waste school events here!

Thanks to funding from Boulder County, the Town of Superior, and the City/County of Broomfield, Eco-Cycle has launched our Zero Waste Reusable Event Kits for Schools! Instead of volunteers buying single-use plates, cups, utensils, and napkins for classroom celebrations, families can use the event kit full of reusable plates, cups, utensils, and napkins! After a celebration, volunteers take the materials home to wash, and return them to the school.

While our Zero Waste Reusable Event Kits for Schools program is growing, we are unable to reach every school. This school year, check in with your local school to see if they could benefit from creating a Zero Waste Reusable Event Kit! If so, ask other parents to chip in to create one or more kits, which we recommend to include:

• Lightweight, stackable small plastic plates
• Lightweight, stackable small plastic cups
• Reusable utensils
• Reusable cloth napkins
• A few silicone straws and utensils. Silicone is flexible and soft, meaning these straws don’t pose a risk of injury for those with special needs.
• A large plastic storage box to put everything inside

What are your waste-reduction strategies for the back-to-school frenzy? If you are a teacher, how do you reduce waste in the classroom? Parents, what tips have worked best for you? Let us know! Email recycle@ecocycle.org, or tag us on social with your Zero Waste solutions!

The post Seven Tips for Going Zero Waste This School Year appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

The US is among the top largest markets for books in the world, second only to China. Over one-third of Americans report keeping 50 or more books in their homes, with 7% owning 500 or more books! When making room on our bookshelves, we typically discard some old books by donating or gifting them to friends and family. Even so, an estimated 320 million books are sent to landfills in the US each year, adding to America’s problem with waste, resource depletion, and climate change.

The Environmental Cost of Landfilling Books

When books are thrown away rather than donated or recycled, the trees, water, and energy used in their production are wasted. Producing paper for books consumes vast amounts of resources, including over 9.5 million gallons of water and 32,600 trees to make 1 million books. For the 320 million books landfilled in the US each year, that equates to over 3 billion gallons of water and over 10.4 million trees going to waste in the trash!

The environmental costs don’t end there. Once in landfills, books also contribute to methane emissions. When organic material (like paper) decomposes without oxygen in a landfill, it creates methane, a potent greenhouse gas with a warming potential 84 times greater than carbon dioxide. The decomposition process in landfills is slow, so landfilled books can release methane for decades!

The Challenge of Recycling Books

Unlike newspapers, magazines, mail, and office paper, books are typically not recyclable in your curbside bin. Why? The glues, inks, mixed materials, and coatings found in many books create recycling challenges. Additionally, the paper in many books, especially mass-market paperbacks, is made from low-quality fibers that are too short to be recycled (similar to paper towels and napkins). Hardcover book covers are especially problematic for recycling because they may contain non-recyclable materials like cloth or plastic. These covers require manual removal, which can be time- and labor-intensive.

Reusing and Recycling Books in Boulder County

At the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), we’ve been accepting books for 20 years. Simply bring your books to our book drop, and our staff will identify books that can be redistributed to organizations in our community—including local schools! Those books that cannot be reused and reread are recycled as cellulose insulation in the next chapter of their lives. 

Eco-Cycle’s “CHaRMed Books Program” returns gently used books brought to the CHaRM to local teachers, students, and families at schools in underserved and under-resourced communities. These books are available free of charge, and are often used as prizes and rewards for students. Last year, we redistributed over 4,000 books throughout Boulder and Broomfield Counties!

How you can help “turn the page” on wasted books:

• Bring your unwanted books to the Eco-Cycle CHaRM, located at 6400 Arapahoe Road in Boulder! Deposit your books in our weather-resistant book drop, and our staff will sort through them, recycling those that are no longer usable, and rehoming all other books! Please only drop off books that are clean, dry, and free of mold. (Note: A $3 facility use fee applies per vehicle.)

• Become a CHaRMed Books Program volunteer! Volunteers help sort, process, and redistribute used children’s books to students at local schools in under-resourced communities during the school year. Ideally, volunteers would be available for one day every two weeks for a couple of hours between 9 am and 5 pm. If you are interested in an opportunity to support Eco-Cycle’s CHaRMed Books project, email marita@ecocycle.org!

• Donate to support our CHaRMed Books Program! With foundational funding for our CHaRMed Books Program from our partners at Elevations Credit Union, we’re starting the school year strong! However, your support allows us to distribute more books to more local schools, free of charge. Donate to this program here (be sure to type “books” in the “Donation dedication” field.

Let’s work together to close the book on waste—one recycled or rehomed book at a time—because every book deserves a second chapter!

The post Recycling, by the Book appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and advocates have identified many strategies to combat climate change and increase community resilience, from behavior change campaigns to pollution mitigation and sequestration technologies. Yet, despite our scientific and technological advances, it turns out Mother Nature knows best when it comes to balancing our climate. Nature-based Climate Solutions (NbCS) are practices quickly gaining traction worldwide that leverage natural ecosystems’ abilities to combat and adapt to climate change. By supporting and utilizing nature’s own processes, we can more swiftly and effectively address the climate crisis, benefitting both people and the environment. 

What are nature-based climate solutions? 

Although it is a rapidly growing field, nature-based climate solutions are not a new idea. Rather, this movement is a modern embrace of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) practices and principles, which have been active and passed down by Indigenous peoples for millennia, and NbCS efforts worldwide are frequently led by Indigenous leaders. 

Amidst the extensive damage caused by the climate crisis, the good news is that nature already has the ability to reduce pollution, stabilize temperatures, and support ecosystems. We just need to re-learn how to restore these natural processes. Research shows that NbCS offer a wide range of interconnected benefits, helping to restore our ecosystems and their ability to regulate climate and enhance the overall health of our environment.

How do nature-based climate solutions build climate and community resilience?

Healthy ecosystems—complex, diverse networks of plant and animal life—naturally capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide, the main driver of global climate change. Estimates suggest that by restoring healthy ecosystems and their natural processes, NbCS can boost progress in tackling climate change by up to 30%.

Strong ecosystems are also important players in lessening the negative impacts of climate change on human communities. They act as buffers to storms and flooding, prevent erosion, and provide cooler temperatures. Nature-based climate solutions help us mitigate and adapt to climate change and protect human health and safety. 

Does this sound familiar?

You might remember the concept of NbCS from following Eco-Cycle’s Carbon Farming efforts. Carbon farming involves implementing regenerative farming practices such as “no tillage,” cover crops, grazing, and adding amendments such as compost that restore living ecosystems and increase soils’ ability to draw down atmospheric carbon and store it safely in the ground for the long term. Eco-Cycle has been piloting and implementing carbon farming solutions since 2019, from farms across the county to your own backyard! 

A Local Nature-Based Climate Solution: The Cool Boulder Campaign

The Cool Boulder Campaign is a collaborative effort involving the City of Boulder, local organizations, and communities to tackle the climate crisis and biodiversity loss through nature-based actions. The campaign focuses on three areas: expanding our urban connected tree canopy, planting biodiverse habitats in urban areas to create pollinator pathways for key native species, and creating absorbent landscapes by rebuilding the health of our soils to capture and hold more carbon, water, and nutrients. Cool Boulder acts as a bridge between emerging, nature-based climate science and engaged community members, and works with researchers to develop and implement a larger vision for resilience goals in the community and plan for future climate conditions. 

Eco-Cycle is a leading organization of Cool Boulder’s campaign as a next step in our NbS efforts. From 2019–2021, Eco-Cycle conducted an NbCS campaign: the Community Carbon Farming Project. Working with more than 250 community members, we employed NbCS by applying soil amendments like compost to lawns and gardens to help sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Now we’re building on that work and taking the next step. In partnership with Cool Boulder, we’re creating a Neighborhood Urban Forest! 

What’s a Neighborhood Urban Forest?

To prepare for climatic extremes and proactively build resilience and urban biodiversity, the City of Boulder’s goal is to build a connected canopy of thousands of trees and shrubs planted in our community—most of which will need to be located on private land, like your yard! Eco-Cycle is looking for resident volunteers to help make this vision of climate resilience come to fruition. 

How can you get involved?

The Fairview, BCSIS, and Crestview neighborhoods have been selected by Cool Boulder to launch the new Neighborhood Urban Forest Pilot Program this fall. We’re looking for neighbors in those areas to adopt and plant a FREE tree or shrub provided by the City of Boulder! Participants will receive regular care support and communication from our tree expert partner PLAY Boulder Foundation Tree Trust. After you fill out the interest form, you’ll receive information about where to plant your tree or shrub, species options, and more. You will be supported throughout the process by Eco-Cycle, PLAY Boulder, and Cool Boulder partners. 

If you don’t live in a pilot neighborhood or can’t currently plant a tree or shrub, you can still sign up to be a volunteer to support the project through the form linked below. You can also follow along with the Cool Boulder by subscribing to the Cool Boulder newsletter. 

• Click here to learn more and get involved!

The post Nature-Based Solutions: The Key to Climate Resilience appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Remember the headlines years ago about the ozone layer crisis? Scientists identified that the hole in the ozone was primarily caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a group of chemicals commonly found in Freon appliances like refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers.

The global response to this crisis was fortunately swift. Thanks to the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty signed in 1987 by every country on the planet, we have restricted the production of nearly 100 ozone-depleting substances, including CFCs, so effectively that the atmosphere is healing the damage done to the ozone layer—but recovering used refrigerants is still essential.

That’s where the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) comes in. Since 2001, it has been a vital resource for recycling unusual items safely and efficiently to protect both the environment and public health.

Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM Facility Takes on Refrigerant Recycling

When refrigerators, freezers, air-conditioning units, and dehumidifiers are functioning normally, they are not posing much environmental risk. But when they malfunction or die, it’s important not to chuck them in the landfill and to take them, instead, to a recycler like the Eco-Cycle CHaRM. 

In the ever-evolving recycling industry, downstream recycling markets (especially for hard-to-recycle materials) can come and go, and the Eco-Cycle CHaRM has faced repeated challenges with disappearing markets for Freon recovery. When the local option for refrigerant processing fell through earlier this year, our operations team was faced with a dilemma—how to continue offering this vital service to the community without a reliable partner to handle the complex and accredited process of Freon removal.

Rather than abandoning the service, Eco-Cycle brought refrigerant-recovery operations in-house. This decision wasn’t made lightly. It required training and professional certification of CHaRM staff to safely extract refrigerants from appliances dropped off at the facility. The process also demanded significant adjustments to the center’s operations, including additional labor and the necessity of raising the fees for Freon appliance drop-offs to cover these new costs.

As CHaRM navigated these hurdles, the steady stream of refrigerant-containing appliances arriving at the facility showed no signs of slowing. At times, the sheer volume of appliances pushed the center’s storage capacity to its limits. However, through the dedication of our warehouse operations team, we established a system that maximizes labor efficiency while safely recovering both refrigerant chemicals and the scrap metal from dozens of Freon appliances each week.

Thanks to these efforts, CHaRM not only continues to serve the local community in Boulder County and beyond, but also contributes to a larger environmental mission—keeping harmful refrigerants out of the environment and valuable materials out of the landfill.

Learn more about our Freon appliance recycling processes, and the top three best practices for recycling your Freon appliances at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM, in this video starring our two certified-expert staff members, Finn and Avery!

Understanding Freon: The Legacy and Impact of a Once-Revolutionary Refrigerant

Freon, a brand name now synonymous with chemical refrigerants, was initially developed as a safer alternative to the highly toxic substances used in early refrigeration systems. The Freon trademark includes a range of chemical compounds found in modern cooling units, from refrigerators to air conditioners. 

One of the most notorious refrigerants in the Freon family is R-12, once hailed as an industry standard. But its environmental impact—specifically its role in depleting the ozone layer—led to its inclusion in the Montreal Protocol, the landmark 1987 treaty that enacted bans on the further production of many ozone-depleting substances. Despite the phase-outs, these chemicals still linger in older appliances, many of which find their way to the CHaRM in Boulder, where they’re safely recovered for reuse.

Refrigerants come in various types, each with a different Global Warming Potential (GWP). Read on to see them ranked from bad to better!

• R-12—This refrigerant is the worst that we tend to see, and is ozone-depleting. The Montreal Protocol outlawed new production of this refrigerant as of 1996, but when safely recovered from existing appliances, it can legally be put back into units that are only able to use this type. Global Warming Potential: 10,800 times as harmful for the atmosphere as CO₂ 

• R-22—This refrigerant, common to air-conditioning units and dehumidifiers, is also ozone-depleting. GWP: 5,310 times as harmful as CO₂ 

• R-410a—Common to ACs and dehumidifiers. In 2025, the EPA will ban this refrigerant from inclusion in new units. GWP: 4,260 times as harmful as CO₂ 

• R-134a—These units are the most common type we get at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM, but that may change when in 2025, the EPA also bans R-134a from inclusion in new units. Studies show that this type of refrigerant poses health risks to those who come in contact with it. GWP: 3,810 times as harmful as CO₂ 

• R-32—This is what most new air conditioners and dehumidifiers use today and is an improvement on past refrigerants. GWP: 2,530 times as harmful as CO₂ 

• R-600a—This is what most new fridges use these days, and is the most environmentally friendly refrigerant, as it is more or less equivalent to CO₂ and poses the smallest risk to the atmosphere. Draining should still be conducted by a professional, as the gas is highly flammable. 

Find the full list of materials accepted for recycling at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM at ecocycle.org/what-we-accept!

The post How Your Refrigerator Affects the Planet . . . and How Eco-Cycle Can Help! appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Diverting food scraps from landfills to composting is a powerful climate solution, yet access to composting services remains limited across the United States. Despite its potential, only about 10% of US communities have access to composting programs. Eco-Cycle, in partnership with the Composting Consortium, a collaboration managed by the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, is working to change that.  

In the US, a staggering 40% of what we throw away is food. When organic materials like food scraps and yard debris end up in landfills, they break down without oxygen, producing methane—a potent greenhouse gas that traps 84 times more heat than carbon dioxide in the short term. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), food waste generates 170 million metric tons of greenhouse gasses each year—comparable to the emissions produced by more than 35 million cars annually!

But food scraps and yard debris aren’t waste—they’re resources. When kept out of landfills, they can be repurposed in various ways, including being turned into compost. This nutrient-packed soil amendment enriches farms, gardens, and landscapes, leading to healthier plants that absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing it safely and beneficially in the soil—transforming a climate problem into a climate solution!

Yet, despite its importance, only about 4% of food waste in the US is composted. Expanding access to composting services is crucial as communities seek to reduce waste and lower greenhouse gas emissions. To address this, Eco-Cycle joined forces with Closed Loop Partners to develop “How Organics Diversion Can Help Achieve Zero Waste Goals: A Blueprint for Scaling Collection and Composting Infrastructure.” This comprehensive guide provides municipalities across the US with actionable steps to launch or scale up composting programs.

A Blueprint for Action: Expanding Composting Across the US

The blueprint serves as a clear and practical guide for municipal leaders in Zero Waste, solid waste, and sustainability, focusing on three key areas:

1. Policy and Program Expansion for Diverting Food Waste: This section dives into effective strategies for policy development, exploring methods to incentivize resident and business participation while outlining pathways to maximize food waste diversion from landfills.

2. Setting Up Programs and Infrastructure: This section provides a roadmap for establishing new organics programs, detailing best practices for collection methods, processing options (such as composting facilities and anaerobic digestion), and offering guidance on contracting with composters.

3. Communication with Program Participants: Recognizing the importance of engagement, this section offers a comprehensive communications toolkit, outlining strategies for educating participants on proper sorting techniques, maximizing participation, and ensuring long-term program success.

The blueprint emphasizes the need for collaboration among key stakeholders—composters, cities, residents, businesses, and others across the organics value chain. To support this, the Composting Consortium has launched two new platforms: the Composter Innovator Program, connecting composters to address issues like contamination and policy, and the Municipal Partner Platform, where city officials can share and discuss best practices for starting and expanding compost collection and infrastructure programs.

Sharing Models Piloted in Colorado

Eco-Cycle’s collaboration with the Composting Consortium is informed by decades of experience in Colorado, where we have pioneered composting initiatives. Through effective collaboration, Eco-Cycle has made significant strides in launching compost programs, advocating for policies, and developing infrastructure.

• Policy Leadership: Eco-Cycle has successfully championed statewide policies to divert organics from landfills, promote compost service accessibility, and reduce compost contamination. A recent example is the Compostable Product Labeling Bill (Senate Bill 23-253), which mandates that compostable products must be certified by credible third parties and prohibits misleading labeling.

• Program Development: As Colorado communities expand composting programs, Eco-Cycle has played a critical role in educating and engaging residents and businesses, creating unified guidelines and educational materials for Front Range communities to comply with evolving regional compost standards.

• Innovative Infrastructure: One of the biggest challenges in composting is the location of facilities. Eco-Cycle’s solution is a distributed composting system that places infrastructure directly on farmlands. Farmers can produce compost on-site using farm-generated materials or clean organic waste from nearby communities, creating a true community-based, closed-loop system. This model is already being implemented in Boulder County, with exciting expansions planned in the coming year—so stay tuned!

For municipalities seeking to bring compost programs to their communities, this new report is an essential resource for driving progress.

• Read the report: “How Organics Diversion Can Help Achieve Zero Waste Goals: A Blueprint for Scaling Collection and Composting Infrastructure”

The post Scaling Up Composting, Nationally and Where You Live appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Look around! Wherever you are right now, plastic is likely in your sightline. But it doesn’t have to be so! While going entirely plastic-free might feel impossible, adopting small changes adds up to make a real difference. Here are 24 tips for Plastic Free July 2024 to help you reduce plastic use and contribute to a healthier planet!

 1. Perform a Waste Audit to Analyze Your Habits

The first step in tackling any challenge is to examine the problem! To start reducing your waste, take a look at what you’re purchasing, using, and throwing away.

Use the Waste Audit worksheets in our free How to Quit Plastics Guide to walk you through the process!

2. Carry a Reusable Water Bottle and Coffee Cups

This is a well-known, but impacting step. Invest in a stainless steel or glass water bottle and steel travel mug. These simple swaps prevent countless plastic bottles and plastic-coated coffee cups from ending up in landfills.

 3. Bring Your Own Shopping Bags

Keep reusable shopping bags in your car, purse, or bag so that you always have them when heading to the store—this can really go a long way in preventing plastics! For example, as large Colorado retail stores phased out plastic bags in the past year, more customers brought their own reusable bags, avoiding the use of over 1.5 BILLION plastic bags!

 4. Use Cloth Produce Bags

Instead of grabbing a plastic produce bag in the produce aisle, bring your own cloth bags—they’re reusable, washable, and perfect for fruits and veggies! Or place produce loose in your cart until you’re home and able to store items in your own containers!

 5. Say No to Plastic Straws and Utensils

If you don’t need a straw, let your wait staffer know when you order your drink. When ordering take-out, opt out of plastic utensils, napkins, and condiments. Better yet—make your own Zero Waste on-the-go kit using tips from our How to Quit Plastics Guide!

6. Switch to Solid Soap and Shampoo Bars

Eliminate plastic bottles from your bathroom by using solid soap and shampoo bars. They last longer than bottled versions, and come in minimal to no packaging.

 7. Make Your Own Cleaning Products

DIY cleaning products using natural ingredients (like vinegar, baking soda, lemon, and essential oils) are nontoxic, and can be made inexpensively and stored in glass or other reusable containers, reducing the need for new plastic bottles.

8. Buy in the Bulk Aisle

Purchase items like grains, nuts, dried fruits, and candies in the bulk aisle of your local grocery store using your own reusable bags to avoid plastic packaging. Find more tips on Zero Waste shopping in our guide, How to Quit Plastics!

9. Opt Out of Junk Mail

Avoid the plastic windows and other plastic materials (such as credit card promotions) that are mailed to you by following our Stop Junk Mail instructions! This is a great way to reduce unnecessary plastic production as well as deforestation. 

10. Opt for Reusable Food Wraps

Replace plastic cling wrap with reusable beeswax or vegan wax wraps. They’re great for covering bowls, wrapping snacks to go, and storing leftovers.

11. Pack Lunch in Reusable Containers

Ditch single-use plastic bags and opt for stainless steel or glass containers, or reusable silicone bags to wrap up your lunch and snacks.

12. Shop at Farmers’ Markets

Buying fresh produce from farmers’ markets or farm stands means less packaging and more opportunities to use your reusable bags!

13. DIY Snacks and Meals

Make your own homemade snacks and meals instead of buying pre-packaged ones to reduce plastic waste. For example, breads, crackers, and granola are typically sold in plastic packaging, but can readily be made at home!

14. Use Cloth Napkins and Towels

Switch to cloth napkins and towels instead of single-use paper ones and avoid the plastic packaging they’re sold in.

15. Choose Plastic-Free Cosmetics

Select cosmetics that come in glass or metal containers, or those sold in refillable packaging.

16. Avoid Microbeads

Choose skincare products without microbeads, which are tiny plastic particles harmful to marine life. Check the label and avoid products that list “polyethylene” as an ingredient.

17. Buy Secondhand

Each new garment typically comes in its own plastic garment bag (known as “polybags” in the apparel industry) that is removed before the clothing item goes on the sales floor. Opt for secondhand clothing, as well as household items, to reduce the demand for new products and their plastic packaging. 

18. Support Plastic-Free Businesses

Visit a local Zero Waste store where you can purchase hundreds of items—including food staples, shampoo, and cleaning supplies—using your own reusable containers or with reusable/refillable containers supplied! Locally, check out stores like Simply Bulk in Longmont and Nude Foods in Boulder and Denver. 

19. Ask for Reusables for Your To-Go Order 

Single-use disposable plastics aren’t a necessary evil. Businesses like r.World, DeliverZero, and OZZI are helping restaurants, campuses, and community events go Zero Waste with reusable food and beverage to-go containers. Ask your favorite restaurant if they have a reusable to-go container option! If they don’t, ask for your to-go order to be plated “for here” and then put it in your own to-go container to avoid plastic and other single-use disposables. 

20. Repair and Reuse

Mend broken items instead of replacing them or find creative ways to repurpose old items. Instead of purchasing a new electronic item, shop for reused/refurbished instead.

21. Refuse Receipts

Many people don’t know that some paper items, including receipts, are coated with plastic polymers and aren’t recyclable. Choose digital receipts instead—or no receipt at all!

22. Consume with Care

Some plastics are more recyclable and less toxic than others. Avoid buying anything packaged in #3, #6, #7 plastic—learn about the environmental and health risks of these plastics here.

23. Recycle What You Can (and Buy Recycled Content)

If you do buy products packaged in plastic, be selective about what you are purchasing. Try to limit your purchases to products that really don’t have other packaging options available, and when possible, buy plastics that are recyclable (check with your local guidelines) and/or are made from recycled content! 

24. Support local, statewide, and national policies that address plastic

Communities across the nation are taking a stand against the proliferation of plastics. Support efforts at the local, state, and national levels to reduce plastics, such as policies to put a fee on plastic bags, invest in reuse systems, and phase out toxic, unrecyclable plastics!

Plastic Free July can be a powerful catalyst for examining our daily choices and their impact on our health and the environment. By implementing some of these 24 tips, you can see how much plastic you can refuse this July and beyond—and inspire others to do the same! For extra credit, use our How to Quit Plastics Guide to help you transition toward a more sustainable, less plastic-dependent lifestyle!

The post 24 Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Use in 2024 appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

To protect communities and support the elimination of the most toxic and unnecessary plastics, plastics with a #3, #6, or #7 will no longer be accepted in Boulder County.

Plastic is everywhere—in our oceans, our environment, and even our bodies. Recycling alone could not possibly solve this crisis. It is crucial to reduce plastic production, beginning with the elimination of the most unnecessary, toxic, and non-recyclable plastics. In their place, we need to innovate reuse solutions wherever possible, and ensure that any remaining packaging is authentically recyclable or compostable.

Thankfully, there is growing momentum from environmental groups, recycling industries, and even plastic manufacturers, as well as local, state, and federal policy, aimed at doing just that. As a result, the worst and most toxic plastics, #3 polyvinyl chloride (PVC), #6 polystyrene (PS), or #7 polycarbonate (PC), may soon be out of circulation. To support these efforts, Boulder County, the owner of the Boulder County Recycling Center (BCRC), and Eco-Cycle, the nonprofit operator of the facility, will no longer accept plastics with #3, #6, or #7 on them.

Elimination of Problematic and Unnecessary Plastics 

In 2022, a group of more than 100 companies, governments, nonprofits, and public sector organizations comprising the U.S. Plastics Pact released an unprecedented statement: the Problematic and Unnecessary Materials List. Together, they identified a list of plastics and additives so bad even the plastic industry agreed they should no longer be made. Participating industry groups voluntarily agreed to eliminate production of items on the list by 2025, which includes plastic cutlery, stirrers and straws, intentionally added PFAS, carbon black plastic, #3 PVC, #6 PS, and more. 

Simultaneously, in 2022, Eco-Cycle worked to help pass Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Colorado for packaging and paper, a statewide policy that holds producers financially and operationally responsible for a product’s management throughout its life cycle. Producer Responsibility requires producers of packaging and printed paper to pay dues based on the type and amount of material they put into Colorado markets. It utilizes a concept called “eco-modulation,” where the use of product materials that are considered harmful to the environment are disincentivized through higher dues that the producer must pay into the EPR system, and the use of materials that are considered better for the environment are rewarded by having lower dues required. For example, a highly recyclable product like an unwrapped aluminum can might have the lowest fees, while a package that is more toxic and not recyclable will pay more. The funds raised from the program will support recycling infrastructure, collections, education, and reuse and refill innovations. 

Implementation of the policy will include a list of materials that are readily recyclable. Materials that are not on that list will incur higher financial costs. There is likely to be much overlap between the list of materials deemed problematic and unnecessary by the industry group and those not deemed recyclable by the state of Colorado’s EPR program, including #3, #6, and #7 plastics. Eco-Cycle has long advocated for the elimination of these plastics and educated the community to avoid them. In support of this long-held stance, plastics with #3, #6, or #7 will no longer be accepted in Boulder County.

What to Expect in Boulder County 

Most plastics with numbers #3, #6, or #7 are already listed as a “no” on the recycling guidelines for Boulder County, and they represent a tiny percentage of incoming recyclable material at the facility. You will usually find a #6 PS on polystyrene foam (often referred to as Styrofoam), for example, which has never been accepted at the BCRC facility, and in fact, as of January 1, 2024, polystyrene foam is banned from distribution at Colorado restaurants. A #3 PVC plastic is used most prevalently in vinyl shower curtains, plastic food wrap, inflatable goods, pet toys, etc., all of which have never been recyclable in Boulder County. 

The least toxic and most recyclable plastics represent the majority of what we accept in our guidelines: bottles, tubs, jugs, jars, clamshells, and some rigid plastics labeled #1 PETE, #2 HDPE, or #5 PP. 

Most plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, jars, and clamshells will have a #1, #2, or #5 on them, but on rare occasions may have a resin code of #3 PVC, #6 PS, or #7 PC (or “OTHER”) and should be avoided. In addition to not putting these items in your recycling cart, you can reduce their circulation by being mindful about not purchasing them. 

The Problem with #3, #6, and #7 Plastics 

These plastic resin types have always been challenging to recycle due to toxicity and having little to no market value.  

Polyvinyl chloride plastic (marked with a #3) is highly toxic at every stage of its life cycle, from production to disposal. PVC is everywhere in your home and office, from flooring to siding, shower curtains to placemats, tablecloths to children’s toys. It is also in some single-use plastic products, including plastic wrap, cooking oil bottles, and food packaging. The primary building block of PVC, vinyl chloride, is a potent carcinogen. America witnessed the impact of vinyl chloride in February 2023 when a train carrying nearly 116,000 gallons of the chemical derailed in East Palestine, Pennsylvania. More than a year later, many residents are still displaced, and cleanup efforts are ongoing. The harmful chemicals in the plastic have also been found to leach into food through contact.

Polystyrene, which can be a rigid plastic, but is often found in its expanded form (often referred to as Styrofoam), is marked with a #6, and is also a toxic plastic. The primary ingredient in polystyrene—styrene—is a likely carcinogen. The expanded foam easily breaks down, entering the environment, wildlife, and even humans. Food-grade polystyrene is commonly found in plastic cups, cutlery, and food containers. NOTE: Eco-Cycle WILL CONTINUE TO ACCEPT #6 block foam (the material used to package large appliances, electronics, etc.) at the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), though food-grade polystyrene will remain on the list of items that are not accepted at CHaRM. 

The catch-all category #7 plastic resin type refers either to polycarbonate (PC) or anything else in the plastic stream that doesn’t fit within the first six categories (“OTHER”). It is commonly used for stuff like plastic baby bottles and sippy cups, toys for kids and pets, and car parts. Often, #7 PC can contain highly dangerous BPA (Bisphenol A). Lab tests show that BPA appears to copy or disturb the hormone estrogen and affect the reproductive system, which could raise the consumer’s risk for cancer. Plastic #7 has always been challenging to recycle due to slim or nonexistent market demand. NOTE: #7 PLA is different. It refers to plant-based plastics, often designed to be compostable (but not recyclable). 

Ultimately, the elimination of these problematic plastics from circulation due to voluntary efforts from industry and government regulations reflects a growing global momentum to protect our communities from plastic pollution. Plastic types #3, #6, and #7 are the worst of the bunch and we wave them goodbye with enthusiasm as we progress toward a Zero Waste, circular economy.

The post Keeping Problematic Plastics Out of Circulation and the Recycling appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

An effective global plastics pollution elimination treaty must reduce plastic production first and foremost, then focus on improving plastic recycling.

How do you address global plastic pollution and begin to ease the chokehold grip plastics have on both people and the planet? This is the question being wrestled with by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). In March 2022, UNEA resolved to reduce plastic pollution through an internationally binding treaty to be finalized by the end of 2024. 

In the last four committee sessions about the global plastics treaty, including the most recent one in April held in Ottawa, Canada, oil-producing countries have tried to focus only on managing plastic waste. They want to avoid discussing the real issue: the unchecked production of plastic. During the negotiations, these countries have repeatedly challenged the idea of addressing plastic waste at every stage of its life cycle.

Conversely, environmental justice and plastic pollution elimination advocates are calling for the reduction of plastic production, first and foremost. There is simply too much plastic produced today, with exponential increases planned for the near future. We urgently need to turn off the tap on plastics production to address plastic pollution. To do so, we need comprehensive systemic solutions addressing the full life cycle of plastics. 

As recyclers, Eco-Cycle knows firsthand we cannot recycle our way out of the plastics crisis 

Eco-Cycle is the operator of the Boulder County Recycling Center, and we know that most of the plastic in production was not designed to be recycled. Unlike the aluminum, steel, and paper industries, the plastics industry buys back very little of its own products for remanufacturing, leaving recyclers with  niche, “downcycling” markets for products, like carpeting and clothing, rather than more circular solutions such as making more plastic containers. There are nowhere near enough of these markets to handle the ever-increasing volumes of plastic. Plastic products vary widely, using over seven different polymers and any combination of chemical additives—many of which can be very toxic. This variation in products makes the material difficult to sort and even harder to sell as a feedstock to make new products.

While the petrochemical/plastics industry prefers to blame consumers and recyclers for plastic pollution, the real problem is one they created and are expanding. They are simply making too much plastic, most of which cannot be recycled.

Eco-Cycle Supporters Help Influence Global Treaty Negotiations 

Eco-Cycle was represented at the global plastics treaty negotiations by the Alliance for Mission-Based Recycling (AMBR), an organization Eco-Cycle cofounded in 2019 along with three others: Eureka Recycling in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Recycle Ann Arbor in Michigan; and the Ecology Center of Berkeley, California. AMBR works to evolve recycling systems to better protect people and the planet, mitigate climate change, and strengthen communities. 

As mission-based, Zero Waste recyclers, AMBR is advocating for the United States delegation to lead the demand for a strong and effective global treaty that addresses the full life cycle of plastics and prioritizes a significant reduction in plastic production.

Martin Bourque, AMBR steering committee member and executive director of the Ecology Center, attended the negotiations as an observer while representing the recycling industry. Bourque noted the impact of consumer pressure on the packaging industry to reduce plastic pollution. At the negotiations, global consumer goods brands demonstrated an unprecedented willingness to support global regulations, marking a significant divergence from the petrochemical industry’s ambitions to limit such regulations. Folks like you, supporters of Eco-Cycle living out the Zero Waste ethos, are making a real difference! 

Reduction Throughout the Life Cycle of Plastics on a Global Scale

Every stage of plastics—from resource extraction to disposal—contributes significantly to climate change and social injustices. With this global plastics treaty, plastic reduction advocates are pushing for strategies that authentically address the life cycle of plastics, including:

• Mandatory targets to cap and dramatically reduce virgin plastic production. This includes the elimination of single-use plastics and other nonessential, unnecessary, or unsafe and unsustainable plastic products and applications—including plastics chemicals and intentionally added microplastics. 
• Legally binding, time-bound, and ambitious targets to implement and scale up reuse and refill to accelerate the transition away from single-use plastics. 
• Reject false solutions, regrettable substitutes, and polluting and ineffective techno-fixes such as “chemical recycling,” incineration, waste-to-energy, plastic credits, and other schemes. Innovations should be applied to improving what works in recycling instead of perpetuating business as usual and supporting continued plastics production and pollution.
• Regulation or bans on toxic chemicals in all virgin and recycled plastics based on groups of chemicals. This includes additives (e.g., PFAS, brominated flame retardants, phthalates, bisphenols) as well as notoriously toxic polymers (PVC and polystyrene). 
• Transparent end markets for plastics recycling. Plastics recycling from wealthy countries should not become plastic pollution in poor countries.  
• A just transition to safer and more sustainable livelihoods for workers and communities across the plastics supply chain, including those in the informal waste sector, and addressing the needs of frontline communities affected by plastics production, incineration, and open burning. 
• Provisions that hold polluting corporations and plastics-producing countries accountable for the profound harms to human rights, human health, ecosystems, and economies arising from the production, deployment, and disposal of plastics. 

What’s Next for the Global Plastics Treaty

The next negotiating committee is scheduled to convene on November 25, 2024, in Busan, Republic of Korea. In advance of this meeting, more than 34 countries have signed on to a nonbinding declaration, Bridge to Busan, urging the treaty negotiations to address the full life cycle of plastics, including their production. The United States has not signed the declaration. 

As we move into the intersessional period and prepare for the next set of negotiations, Eco-Cycle, as represented by AMBR, continues to urge the Biden administration to be a global leader and embrace the Zero Waste hierarchy, as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency—reduce, reuse, and then recycle—in its negotiations for the treaty. 

Stay tuned for more reports on the global plastics treaty, and read more about Martin Bourque’s report on AMBR’s website.

The post Recycling Alone Cannot Solve Global Plastics Pollution appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

A jumble of broken small appliances in a cardboard box, a mattress in the basement, an expired fire extinguisher in the garage, empty ink cartridges in a junk drawer, broken electronics in the back of a cabinet . . . Do any of these “junk” piles sound familiar? 

All these materials have one thing in common: They may no longer be useful in your home, but they’re still valuable resources that can be recycled at the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). At the CHaRM—the nation’s first facility of its kind—Eco-Cycle accepts over two dozen categories of hard-to-recycle materials,  including mattresses, fire extinguishers, ink cartridges, e-waste, and much more, such as scrap metal, plastic bags, block foam, vegetable oil, books, and even toilets! 

• See a full list of accepted materials and fees here

Perhaps you’re wondering, Can anything really be recovered from that 1980s television or busted air conditioner? The answer is yes! The more we recover to be reprocessed into new items, the less we need to extract finite virgin natural resources from the earth. In the case of items like TVs and ACs, responsible recycling is even more important because they contain hazardous materials such as heavy metals (one CRT TV can contain up to 5 lb of lead!) and chlorofluorocarbons (aka CFCs, from refrigerants) that must be handled with care by certified recyclers to avoid contaminating our environment and impacting the health of people and wildlife.

What becomes of the hard-to-recycle items brought to the Eco-Cycle CHaRM?

Common Household Items

Fire extinguishers are evaluated for reuse by our partner business, then they are either refilled or sent on for recycling as scrap metal. Porcelain and ceramic, from small items like broken mugs to larger drop-offs such as whole sinks and toilets, are recycled into an aggregate used to replace gravel in road base. Plastic bags are turned into composite lumber used for outdoor furniture and decks. Food scraps and other light organic matter (like a wilted bouquet of flowers) is composted. Plastic storage bins and other large items made from #2 or #5 plastic are recycled into new storage bins, weatherproof railroad ties, and car parts. Cardboard is recycled back into more cardboard. 

Reusable Items 

Bikes, books, and clothing collected at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM are distributed throughout the community for reuse whenever possible. For example, working bicycles are donated to Community Cycles, a local nonprofit bicycling advocacy organization. If bikes are beyond repair, the metal is scrapped and the tires and tubes are used to make crumb rubber, commonly used for athletic fields, as an asphalt base, or as an alternative fuel source for cement kilns. Gently used books are donated to local schools and organizations, while damaged or out-of-date books are recycled into cellulose insulation. In our newest community partnership, Eco-Cycle sends wearable clothing to be sorted for resale at Pig and Pearl Thrift Store in Boulder. 

Mattresses

Eco-Cycle partners with Spring Back Colorado to recycle mattresses of all sizes. Once they receive a delivery of mattresses from the CHaRM to their warehouse in Commerce City, Spring Back Colorado employees deconstruct each mattress into its core components. The foam and fibers are used to create carpet padding. The metal is recovered as scrap metal and recycled into kitchen appliances and the automotive industry. An incredible aspect of this organization is not only its recovery of valuable materials from the landfill—which helps address the issue of 50,000 mattresses going to landfill in the US each and every day—it also intentionally hires people in recovery from addiction or who were formerly incarcerated, providing a sustainable pathway to employment and a supportive culture for employees.

Electronics

Eco-Cycle partners with a local chapter of Blue Star Recyclers to recycle electronics, including cell phones,  TVs and monitors, laptops and computer towers, and small appliances like coffee makers and vacuums. By partnering with an e-steward certified company, your e-waste is not only recycled at the highest standards of environmental responsibility and worker protection, but also provides local green jobs to people on the autism spectrum and with other “disAbilities.” 

The next time you’re clearing out your clutter, visit the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials located at 6400 Arapahoe Rd. in Boulder to ensure your items get a second life! For more information on where your recycled stuff ends up, check out our comprehensive chart below. 

The Recycling Journey of CHaRM Materials

The post The CHaRMed Second Life of Your Hard-to-Recycle Materials appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Located in East Boulder, Recycle Row is a unique corridor with several Zero Waste facilities dedicated to helping residents and businesses reuse and recycle their discards responsibly, fostering a culture of sustainable resource management in the community.

Eco-Cycle is proud to be an integral part of Recycle Row, operating the Boulder County Recycling Center and founding the nation’s first Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). We collaborate with mission-aligned organizations, including our neighbor at 6400 Arapahoe Road, Resource Central, as well as the Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility, and Western Disposal, to advance resource conservation.

Read on to learn more about the member organizations of Recycle Row and the services available to you, and watch this video produced by Boulder County to see Recycle Row facilities in action!

Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM)

Founded in 2001, the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) creates an opportunity to recycle unusual items not typically accepted in curbside programs. By accepting dozens of hard-to-recycle materials at our drop-off location in Boulder, the CHaRM makes it easier for area residents and businesses to responsibly recycle (and in some cases, reuse) these items.

Accepted Items at Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM

• Electronics, including computers, monitors, printers, and cell phones. E-waste contains hazardous materials that can harm the environment if not disposed of properly, making it illegal to dump electronics in the trash in Colorado.
• Plastic Bags and Bubble Wrap: Unlike plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, jars, and clamshells, plastic bags and other polyethylene films are not accepted in curbside recycling because they get tangled in recycling machinery. However, when collected separately from curbside recyclables, this material can be recycled into composite lumber for outdoor furniture and decking—or even turned back into film plastic!
• Documents for Shredding, including loose office paper, folders, and envelopes—staples and paper clips do not need to be removed. 
• Block White Styrofoam, often seen in the form of the rigid material in which electronics are packaged inside the box. Food-grade styrofoam containers and cups are NOT accepted, and are being phased out in Colorado thanks to the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act championed by Eco-Cycle in 2021. Packing peanuts are also not accepted for recycling at CHaRM, but can often be reused by shipping companies.
• Scrap Metal, which include items that are at least 50% metal by weight and contain no refrigerants—everything from metal caps less than 2 inches in diameter (which are too small to put in your curbside recycling bin) to pots and pans, microwaves,  water heaters, and non-Freon appliances.
• Large Plastics, made of #2 HDPE or #5 PP only and less than 3 feet in length in every direction, including all-plastic kiddie pools, lawn chairs, trash cans, buckets, laundry baskets, and milk crates.
• Freon Appliances, including all sizes of refrigerators, freezers, air-conditioning units, and dehumidifiers.  
• And more! See our full list of accepted items and fees here.

Resource Central

Co-located with Eco-Cycle at 6400 Arapahoe Road, Resource Central is a fellow nonprofit organization facilitating Zero Waste in Boulder by accepting donations of reusable building materials, and selling these reclaimed items to the public at a fraction of the original price. Resource Central also runs effective and innovative programs to save water, conserve energy, and reduce waste.

Accepted Items at Resource Central

Resource Central accepts donations of new and gently used building materials, such as:

• Lumber
• Hardware
• Cabinetry and doors
• Plumbing fixtures
• Sinks
• Appliances in good working condition

Resource Central also takes some housewares such as shelving units. Learn more about what items they accept at resourcecentral.org/reuse/material-donations.

Looking to purchase building materials at prices significantly below retail cost? Visit the Materials Reuse Store co-located on the same property as the Eco-Cycle CHaRM, open Monday through Saturday, 9 am–5 pm. 

Boulder County Recycling Center (BCRC)

The Boulder County Recycling Center, operated by Eco-Cycle, is a state-of-the-art facility that processes recyclable materials from Boulder County and beyond. If you live in Boulder County, your curbside single-stream recycling is brought here to be sorted, baled, and sold to end markets for remanufacturing, ensuring your recyclables are returned to the supply chain.

At the Boulder County Recycling Center Drop-Off Center, located at 1901 63rd St. in Boulder, the community can bring single-stream recycling materials for free drop-off! Accepted items include paper, cardboard, glass bottles, aluminum or metal cans, and plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and jars. 

• Find a Boulder County recycling center near you with this map 
• Find a list of materials accepted curbside in our Recycling Guide for Boulder County

Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF)

Proper disposal of hazardous waste is critical to protecting both human health and the environment. Boulder County’s Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF), located at 1901 63rd St. in Boulder (just to the west of the Boulder County Recycling Center), offers a safe and responsible solution for managing hazardous materials, ensuring the health of our community and environment. 

Accepted Items at Boulder County’s Hazardous Waste Drop-Off:

• Household Chemicals: Items such as cleaning products, pesticides, and paint thinners are accepted. These materials can be extremely harmful if disposed of improperly.
• Fluorescent Bulbs: Fluorescent bulbs require special handling to prevent environmental contamination, since they contain mercury.
• Automotive Fluids: Used motor oil, antifreeze, and other automotive fluids are accepted. Proper disposal prevents these substances from polluting waterways.
• Batteries: All types are accepted—please tape your lithium batteries.
• Vaping Accessories 
• LED Bulbs
• Camping Fuel Containers (under 1 pound)

Western Disposal

Western Disposal provides comprehensive waste management services, including housing the Boulder County and City of Boulder Yard Waste and Wood Waste Drop-Off Center, trash collection, and recycling. Visit their location at 2051 63rd St. in Boulder to drop off a host of materials, including:

• Yard debris: branches, stumps, leaves, etc.
• Construction & Demolition (C&D) materials
• And more!

Recycle Row in Boulder exemplifies our community’s commitment to Zero Waste and sustainability. Whether you’re looking to recycle electronics, donate building materials, safely dispose of hazardous waste, or find a home for C&D materials, Recycle Row has you covered! The next time you’re in Boulder, take a trip down Recycle Row and see sustainability in action.

• Learn more about these facilities in the latest edition of the Eco-Cycle Guide!

The post Take a Trip Down Recycle Row, Boulder’s Hub for Sustainability appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Have you been to the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) yet? Whether you have only come to CHaRM once to bring in an old TV, or you’re a regular customer, there are more ways than ever to get involved behind the scenes in the exciting work being done at this first-of-its-kind facility!

Two decades after it was founded by the same recycling activists who brought curbside recycling to Boulder County, the Eco-Cycle CHaRM has grown to accept over two dozen (and counting!) materials for reuse or recycling, and has become an integral part of the Zero Waste infrastructure in Boulder and surrounding areas. 

Here are three ways YOU can become part of the CHaRM team:

Volunteer in the CHaRM lane!

Learn how we engage CHaRM visitors about Zero Waste, including best practices for keeping recyclable materials out of the landfill and preventing “contamination” (non-recyclable items) in drop-off zones. This hands-on opportunity is a great way to gain a deeper knowledge of hard-to-recycle materials and the recycling industry, as well as make a real impact helping CHaRM staff manage incoming materials, customer questions, and keeping the drive-through drop-off lane well maintained. Sign up for a Saturday orientation shift here! Once you’ve received volunteer training, you are welcome to sign up whenever it fits your schedule. Please email charm@ecocycle.org with any questions.

Bring your team to the CHaRM for a Corporate Volunteer Day!

Trying to encourage sustainability in your workplace? Volunteering with Eco-Cycle is a great way to achieve that goal! Eco-Cycle’s Corporate Volunteer Program consists of an interactive learning component as well as a service project to promote Zero Waste. Volunteer opportunities range from 2–4 hours, but can be customized to your business’s needs. Please fill out our interest form to start scheduling your next team volunteering event with us, and someone will be in touch soon to answer any questions!

The post Get Involved and Make a Difference at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM! appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Great news for recycling and resource management from this legislative session! Collaborating with numerous partners, Eco-Cycle facilitated the passage of several circular economy bills through the Colorado General Assembly. 

Top Priority: Senate Bill 24-150 Aimed at Discouraging Waste-to-Energy and Plastics-to-Fuel Facilities from Coming to Colorado

Our top legislative priority this season was the passage of Senate Bill 24-150, a bill Eco-Cycle championed along with key allies including Green Latinos, Sierra Club, Earthjustice, Conservation Colorado, and Environment Colorado. This victory would have significantly advanced efforts in Colorado, and nationally, to safeguard communities from pollution generated by plastics-to-fuel technologies. 

Every year, we hear from Colorado communities that are being pitched false solutions to waste management, such as waste-to-energy and plastics-to-fuel technologies. These approaches are two of the most expensive ways to dispose of materials, requiring tremendous energy inputs while generating toxic, carcinogenic pollutants. They also perpetuate a system that demands ongoing resource extraction to create feedstock for incineration. Even worse, these facilities are most frequently located in already disproportionately impacted communities, putting them at additional environmental, safety, and health risk. 

Currently, Colorado has no waste incineration or plastics-to-fuel facilities. To preempt these facilities from coming to Colorado, we worked with bill sponsors Senators Lisa Cutter and Dafna Michaelson Jenet to try to ban Municipal Solid Waste incinerators. After meeting strong opposition in the Senate, we pivoted. House Sponsor, Representative Meg Froelich, amended the bill to prohibit the state from funding Municipal Solid Waste incinerators that turn plastics to fuel. The bill also required that these types of facilities be regulated as solid waste incinerators and clarifies that these processes (including pyrolysis and gasification) are NOT recycling or renewable energy as previously allowed in Colorado statute.  

Unfortunately, despite passing through to the governor’s desk, Governor Polis did not opt to sign this bill into law and it was vetoed.

Eco-Cycle still firmly believes pyrolysis and other plastics-to-fuel processes should be banned, but at the very least, they should not be subsidized by taxpayers. Instead, public funds should be used to support sustainable solutions and used only for truly recyclable and renewable projects. We intend to pursue passage of these types of policies again in future legislative sessions.

Zero Waste Policy Wins This Legislative Session

Producer Responsibility for Recycling Paper and Packaging (House Bill 22-1355)

In 2022, Eco-Cycle successfully championed a Producer Responsibility bill that will bring recycling to ALL Coloradans at no cost starting in 2026. As part of the compromise to get the bill passed, the legislature added an additional requirement that once a statewide assessment of infrastructure and service needs was complete, the legislature must approve the scenario for implementation before the program could move forward. For months, Eco-Cycle led meetings with interested parties and provided feedback on the statewide needs assessment. This April, the legislature approved our recommended scenario, giving the go-ahead to start program planning and implementation. 

The new Producer Responsibility program will provide recycling services to an additional 700,000 homes in Colorado that currently do not have recycling services, and will result in an additional 410,000 tons of valuable recyclable materials collected, for a statewide annual total of 720,000 tons of recyclables diverted from landfill by 2035. This was the last major hurdle before implementation; now it’s full steam ahead!

Waste Tire Management (Senate Bill 24-123)

This bill updates Colorado’s existing Waste Tire Recycling Program by charging a small fee on every new tire purchase to help fund tire recycling solutions, paving the way to transform rubber tire waste into useful products, such as road materials. Colorado is home to the largest tire landfills in the nation, which can erupt with unintentional fires, like the Hudson fire in 2021. In partnership with Recycle Colorado, Eco-Cycle supported SB24-123, which is headed to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Environmental Sustainability Circular Economy (House Bill 24-1449)

This bill proposes to combine two funds, the Front Range Waste Diversion (FRWD) program and the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity (RREO) program, into one statewide program, the Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise, that will expand access to financial and technical support for Zero Waste initiatives to Colorado municipalities. As advocates for both of the original funding programs, Eco-Cycle supported this move to create a unified, efficient, well-funded program to help advance Zero Waste projects statewide.

Eco-Cycle and partners dedicated significant effort to establish these two funds that turn nominal “tipping” fees paid at landfills into impactful grants that have helped schools, municipalities, recyclers, composters, and other businesses build recycling, composting, and waste reduction programs and infrastructure over the past two decades. HB24-1449 passed its final vote in the Senate on May 8, the last day of the session, and is now headed to the governor’s desk.  

Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment (House Bill 24-1121)

This is the third successful “right-to-repair” law championed by our partner Colorado Public Interest Research Group (CoPIRG). After passing similar bills that make it easier for consumers to repair their powered wheelchairs (2022) and agricultural equipment (2023), this year’s bill will extend the life of consumer electronics by making it easier to repair them. Eco-Cycle testified on behalf of this bill and is excited to see it go to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Eco-Cycle’s Policy Work Continues Even After the Legislative Session Ends

Recycling of Single-Use Electronic Smoking Devices (House Bill 24-1069) tackled the problematic disposal of single-use electronic smoking devices (vapes). While HB24-1069 did not pass, Eco-Cycle is working with legislators and partners to request funding for the study outlined in the proposed bill through the new Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise. 

Eco-Cycle celebrates these tremendous wins for our circular economy, environment, and communities, with our partners and supporters who took the time and made the effort to advocate for these bills—and a cleaner, more sustainable future for Colorado.

The post Impactful Outcomes for Key Zero Waste Bills appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

This May 5–11, environmental and recycling businesses, organizations, and individuals across the US are commemorating International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), an annual event highlighting the many benefits of using compost and recycling organics such as food scraps and yard debris. 

Progress Following Regional Compost Guidelines Changes

Here in Colorado’s Front Range, this year’s ICAW marks approximately one year since the region’s primary compost manufacturer took measures to reduce significant contamination challenges by limiting accepted materials to food scraps and yard trimmings only, excluding paper, paper towels, and compostable tableware. These changes prompted most restaurants and businesses to remove all compost bins from customer access. Schools that are part of Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools (GSS) program also needed to pause and adapt student participation in compost collections. Now, one year later, the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley School Districts participating in Eco-Cycle’s GSS program have innovated a shift in their operations to resume composting, accompanied by the use of reusable foodware over single-use products at school events, setting a precedent for other institutions and businesses to follow.

It is essential to teach students right there at the compost bin what is and isn’t compostable, so Eco-Cycle’s environmental educators go “out to lunch” in the school cafeterias every single day to help students as they’re clearing their trays, providing one-on-one training on correctly sorting food scraps at the compost bin. It has been extraordinarily successful, and GSS schools are proving that we can collect clean compost.

Eco-Cycle’s award-winning Green Star Schools program is the first in the nation to address waste reduction and the collection of compostables, in addition to recyclables, in every aspect of school life— from classrooms and hallways to cafeterias and special events. Composting is an essential component of the GSS program as food makes up 50–80% (by weight) of school cafeteria discards. With the addition of Colorado’s new free lunch program for all public school students, food waste has increased. Up to two-thirds of the discards from each GSS are kept out of landfills, which is almost double the national recycling and composting rate. The Eco-Cycle GSS program serves 66 regional schools in two districts—43 in Boulder Valley and 23 in St. Vrain Valley—educating 32,382 students and 4,093 staff members. The successes in these schools would not be possible without the partnerships between Eco-Cycle and custodial, kitchen, administrative, district, and municipal sustainability leadership.

The changes in compost guidelines presented a concerning lost opportunity for students because many of the schools have been composting for 19 years. Committed to giving students the opportunity to compost, Eco-Cycle’s GSS program, Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley School Districts, and individual schools innovated a shift in their operations to adapt to new composting procedures. Eco-Cycle’s team of environmental educators now go on-site in classrooms and cafeterias, providing extensive support in re-educating students and school staff about the changes. 

“Boulder Valley School District began composting with Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools Program in 2005. As a result of this partnership and with support from Boulder County, the City of Boulder, the Town of Superior, and the City/County of Broomfield, Boulder Valley School District has expanded to 43 Green Star Schools spanning two counties, with more to come,” said Ghita Carroll, BVSD Sustainability and Energy Officer. “For students in these schools, Zero Waste is part of their daily routine. Through their hands-on experience reducing waste, composting, and recycling, environmental conservation becomes less of an abstract concept and instead is the norm for these children.”

According to Curtis Leonard, Energy & Sustainability Specialist at St. Vrain Valley School District, “The Green Star Schools program has been an exceptional resource and cornerstone of sustainability programming in many of our schools at SVVSD. At the heart of St. Vrain Valley Schools’ Energy & Sustainability Program is a commitment to conscientiously managing waste and material flows. Through compost education initiatives and nurturing partnerships within our schools, Eco-Cycle and the Green Star Schools program are actively fostering an ethos of sustainability within the culture of our schools.” 

Reusable Zero Waste School Event Kits

Eco-Cycle’s environmental educators were also committed to supporting the schools in composting at events, parties, and meetings. Historically, these gatherings typically involved the use of single-use compostable cutlery, plates, and cups, but these items are no longer allowed in the compost stream. The Eco-Cycle schools team solved that problem with reusables and partnerships. The Town of Superior and the City/County of Broomfield funded the distribution of 43 Zero Waste Event reusable kits. Each kit contains a class set of reusable/washable plates, cups, cutlery, and napkins. With a grant from Boulder County, they will assemble additional kits and prioritize their distribution to Title I schools in both Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley School Districts in the fall. 

Students, parents, and faculty scrape their food scraps into the compost bin, then the reusable plates and utensils are washed in the kitchen or by parent volunteers, and are ready to use again. Reuse reduces waste, saves money and natural resources, results in cleaner compost without disposables, and is a local climate solution.

Keeping organic matter like food scraps out of the landfill is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When landfilled, organic discards don’t just rot, they decompose anaerobically, meaning “without oxygen,” and in the process, they create methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. But if food scraps, yard trimmings and other organic matter are diverted to compost manufacturing and applied to landscapes, they have the opposite effect—they can draw down atmospheric carbon and store it beneficially in the soil. It will also build soil that grows more nutritious food crops and retains water, all without polluting synthetic chemicals. 

As students learn in school about the importance of composting and what materials belong in the compost bin, they take that knowledge home to their families, leading to increased participation in community compost programs.

“Schools are a key part of recycling and compost education, so the Town was thrilled to be able to start Green Star Schools last year,” said Alexis Bullen, Town of Superior Sustainability Manager. “We continue to look for strategies to reduce waste in the first place, which is why it was so exciting to be the first community to launch reusable Zero Waste Event kits for classroom parties and events. Eco-Cycle is a great partner to the Town of Superior and we hope to continue to increase compost collection in our community and make our waste stream more circular.”

Moving forward, Eco-Cycle is working to establish funding support and develop partnerships with more municipalities and school districts to expand access to the program. Support from the City/County of Broomfield means Broomfield schools are the next to be enrolled in Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools Program.

• To learn more about the Eco-Cycle Green Star Schools program, visit ecocycle.org/schools!

The post Growing Green: Composting & Reuse in Green Star Schools appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

In recognition of International Compost Awareness Week, we are celebrating the often overlooked stuff beneath our feet—soil!

Healthy soil nourishes our gardens, filters our water, supports ecosystems, and sequesters carbon. Unfortunately, human activity, such as conventional agricultural methods, overuse of pesticides and herbicides, and construction, have damaged much of the soil we rely on. 

Applying organic matter, such as compost and compost tea, including Eco-Cycle’s Microbe Brew, is an easy way to help restore soils and fight climate change. Everywhere we see soil, including our own backyard, is an opportunity to create a healthier, more resilient world. 

Colorado’s Soils: A Challenging Growing Environment 

You likely know Colorado’s state bird is the lark bunting, and our state flower is the blue columbine—but did you know Colorado has an official state soil? Sietz soil, named after the Sietz stream in the Rio Grande, is found mainly in southwest Colorado in higher, cooler elevations on hills, high valleys, and slopes. The deep, well-draining soil provides the base for Colorado’s world-famous recreational activities, cattle grazing, and forestry. 

Along Colorado’s Front Range, we generally have clay soils, which are dense and poorly draining and can make it challenging for plant roots to grow. Conversely, you may have sandy soil, which does not retain water well. Understanding soil structure is important because it impacts the soil’s ability to store nutrients, carbon, and water. 

Sand, Silt, and Clay Soil Structure

Soil is made up of three main types of particles: sand, silt, and clay. Sand is the biggest, while clay is the smallest. Usually, soil has a mix of these three. The amounts of sand, silt, and clay create the soil’s texture and characteristics. For example, sandy soils have the least capacity to store organic matter and water, while silt particles are medium-sized and balance nutrient- and water-holding capacity with porosity. Clay soil holds nutrients and water very effectively; thus, it offers the highest capacity to store organic matter and sequester carbon. 

To determine what your soil is made of, you can perform an easy test at home with just a jar and water. 

The Soil Type Jar Test

1. Collect about one-third to half a jar of soil from your backyard. Remove any rocks or large objects present. Tip: If you suspect the soil conditions are not uniform (for example, soil has been introduced, or the ground has been disturbed due to construction, etc.), you may want to collect from a few different places in your yard. 
2. Fill the remainder of the jar with water, leaving a little space at the top. 
3. Cap the jar and shake vigorously. 
4. Let the jar sit for one minute. 
5. After a minute, check the bottom layer of the jar. You will see the coarse sand layer at the bottom. Mark the top of the layer. 
6. Let the jar sit for 2 hours. 
7. Mark the top of the next layer—this is the silt layer. 
8. Let the jar sit for 48 hours. 
9. The last layer to emerge is the clay layer. Mark the top. 
10. Now, use a ruler to measure the height of each layer and the total height of all layers. 
11. Calculate the percent present of sand, silt, and clay.  For example, if the height of all layers is 6 inches, and the bottom “coarse sand” layer is 2 inches, the middle “silt” layer is 2 inches, and the top “clay “ layer is 2 inches, then the percentage of each layer is 33%.

Use this soil texture pyramid to determine your soil type. Simply enter your percentage for sand, silt, and clay in the form, then scroll down to find your “USDA Texture” type! Or use the graphic below for quick reference.

You can also have your soil tested in a laboratory. Two laboratories we recommend are Colorado State University and, if you want a more thorough analysis, Ward Labs’ Soil Health Analysis. 

A Tip on Plant Selection: Native Plants Are Naturally Compatible  

A loamy soil (40% sand, 40% silt, 20% clay) creates the ideal growing conditions for many plants, particularly vegetables. But fear not if you find yourself in the likely scenario of high-clay soils. You can still create a lush garden by planting native species adapted to Colorado’s soils and low-precipitation climate. Native plants require less water and fertilizer, are pest-resistant, and help foster biodiversity by supporting insect and bird populations. The Colorado Native Plant Society has an excellent list of native species to plant in your yard. 

Bring Your Soils to Life with Compost and Compost Tea

No matter the texture, the soil in your backyard may be depleted of its microbial activity from pesticide and fungicide use or due to depletion through harvesting, lawn clipping removal, or neglect. 

Restoring soil health is vital for addressing climate change. Soil rich in nutrients and microbes promotes the uptake of carbon dioxide by plants and converts it into vegetation––in other words, it sequesters carbon from the atmosphere and reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Soil’s ability to store carbon is three times more than that of plants or our atmosphere.

To restore the health of your soil, just add organic matter! In nature, as vegetation falls to the ground, it slowly decays, providing minerals and nutrients needed by plants. We can mimic this natural cycle by applying compost or compost tea to our trees, gardens, and lawns.

Spread Compost. You can add organic matter to your soils by spreading compost directly to your backyard landscapes. Commercial, homemade, or farm-sourced compost will do. For grass cover, place the compost on the surface of the grass at a depth of ½” so as not to smother the grass and gently rake it in with a leaf rake. Try to spread it over the grass as evenly as possible. You can also add compost to plant beds, shrubs, and vegetable gardens. 

Apply Eco-Cycle’s Microbe Brew Compost Tea. Compost tea is a liquid concentrate of living microorganisms that boost soil health. These microbes digest organic matter and minerals and turn them into plant-available forms that can be readily absorbed by roots, stimulating growth.

Microbe Brew can be purchased at the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) window. We recommend applying the brew to lawns, gardens, flower beds, trees, and shrubs the same day you purchase it because the tea will become less oxygenated over time, reducing active microbes.

This May, raise a glass, or better yet the whole jug, of Microbe Brew to build healthy soils in your own backyard!

The post Bring Your Soil Back to Life for a Healthier, More Resilient World   appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

You may know Eco-Cycle as the operator of the Boulder County Recycling Center, where we process more than 55,000 tons of some of the cleanest recyclable materials in the nation. Or maybe you’ve visited the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), the first facility of its kind to accept dozens of items that can’t be recycled in your curbside bin. Zero Waste services like these are the roots from which our community Zero Waste programs have grown, demonstrating that from localized beginnings can emerge a canopy of environmental resilience. Read on to see how our programs are blooming this spring!

Turning Over a New Leaf: Transitioning to an Electric Fleet

Later this spring, Eco-Cycle will welcome its second battery-electric vehicle! In 2023, Eco-Cycle introduced our community to the first-in-the-nation electric compost collection truck, collecting compostable organic discards from businesses and schools across Boulder County! Our newest EV fleet member will collect recycling from our commercial and school customers. Switching our fleet to electric vehicles helps us realize all the climate benefits of recycling and composting without generating transportation emissions. Our goal is to help lead the transition of commercial fleet electrification for all haulers, merging our mission of Zero Waste with Zero Emissions for a more climate-resilient future.

Deepening Our Roots: Community Compost System

We’re demonstrating that composting and carbon farming are critical nature-based climate solutions by taking the first steps toward developing a Circular Community Compost System in Boulder County. In this system, residents and businesses generate clean food scraps and yard trimmings that are received by local compost manufacturers (rather than being transported to an industrial facility located far away) to make high-quality compost. The compost is then applied to local farms, gardens, and lawns to build healthy, drought-resistant soils that absorb carbon from the atmosphere while growing more nutritious food!

To model this system, in 2022 we began building a network of on-farm compost production sites within Boulder County. Today, five farm partners have Aerated Static Pile (ASP) compost production systems that take materials generated on the farm (such as manure, animal bedding, plant trimmings, and food scraps) and produce a premium-grade compost that is applied to the farm’s lands.

Our next step is to deepen these roots of local composting by bringing clean, organic discards from the public to the farms for composting. In 2023, we successfully changed local regulations so that farms can now accept food scraps generated from the community and compost them on-farm. Next up, we’re developing a system for CSA members and farm-to-table restaurants to send their food scraps to local farms to be composted, closing the loop on our food system and creating an impactful climate solution!

Nurturing Environmental Stewards: Green Star Schools

There is no better way to change our society’s culture of wasteful habits than by educating and engaging children, motivating them and their families to protect the environment. Eco-Cycle launched our Schools program in 1987, and since then, hundreds of thousands of students have grown up with an exceptional degree of environmental literacy thanks to our first-in-the-nation, science-based programming. 

Sprouting from our original Schools program, we launched our Green Star Schools Program in 2005—the first program in the nation to address waste reduction and the collection of compostables and recyclables in every aspect of school life. We make Zero Waste an integral part of the daily school routine by increasing environmental literacy, providing infrastructure, and changing behavior. As a result, schools reduce their waste by up to 67%, and because we actively involve families in waste reduction, Green Star students and their families learn that they can significantly contribute to their own health, and the health of the natural world.

From our initial enrollment of four schools, today we serve 60 schools and over 35,000 students and staff. During the 2023–2024 school year, we’re making history by enrolling an all-time high of six schools into the Green Star Schools program! 

Branching Out: Statewide Policy

Eco-Cycle is dedicated to building Zero Waste communities across Colorado and beyond. Throughout our 48-year history, we’ve helped communities pass ordinances to reduce waste, decrease plastic use, improve access to recycling services, and promote composting. Emerging from these successes, Eco-Cycle branched out in 2019 to advocate for statewide policy to guide all Colorado communities toward a Zero Waste future. 

Each year since, we’ve successfully helped draft and advocate for the passage of Zero Waste legislation, including two historic policies: 1) Colorado’s Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (House Bill 21-1162), which, when fully implemented this year, will ban plastic checkout bags from distribution at large Colorado retailers, and ban polystyrene foam food and beverage containers from being distributed by all restaurants, and 2) a Producer Responsibility program that will create a fully producer-funded and operated statewide recycling system for all consumer-facing packaging and printed paper in 2026. The successful implementation of this law will provide recycling for ALL Coloradans and take our state from a Zero Waste laggard to a leader. 

Working from the foundation of these and other legislative successes, we’re championing more Zero Waste bills in 2024 than ever! In this current session, we’re working hard to write, advocate for, and pass Zero Waste bills to disincentivize proposed plastics-to-fuel facilities, ensure sustainable tire recycling, promote right-to-repair legislation, and more!

Learn more about these bills and other statewide legislative campaigns!

The post Eco-Cycle Initiatives Are Branching Out in 2024 appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Eco-Cycle’s Zero Waste Hauling and Consulting Services team works with a sizable roster of local businesses to meet their recycling, composting, and hard-to-recycle hauling needs as well as guiding them toward the cutting edge of sustainable best practices. Many of our customers go above and beyond the requirements of Boulder’s Universal Zero Waste Ordinance, and one such customer is SomaLogic (which recently merged with Standard BioTools), a Boulder-based biotech company specializing in proteomics, the study of proteins. 

The Process

Identifying ways to recycle difficult materials and generate less waste from the start, while actually saving the organization money, are just some of the benefits of a circular economy. SomaLogic adopted many of these Zero Waste practices to transition away from a linear take-make-waste production model. 

For example, Crissy DeGruccio, Senior Supply Chain Manager at SomaLogic, gave us some insight on the purchasing decisions that SomaLogic made in their Assay Services laboratory, where thousands of exact protein measurements are done on small blood samples. These decisions resulted in higher recyclability (and reduction of waste) of the lab products they utilize in their processes:

“Efforts were made to look at our biggest source of plastic wastes. We found that having individually packed buffers in the Assay Laboratory was generating a huge amount of waste, especially as assay volumes grew. We identified buffers that could be made in bulk, generating considerably less waste. Metrics were developed to identify the costs of the extra plastic in our laboratory. We looked at the Purchasing costs, as well as the extra manpower to fill additional bottles and the cost to recycle the additional waste. We realized there were benefits to getting rid of the plastics that benefited everyone in Operations.

“A big challenge was determining ways to make bulk buffers that would still work in the Assay Services laboratory and provide a quality product and results.  Manufacturing spent quite a bit of time performing work to ensure accurate volumes could be dispensed from a bulk buffer. We also needed to identify ways to store the new bulk materials properly.

“It is a much better process for us now. We generate much less plastic waste, and this saves us time on filling buffers. It has saved us money and it makes us proud that we have found ways to be more green! We also worked closely with Eco-Cycle to ensure we identified all the different materials in our lab that could be recycled.”

– Crissy DeGruccio, SomaLogic purchasing department

Other impressive sustainability initiatives at SomaLogic

A robust and egalitarian Green Team of around two dozen people from across all departments and employment levels that works together to strategize new sustainability initiatives and find new ways to engage in the community. They offer sustainability programming including a Lunch ‘n’ Learn series that has hosted recycling trainings with Eco-Cycle staff and a field trip to the Boulder County Recycling Center operated by Eco-Cycle as well as the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM).

Excellent educational signage on-site and meticulously maintained recycling bins everywhere you look, including hard-to-recycle material collections where employees are encouraged to deposit not only plastic film and other materials generated at work, but are also welcome to bring in items from home. Watch the video tour in which Madeline “Mads” Welch, a Quality Control Laboratory Associate and co-leader of the company’s Green Team, shows us some of the infrastructure at SomaLogic/Standard BioTools that facilitates their standard of excellence. 

A SomaHub intranet accessible to both remote and on-site workers where the Green Team curates useful information, coordinates seasonal challenges for eco-holidays and sustainability, and shares opportunities to get involved and give back to the community, such as:

A Litterbug Hike in which Green Team volunteers gathered at the Boulder Creek Path and picked up trash. 

A hugely successful Earth Day/Arbor Day plant swap hosted in-office. Staff brought in seedlings, seeds, pots, full-grown plants—and everything had been claimed by the end of the day.

A World Water Day challenge to raise funds for eco-activist youth Mari Copeny’s foundation helping Flint, Michigan.

A Holiday Drive to reduce textile/home goods waste in partnership with Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM and local charities Sister Carmen Community Center and A Precious Child.

Energy efficiency on-site: Starting in 2020, the company has converted all fluorescent lighting to LED lighting. To save on the cost and waste of swapping in new lighting fixtures, they opted to remove the ballast and utilize “plug and play” bulbs that fit right into the same fixture. One of their buildings on Wilderness Place has converted to motion-sensor lighting in all labs, and are working toward converting the other building as well. In the meantime, every light switch has a reminder sticker above it to turn off the lights when you’re not in the room.

According to Chris Tapparo, Senior Manager of Laboratory Operations and one of the founding members of the Green Team, both the incoming staff as well as customers at SomaLogic find value in their sustainability initiatives, with some customers vetting the company’s recycling program and other eco-efforts as a deciding factor in their decision of whether to go with SomaLogic. With the help of a diversion report created through Eco-Cycle’s Hauling and Consulting Services, Chris was able to send metrics on discards to an inquiring prospect for both buildings when the customer expressed interest.

SomaLogic’s “lab results” demonstrate how one company’s sustainability ethic led to new solutions in the recycling world. Thank you to SomaLogic and its incredible staff for demonstrating how we all have a role to play in building circular economies!  

• Interested in becoming more like SomaLogic? Learn more about Eco-Cycle’s Zero Waste Hauling and Consulting services.

“The Green Team’s work in Boulder is a shining example of continuously improving our efforts to create sustainable and environmentally friendly business processes. We see sustainability as a vital step in protecting our planet and also a way of delivering value to our customers who are increasingly seeking partners who prioritize green practices.”

– Michael Egholm, President and CEO of Standard BioTools

Many thanks to Emilia Costales, Chris Tapparo, Madeline Welch, Crissy DeGruccio, and Michael Egholm for sharing insights on the sustainability practices at SomaLogic/Standard BioTools, with special thanks to Nick Miranda and Paul Bosman at Eco-Cycle.

The post Business Spotlight: SomaLogic Labs Help Pioneer New Recycling Stream appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

What better way to celebrate spring than by using compost to nourish the soils your garden, lawn, and trees depend on? Starting April 6, Microbe Brew Compost Tea will be available for purchase at the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) window, to help you infuse your soils with beneficial microorganisms that promote healthy growth all season long. This season Microbe Brew has been reformulated and is teeming with more diverse microbial life than ever!

Compost tea is a liquid concentrate of living microorganisms that boost soil health. In nature, as vegetation falls to the ground, it slowly decays, providing minerals and nutrients needed by plants. We can mimic this natural cycle by applying compost or compost tea to our trees, gardens, and lawns!

Build Healthy Soils with Microbe Brew Compost Tea!

With depleted soils, dry heat, little rainwater, pests and weeds, Colorado’s spring and summer climate doesn’t exactly create ideal growing conditions. Additionally, it’s likely that your backyard contains clay soil, which is dense and can be a challenge for plants’ roots to grow. Or perhaps your soil is very sandy and does not retain water. Eco-Cycle’s Microbe Brew Compost Tea tackles these problems by infusing your soil with beneficial microorganisms, helping create soil that retains more moisture, yields more plentiful vegetation, and grows more pest-resistant plants!

We produce Microbe Brew onsite by feeding the cleanest food scraps and yard trimmings to our resident red wiggler worms (Eisenia fetida). As organic material passes through the gut of the worm, it is converted to worm castings (also known as vermicompost)—an especially rich form of compost. The castings are then brewed in highly oxygenated water under optimal conditions for the beneficial microorganisms present in the castings to reproduce rapidly.

How do I use Microbe Brew Compost Tea?

Microbe Brew is easy to use and requires no prep work. Using a lawn sprayer or a standard watering can, sprinkle Microbe Brew Compost Tea directly to soils in your garden, lawn, or around trees and shrubs—anywhere you want to boost plant growth, including on household plants—then thoroughly moisten the soil with water. Your plants’ roots will work symbiotically with the Microbe Brew microorganisms in the soil to get the different nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong!

• Watch the video demonstrating how to apply Microbe Brew Compost Tea

Unlike conventional plant foods you’ll find at the store, which act as an “IV” to transfer artificial nutrients to your plants, Microbe Brew infuses your soil with millions of living microbes, creating an ideal habitat for plant growth all season long.

Where can I get Microbe Brew Compost Tea?

Pick up your Microbe Brew Compost Tea at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM window, located at 6400 Arapahoe Rd. One gallon of Microbe Brew covers 200–400 square feet; five gallons cover an average city lot. Microbe Brew is sold in 1-gallon, 2.5-gallon, or 5-gallon containers. To promote reuse, we assess a small bottle deposit fee that is refunded when the empty jugs are returned for us to refill and resell. Please rinse out the jugs (water only, no soap) and return them at the CHaRM window during your next visit!

• Learn more at ecocycle.org/microbe-brew!

The post Nourish Your Soil This Spring with Microbe Brew Compost Tea! appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Did you know that Eco-Cycle was founded by local activists who helped start the recycling revolution? In 1976, Eco-Cycle volunteers organized one of the very first curbside recycling programs in the nation by educating residents about the value of recycling and using old school buses to collect materials from sidewalks across Boulder.

Over the decades, Eco-Cycle volunteers have joined together to create even bigger impacts at the local and state level, such as engaging the public in Zero Waste education, advocating for ordinances that support the expansion of recycling and composting, and championing statewide policy to reduce plastic pollution.

Today, our “Eco-Leader” network continues to thrive with over 1,000 volunteers. There are many ways YOU can get involved to help our community and planet! Below are some upcoming volunteer opportunities to engage with your community and help divert valuable materials from the landfill. If you’re eager to jump in and make a real impact, join us!

Volunteer to Table for Earth Month

April 22 is Earth Day, but we’re busy celebrating all month long! We’d love to work with volunteers that can help represent Eco-Cycle at fun Earth Month events. As a tabler, you’ll get an Eco-Cycle shirt and a tabling partner, and spend your time distributing resources and playing a recycling sorting game with event attendees!

• Sign up for Earth Month tabling events here!

Earth Month event dates and times are:

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Volunteer at the CHaRM or help bring CHaRM on the Road!

Eco-Cycle’s Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) located in Boulder is the first facility of its kind in the nation! At the CHaRM, residents and businesses can drop off over two dozen “hard-to-recycle” materials—items that can be recycled, but not in your curbside recycling bin—including electronics, block foam, mattresses, small household appliances, and so much more!

There are two types of volunteer experiences with the CHaRM. You can 1) Become a CHaRM Lane Volunteer, helping customers who are dropping off items at our hard-to-recycle facility (located at 6400 Arapahoe Rd, Boulder), or 2) You can hit the road with Eco-Cycle staff as we team up with local municipalities to bring CHaRM to communities, collecting materials across Boulder County and beyond!

To learn more about becoming a CHaRM Lane Volunteer at our Boulder facility, sign up for one of our upcoming orientations!

To volunteer at one of our CHaRM on the Road community events, choose a date/location and sign up here!

• Saturday, April 13, Superior: Eldorado K–8, 8:00 am–1:30 pm
• Saturday, April 20, Lafayette: Near 287 & South Boulder Rd, 8:00 am–1:30 pm
• Saturday, April 27, Louisville: Ascent Community Church, 8:00 am–1:30 pm

Volunteers will be trained and then will help sort recyclables (mostly e-waste) alongside Eco-Cycle staff during these outdoor events. You do not need to be available for the entire shift to sign up, so don’t be shy! 

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¿Hablas español? We Need Your Input to Create Bilingual Recycling Signs!

If you’re passionate about education and sustainability and are fluent in Spanish, we need your input! Currently, the educational displays at the Boulder County Recycling Center, operated by Eco-Cycle, are in English only. This year, we’re partnering with Boulder County to make all educational signage bilingual in English and Spanish!

If you are bilingual, be a part of our focus group and help shape the equitability of these displays!

Focus groups will be held at the Boulder County Recycling Center, located at 1901 63rd Street, Boulder, on the following dates: 

• Tuesday, April 2, from 6:00–7:30 pm
• Wednesday, April 3, from noon–1:30 pm

Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP or direct your questions to Chandra Valenza, Community Outreach Manager for Boulder County, at valenza@bouldercounty.gov.

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Earth Month is a whirlwind of climate action, community building, and absolute fun! If you’re looking for a way to dedicate some time to conserve resources, engage with your community, and protect the planet, join us for one of these impactful volunteer opportunities. We appreciate your commitment to your community and the environment, and are grateful for any time you can spend with us!

The post Zero Waste, Infinite Impact: Local Volunteer Opportunities with Eco-Cycle  appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Incineration of plastic waste or the conversion of plastic waste to fuels—often referred to by ambiguous umbrella terms like “chemical recycling,” “advanced recycling,” and “molecular recycling”—is peddled as an advanced solution to the world’s growing plastic waste problem. Supporters promise that these processes convert plastic waste back into useful fuels or chemicals, closing the recycling loop. 

However, these technologies aren’t recycling, but rather a form of incineration that perpetuates fossil fuel extraction and the resulting impacts on people and climate. Rather than taking responsibility with authentic solutions like reducing the use of single-use, disposable plastics or establishing recycling markets for them, the plastics industry is trying to sell false and harmful technologies that are notorious for releasing toxic pollutants, creating real impacts for public health and the environment. 

Colorado currently has no waste incineration facilities in the state, and we want to keep it that way! 

Colorado can take a bold step to block pollution with a critical anti-incineration bill. That’s why Eco-Cycle is championing Senate Bill 24-150, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Cutter and Rep. Meg Froelich. While SB24-150 passed the second reading in the Senate on Wednesday, March 13, an amendment we did not support was added to the bill removing a proposed ban on plastics-to-fuel from the bill. If passed as is, SB24-150 would still make Colorado the first state in the nation to ban the construction and operation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) incinerators. Keep informed on ways you can support this bill by signing up for policy updates on Zero Waste legislation here.

What is chemical recycling, waste incineration, and plastics-to-fuel?

Chemical recycling, waste incineration, plastics-to-fuel, and other terms championed by the plastics industry refer to various processes (including pyrolysis, gasification, and depolymerization)  which break down plastics using heat, pressure, or solvents. The industry pushes these techniques as efficient ways to handle hard-to-recycle plastics. However, according to a report by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), the actual recycling rate of facilities claiming to use these technologies is alarmingly low. Most of the output from these processes is not recycled into new plastics but instead ends up as fuel for industrial processes, contributing to the fossil fuel economy and exacerbating climate change. While plastics-to-plastics chemical recycling may become viable, there is no place for dirty plastics-to-fuel processes in Colorado’s circular economy.

Impacts on People and the Planet

Waste-to-energy facilities are costly, inefficient, and waste more energy than they generate. They are also usually located in disproportionately impacted communities, emitting harmful pollutants and contributing to climate change and health risks.

The process’s energy input comes largely from nonrenewable sources, thus contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. According to GAIA, incinerators are only able to generate small amounts of energy while destroying large amounts of reusable materials. In contrast, Zero Waste practices such as recycling and composting conserve three to five times the amount of energy produced by waste incineration.

Waste incineration processes use and produce hazardous chemicals and generate hazardous waste. Toxic pollutants and hazardous wastes from MSW incineration and plastics-to-fuel facilities include dioxins, arsenic, mercury, and benzene, among many others. These toxins are correlated with health impacts, including cancers, neurological disorders, heart problems, and reproductive, immune, and respiratory disorders.

Nearly 80% of facilities that incinerate MSW, including the burning of plastics, are built in low-income and BIPOC communities. The lack of stringent regulations and oversight of chemical recycling plants only exacerbates risks to these vulnerable communities.

How YOU Can Help Keep Colorado Incineration-Free!

While waste incineration processes are often touted as an innovative solution to the plastic waste crisis, a deeper look reveals significant health and environmental drawbacks. Eco-Cycle and partners are championing Senate Bill 24-150 to keep Colorado free of Municipal Solid Waste incineration facilities and instead work to reduce plastic waste and find genuine recycling solutions.

• Read the fact sheet Say No to Polluting Waste-to-Energy Incineration and Plastics-to-Fuel Facilities in Colorado
• Lea la hoja informativa Diga no a las instalaciones contaminantes de incineración de residuos para producir energía y de plástico a combustible en Colorado
• Sign up for updates on actions you can take to support SB24-150! 

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We’ve all been there: We stand in front of a recycling bin with something that we’re not sure is recyclable. With all the best intentions, we toss it in the recycling bin, hoping that with a little bit of luck, this item is recyclable. There’s a name for this: “wish-cycling,” or tossing items into the recycling bin in the hopes that they are recyclable, even when we’re unsure. And although wish-cycling is something we’ve all done with good intention, it can lead to a host of negative impacts on the recycling process. Let’s explore some of the most commonly wish-cycled materials, and why these items don’t belong in your curbside recycling bin! 

Plastic Bags: A Tangled Mess

Plastic bags are not accepted in curbside recycling programs because they tend to wind around machinery, causing costly shutdowns and repairs. Eco-Cycle operates the Boulder County Recycling Center, and shutting down machinery to remove plastic bags tangled up in gears happens every day, often multiple times a day, slowing down operations or even causing damage to machinery. For these reasons, keep all types of plastic bags—grocery store checkout bags, bread bags, trash bags, etc.—out of your curbside recycling bin, and please DO NOT bag your recyclables.

Try these ideas:

• To reduce plastic waste in the first place, remember to bring your own reusable bags when shopping! You can also try to find reuse options for some single-use bags, such as using them as trash bag liners or reusing them when grocery shopping. Some plastic bags can be recycled at specialized drop-off facilities, such as the Eco-Cycle Center-for-Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM).
• Please do not bag your recyclables. If you are using a bag for recycling, please empty your recyclables loose into the recycling bin and reuse the bag.  

Paper and Plastic Cups: Coated in Confusion

Whether made of paper or plastic, disposable cups often create confusion when it comes to recycling. Office paper and newspapers are recyclable, so surely that means paper cups are recyclable, too? Plastic bottles are recyclable . . .so that means plastic cups are also recyclable . . . right? Unfortunately, paper cups are coated with a thin layer of plastic or wax to prevent leaks, making them a material the paper markets don’t want to buy from recycling facilities. In most communities, these cups are not recyclable (but check your local guidelines to make sure).

Plastic cups with a #1 or #6 on the bottom—which include red Solo brand cups and clear cups used for cocktails—shatter in the recycling process, and the markets that purchase plastic do not want to buy these materials. For these reasons, these plastic cups are typically not recyclable. The only plastic cups that are more commonly recyclable are #2 and #5 plastic cups typically used as souvenir cups.

Try these ideas:

• The best bet? Reduce single-use plastic waste by bringing your reusable cup, bottle, or mug with you wherever you go! If you’re planning a large event, check out companies providing reusable cups, such as r.World.
  

Batteries: A Spark of Danger

Batteries, especially the common household types, might seem recyclable at first: Metal cans can go into your curbside recycling bins, so why not “metal” batteries? However, tossing batteries into the recycling bin can ignite huge recycling problems! Batteries are highly flammable and can cause fires in recycling facilities. Batteries should also not be thrown in the trash because they contain toxic chemicals that can leak into groundwater. Always handle batteries as household hazardous waste, and drop them off at specialized battery recycling programs or at your community’s hazardous waste collection facility. 

Try this idea:

• Lucky for us, there is an easy, and ultimately less expensive alternative to disposable batteries—rechargeable batteries!

Recycling Right Requires No Luck!

While wish-cycling stems from a desire to do good, remember that recycling isn’t based on luck! Knowing what is and is not recyclable depends on checking your local recycling guidelines. By understanding what can and cannot be recycled curbside, especially when it comes to tricky items like plastic bags, paper and plastic cups, and batteries, we can all contribute to a more efficient and effective recycling system. Let’s not leave the recycling up to chance!

• View Recycling Guidelines for Boulder County
• See what’s accepted at the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle-Materials
• Check out guidelines for Boulder County’s Hazardous Materials Management Facility

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