Let's flip the script from telling the same old story about our waste woes to instead shining a brighter light on our recycling accomplishments. The history of how the recycling industry got here is always important to understand, but the solutions and immense progress often get ignored. “The scientific and engineering advancements that the recycling and composting industries have achieved are phenomenal, with more on the horizon,” said Kristin Kim, executive director of Recycle Colorado. “Our collaborative problem solving is something that we can all take pride in on a community and government level.”

Students’ commitment to recycling is alive and well, as shown by their creative and informative artwork. Today, Recycle Colorado announced the winners of its 14th annual poster contest. Every year, students in kindergarten through 12th grade take up their pencils, markers and computers to showcase their artistic talent and recycling know-how.

Each year Recycle Colorado seeks nominations for our annual Recycling Awards. These prestigious awards recognize governmental entities, individuals, companies, organization and media for their excellence in recycling or promotion of recycling.

Learn more about a career in sustainable materials management

Recycle Colorado is seeking candidates for its Conference Scholarship Program. The scholarship provides funds for college students to attend the 2021 Summit for Recycling virtual conference.

There’s no watercooler or coffee shop talk, so virtual networking (#vNetworking) is what’s on trend! Leading the way is Recycle Colorado with the launch of our inaugural membership appreciation event, which embodied the organization’s quick pivot to the virtual world and use of affordable platforms.

What happens to the things I recycle?

All of Colorado’s K-12 students are invited to showcase their artistic talent and their commitment to recycling by participating in Recycle Colorado’s 14th Annual Recycling Poster Contest.

In Their Own Words

Special Guest: Sarah B. Jones, Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp.

Give your support to recycling this season

Congratulations to the following candidates who were elected to the Recycle Colorado Board of Directors for a three-year term.

Recycling is the easiest thing we can all do to improve our community, conserve natural resources, and create jobs. This month, help celebrate by taking part in one of the following activities. Together we can make recycling bigger and better 365 days a year.

In Their Own Words

Special Guest
Laura Levesque, Recycle Colorado

In November, eligible Recycle Colorado members will elect five (5) candidates to serve on the Board of Directors for a three-year term (2021-2023, ending December 2023). Recycle Colorado members will receive an email in October with more information about the election. The Nominating Committee is confident that the presented candidates have the time, ability and inclination to serve on the Board of Directors. Questions about the slate of candidates or the selection process can be directed to Tim Dailey, Board President.

After several years of global market challenges for recyclable commodities, such as China’s limits on importing recyclables, state legislators, with support from Recycle Colorado, took several tangible steps toward creating local markets to boost our local economies. The Front Range Waste Diversion program was created in 2019 and provides grants and technical assistance to Front Range communities to increase recycling, composting, and waste reduction. This year the legislature passed a bill to identify a structure and governing guidance for a Recycling End Market Development Center to support the development and expansion of end-market businesses in Colorado. Both of these programs enhance the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity program, a cornerstone grant program championed by Recycle Colorado in 2007.

Solid leadership is of the utmost importance in times of change. Recycle Colorado is proud to celebrate a diverse group of recycling stewards. Join us in acknowledging the 2020 Recycling Awards recipients. This year’s annual awards highlight the achievements of individuals, the dedication of schools and teachers to instill recycling habits, the commitment of lawmakers to increase waste diversion, and more.

Students, from all corners of Colorado, competed for just three conference scholarships awarded by Recycle Colorado this year, and the recipients were all from Colorado State University -- an impressive achievement for CSU and its academics. At the virtual Summit for Recycling conference, students will learn about career opportunities in the recycling, materials management and sustainability fields, while connecting with private businesses, local government, nonprofits, and university representatives.

We all know that recycling and composting in Colorado has been lagging behind the national average. Our state waste diversion goals are coming up quickly, with the first benchmark in 2021 of 32% for the Front Range and 28% statewide. Increasing organics recycling through composting is critical to reaching our goals.

Seven of Colorado’s 10 largest cities in the Front Range don’t provide curbside recycling to all residents. Front Range communities, which recycle and compost only 18% of their residential waste, have a long way to go to get to 32% by 2021 as outlined in Colorado’s materials management plan.

Forty percent of food produced in the United States is never eaten, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. That is enough to feed 164 million Americans their full, varied diet every day of the year. Wasted food is the single largest item going into our landfills. 

Colorado’s first recycling grant program, the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity Program, has awarded almost $25 million to entities developing recycling infrastructure in the state since 2007. The potential upheaval in global markets presents an opportunity for the U.S. and Colorado recyclers to improve their materials quality and to create local markets that will boost our local economies. Colorado’s newest grant program, the Front Range Waste Diversion Program, will offer approximately $2.5 million for waste diversion projects in its first grant cycle this year.

Measure helps Colorado attract recycling businesses, investors and entrepreneurs, create local jobs

As we continue to face a global pandemic, the Colorado legislature took a bold measure and passed legislation to boost recycling in the state and create local jobs. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, manufacturers have been demanding more recycled feedstock and they need more of it sourced nationally and locally. Colorado is currently a small contributor to the recycling economy--only recycling and composting 17% of its municipal solid waste (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2018)--less than half the national average of 35%. This bill seeks to change that.