By any measure, the amount, impacts, and lost opportunity of our food waste are enormous. The USDA estimates that 133 billion pounds of food at the retail and consumer level goes uneaten; in a country where 12 % of households, and 1 in 3 Coloradans, lack consistent access to adequate food. Wasted food represents 22%…
Many of our customers are confused by the wide variety of products that claim to be either compostable or biodegradable and whether these products can go into a compost container. These terms do have a key difference that impacts their disposal. For an item to be considered compostable, it must be able to break down…
The event industry, and by extension catering, was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic. With a ‘Stay at Home’ order enacted early on, and gatherings limited to 10 people, business evaporated almost overnight. It’s somewhat ironic then that Bridget Nannen, owner and founder of Greens Point Catering located in Longmont, reflects on the…
We’ve all heard the adage “small actions can make a big difference”. Unfortunately in the case of our local composting program, small actions of carelessness and indifference are wreaking havoc, contaminating the compost material stream and threatening the program’s very existence. A1 Organics, one of the only processors in the region that accepts food waste…
Most of us need to look no further than our own trash cans to realize that our take-out and food delivery habits are generating A LOT of packaging waste. And despite the ebbing pandemic that fueled the trend, it’s not expected to slow down any time soon; the food delivery industry is projected to continue…
The city of Boulder’s disposable bag fee, in effect since July 2013, is charged on all plastic and paper checkout bags at all food stores in the city. Revenue from this fee, which generates approximately $240,000 annually, is earmarked for programs related to keeping single-use bags out of the waste stream. It funds numerous local…
An estimated 55,000 mattresses and box springs are discarded each day in the US, resulting in 450 million pounds of waste annually and filling more than 100 million feet of landfill space. Spring Back Colorado, Western Disposal’s partner in mattress recycling, located in Commerce City and serving counties in the Mountains and across the Front…
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” –Maya Angelou Whether you’re a crafter, an artist, a teacher or a parent in search of kids crafting supplies, Art Parts Creative Reuse Center, located at 3080 Valmont in Boulder, is calling your name. Established in 2011, the founders of this…
Boulder has long been a national leader in conservation and sustainability when it comes to food production, food waste, and many other issues related to what we eat, how we get it, and what we do with the waste. One new entry into the climate focused food sector is Nude Foods Market. This new grocery…
There is huge opportunity to recycle items that cannot go into your curbside bin. Often referred to as ‘hard-to-recycle’, these items are typically heavy, bulky or require special handling or disposal. Accessibility and convenience are key to increasing recycling participation, and when designing our new Materials Management Center (MMC), located at 2051 63rd Street in…
It will be no surprise to readers that due to the rapid pace of technology and burgeoning consumer demand, electronic waste is now the world’s fastest growing waste stream. Most electronic devices reach the end of their useful life after only a year or two, and in many households the need to responsibly dispose of…
Click below for the list of observed Holidays. If your pickup day falls on a weekday on or after any of the holidays listed, your pickup will be delayed by one day during that week.
