Growing Gardens Sustainable Agriculture
Due to COVID-19, Growing Gardens Community Plant Sale is now online!
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Tips for Recycling in the Bathroom
Many types of packaging used for bathroom products are recyclable, but as a recycling opportunity the bathroom is frequently overlooked. Follow these simple guidlelines for recycling right in the bathroom. A dedicated container in the area adds convenience and makes recycling more practical. Add a small bin under the sink for recyclables. Labels do not…
Recycling Right in Boulder County
What do equipment downtime, excessive maintenance, added labor costs and reduced commodity values all have in common? They all can result from contamination in the recycling stream. Follow these simple rules to keep the recycling stream clean and the Boulder County Recycling Center operating efficiently: 1. NO LOOSE PLASTIC BAGS AND NO MATERIAL IN PLASTIC…
Follow These Steps to Protect Western’s Essential Workers
Western Disposal is continuing to provide both residential and commercial collection during the State of Colorado’s Stay-at-Home order. Things aren’t entirely “business as usual” though — please help us out by following these guidelines: DO bag and tie your trash: this protects our workers from handling infectious trash and causing inadvertent transmission. DO empty and…
Environmental Costs of Online Shopping
Virtually all of us at one time or another have enjoyed the convenience and ease of online shopping to purchase everything from toothpaste to mattresses. With companies such as Amazon, Instacart, Blue Apron, in addition to the online options from traditional retailers, Americans spent over $500 billion in online purchases in 2018. However, this convenience…
Food For Thought
Over the past decade, composting has shed its hippie-lifestyle image and become a mainstay in government policy efforts to increase diversion rates and reduce greenhouse gas emmissions. Composting is an important piece of the puzzle in diversion from landfills and overall climate stewardship, but isn’t the best use of our excess and uneaten food. By…
The Modern Landfill
When it comes to sustainability, the role of the landfill is most often portrayed in unflattering terms. Over the past 30 years the drive to divert material from the landfill has changed the template of recycling. From dual stream bin collection to commingled carts, more and more materials have been incorporated as acceptable items as…
Greening the St. Vrain Valley School District
If the St. Vrain Valley Schools were a city, its student and staff population of more than 38,000 would put it among the 25 largest in the state. As with any population this size, resource stewardship is important both fiscally and environmentally. Laurel Mattrey, St. Vrain’s Energy and Sustainability Manager, shares that school district leadership…
Managing Battery Waste
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans throw away more than three billion (approximately 180,000 tons) of batteries annually. The vast majority of those landfilled are alkaline. The soup of harmful substances contained in alkaline batteries (which include toxic heavy metals and corrosive acids) are sealed in the manufacturing process, and consumers do not come…
AMP Robotics
As the recycling industry continues to face market and quality challenges, companies such as AMP Robotics are creating hi-tech solutions. With charges for recycling continuing to escalate ($32.50 per ton as of June 2019 vs. $5.00 per ton May 2018 at the Boulder County Recycling Center), innovation with robotic sorting is gaining interest at material…
