Zero Waste Colorado: Building Colorado's New Recycling Economy
THE STATE OF RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING IN COLORADO REPORTS
>>>READ OUR LATEST REPORT: The State of Recycling and Composting in Colorado 2021
In 2020, Colorado’s statewide recycling and composting rate was just 15%, which is less than half the national recycling and composting rate of 32%. While the state as a whole is failing to make significant progress to increase recycling and composting, some leading Colorado communities are recovering more than 50% of their discarded materials, demonstrating that recycling and composting can be successful solutions for Colorado to reduce climate emissions, create green jobs, and conserve natural resources.
>>The State of Recycling and Composting in Colorado 2020
>> ESTADO DE RECICLAJE Y COMPOSTAJE 2020- RESUMÉN EJECUTIVO
Colorado wasted more and recycled less in 2019 than in 2018, continuing to fall short of our state recycling goals and behind the rest of the nation. Yet despite the downward trend, dozens of Colorado communities continue to demonstrate how recycling and composting can be successful in Colorado. Read more to find out which Colorado cities are leading and the local and state-level actions we can take to accelerate our recycling and composting programs to build a circular economy and reduce climate pollution.
Read the press release for The State of Recycling and Composting Colorado 2020
>> The State of Recycling in Colorado, 2019
Colorado’s 2018 progress on recycling was mixed: our recycling rate continues to slowly inch upwards, yet our state also produced a record amount of waste. The report highlighted 30 cities as Gold and Silver Medal winners for leading the state and providing curbside recycling programs for all their residents. Key recommendations for moving Colorado forward were to attract more recycling businesses to Colorado and to add curbside recycling for all residents in all Front Range cities.
>> The State of Recycling in Colorado, 2018
Our beautiful state continues to be one of the most wasteful in the country. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This report is divided into two parts to focus on both state and local actions to transform Colorado’s wasteful habits.
>> Read the Summary of the 2018 State of Recycling in Colorado Report
>>The State of Recycling in Colorado, 2017
Eco-Cycle and CoPIRG launched the first-ever statewide survey of recycling rates to compare Front Range cities and mountain/rural areas. See how your city compares and our five recommendations on how to move Colorado forward faster on recycling.
Colorado is one of the most wasteful states in the nation, recycling only 17 percent of its waste compared to 35 percent nationwide.
We can do better! Boosting recycling and composting rates will be a boon to local economics and yield big environmental benefits.
Other states have already done it. It’s time for Colorado to lead again.
Across the state, communities are ready to move forward, but they need funding, infrastructure, technical support, and new policies to pave the way. Zero Waste Colorado is working to help communities, businesses, institutions and nonprofits recycle more.
>> NEW REPORT: How does YOUR Colorado hometown rank when it comes to recycling?
>> Read our one-page fact sheet on the benefits of recycling in Colorado
How do Colorado cities compare when it comes to recycling?
Eco-Cycle and CoPIRG launched the first-ever statewide survey of recycling rates to compare Front Range cities and mountain/rural areas. See how your city compares and our five recommendations on how to move Colorado forward faster on recycling.
Read The 2021 State of Recycling in Colorado report >>
Join us in building Colorado’s new recycling economy!
Why Zero Waste?
Zero Waste drives quality job growth in Colorado. Instead of burying valuable resources—such as cardboard, metals, and food waste—in landfills, we can recycle and re-purpose these materials to strengthen local Colorado economies.
Our recycling, reuse and re-manufacturing industries currently provide nearly 86,000 jobs in Colorado and generate $8.7 billion in economic benefits each year.
The potential to create even more jobs is tremendous—recycling creates at least 9 times more jobs per ton of waste than landfills. From Michigan to North Carolina, states are investing in Zero Waste as a shovel-ready economic development strategy.
Zero Waste is a fast and cost-effective climate action strategy.
According to the EPA, 42 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from how we produce, transport, use and dispose of our stuff and our food. California, Massachusetts, and many other states have already invested in Zero Waste strategies to reduce their climate impacts through programs and policies with proven effectiveness.
The time has come to invest significant resources in Zero Waste practices—reducing waste, reusing consumer and commercial goods and promoting recycling and composting.
