Waste

Success Story

Resource Stewardship in Action

When The Buff Restaurant in Boulder moved to its new location, the restaurant reused and re-purposed many of the materials that were already there.

Re-purposed materials included the wood from the previous restaurant’s booths which was made into new booths, and some of the new wood walls were created by turning around the existing bead board. In 2014, the Buff received PACE certification in Zero Waste and earned recognition from Western Disposal for diverting more than 95 percent of its waste into compost and recycle. The Buff hopes that its waste consciousness extends far beyond its doors and compostable containers.

Why It Matters
What's Being Done
Waste
Why it Matters

Economy

$1 spent
equals $3 gained

Every $1 invested in Zero Waste programs in Boulder County gives $3 back to the community.

86 K
jobs

Nearly 86,000 jobs in Colorado are generated by the recycling, reuse, and remanufacturing industries. Many of these jobs are within Boulder County.

Compost is good for the economy. Hauling compost creates twice as many local jobs as hauling trash to the landfill.”
David Fridland, Longmont
Why it Matters

Climate

Boulder County’s in-house single-stream recycling effort saved the equivalent emissions of taking 62 cars off the road in a year.

12.5
tons of yard waste

Boulder County’s compost collection at the county-operated Nederland Transfer Station, collected 12.5 tons of food and yard waste from mountain communities in its first year, equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 130 seedling trees grown for 10 years.

Boulder County’s Partners for a Clean Environment works with businesses to encourage sustainable purchasing habits that reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from manufacturing and transportation.

Being able to compost in a mountain town like Nederland is just fantastic! Keep up the good work.”
Nederland resident
Why it Matters

Social

43
Green Star Schools

In Boulder County, 43 schools are participating in Green Star Schools, representing 52% of the public schools within the county, and have successfully diverted 205 tons of compostable material and 115 tons of recyclable material.

30%
waste reduction

With support from county grant funding, the Town of Superior purchased recycling containers to be used at community parks, ball fields and trails, and reduced waste by a third.

1 million lbs
diverted each year

The Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF) serves more than 13,000 households and 200 businesses, and handles more than 1 million pounds (500 tons) of hazardous materials each year. Hazardous waste diversion from households is up 40% since it opened.

What’s Being done

Progress

35%
diversion rate

Currently, Boulder County residents and businesses divert about 35% of materials from the landfill.

200
projects

Since 1997, the county has distributed $1 million in funding to more than 200 local zero waste projects undertaken by communities, non-profit groups, schools and universities, and businesses. This popular annual funding program helps to move our communities, large and small, towards zero waste by funding a wide-variety of equipment, education, and planning needs.

Boulder County’s internal waste diversion program has reached a 71 percent diversion rate.

What’s Being done

Initiatives

Recycling

The Boulder County Recycling Center receives recyclable materials including bottles, cans, plastic jugs, paper, and cardboard from waste haulers and sorts materials for re-sale on the market.

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Hadardous Materials Management Facility

The Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF) accepts hazardous waste from residents and businesses in Boulder County and Broomfield County.

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BuildSmart

The Boulder County BuildSmart Regulations encourage high-performing, sustainable residential development, and redevelopment in the unincorporated areas of Boulder County.

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Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE)

PACE is your one-stop-shop for business sustainability in Boulder County. PACE provides expert advising services, rebates and incentives, and certification and recognition opportunities.

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Transfer Stations/Recycling Dropoffs

Drop-off centers and collection sites for recycling, scrap metal, yard and wood waste, and hazardous waste are located throughout Boulder County. Find a location near you.

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What’s Being done

Take Action

  • Do you have a garage full of oil, paint, and cleaning products?

    The Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility can help by recycling, or properly disposing of, hazardous materials.

  • Composting in Nederland?

    Yes! Nederland’s transfer station now accepts compostable bags full of organic material.

  • Wondering how clean your recyclables need to be before going in the recycling bin?

    Check out Boulder County’s informative videos about composting, recycling, and hazardous waste.