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The Five R’s of Reducing Food Waste: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

No one likes to waste food, but despite our best intentions, most of us have pulled out spoiled leftovers from the back of the refrigerator, or thrown out fruits and veggies that were past their prime. Globally, 31% of all food is wasted, and in the U.S. 40% of food is thrown out – amounting to 400 lbs. of food wasted per person per year.

Wasted food also generates climate change pollution equivalent to 37 million cars per year.If we redirected just one-third of the food that we now waste to people in need, it would more than cover unmet food needs across the country. If minimizing food waste is important to you, here’s how you can get started!

To really reduce food waste, we have to start by questioning our beliefs and actions that can unintentionally lead to wasted food. For example:

Over-shopping: Do you do all of your food shopping on one day of the week hoping to avoid a second trip to the grocery store? Try limiting what you buy to the necessities - a second trip to the store later in the week could be just a quick stop!

Making too much food: Many recipes yield far bigger meals than your household can consume. Try halving the recipe, or follow recipes designed for smaller yields, like those provided by Dessert for Two.

Rethinking what’s edible: Do you cook broccoli florets, but throw out the stalks? Or roast beets but never eat their greens? Stems and leaves of vegetables are actually loaded with nutrients - find ways to use up those veggie scraps!

Be aware of situations where taking more food than you will eat is common! For example:

Buying in bulk: Shopping at warehouse clubs or buying a lot of an item just because it’s on sale can save money – but  it can also lead to a lot of waste. Be sure you can use up large purchases.

All-You-Can-Eat Buffets: With all the choices in front of you, it can be easy to load up on more food than you can eat. Take small portions – and go back for seconds of the dishes you enjoyed the most.

Wishful eating: Do you buy apples because you know they’re good for you, but never end up eating them? Is tempeh on your grocery list, even though it never sounds tempting? Refuse the foods that most commonly go to waste.

Streamline your food use by planning meals, shopping smart, and storing food properly – you’ll not only reduce food waste, but wasted money, too!

Plan your meals: Plan how you can use the same ingredients in multiple meals. For example, use up kale by adding it to salads, soups, smoothies, and sautéing it with garlic as a side dish.

Make a list (and shop your kitchen first): Make a list of all the food you need and the quantity needed. Before heading to the grocery store, check out your refrigerator and pantry – you may already have many of the items on your list!

Store your food: Take the time to wash, dry, and chop produce, storing them in clear containers and labeling them so you don’t forget they're there. 

Even when produce has lost some of its freshness, it’s still edible! You can easily extend the lifespan of food nearing its expiration date.

Less-than fresh veggies and fruit: Add overripe fruits and veggies to smoothies, or bake fruit into cobblers and veggies into casseroles.Or, freeze fruits and veggies to preserve them for weeks (or months)!

Leftovers night: Much of the food Americans waste are leftovers that are forgotten. Reverse this habit by reserving one day a week to eat up leftovers.

Donate: Find a food bank in your community – you can often donate fresh produce that you know you won’t be able to eat, in addition to canned and packaged foods that are nearing their “Use by” date.

Inevitably, you will have some residual food waste – but don’t throw it in the trash! Organic matter (like food) that is thrown in the trash rots in landfills and produces methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas that is 80 times stronger in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

Prep before you compost: Before you throw food in the compost, take off stickers, rubber bands, tags, and any other non-organic materials. Throwing plastic into the compost bin can lead to finished compost containing microplastics, which can get into soils and groundwater.

Use compost in your garden: You’ll not only grow more nutrient-rich food that requires less watering, you’ll also increase soils’ ability to absorb excess carbon from the atmosphere to help curb climate change.

This month, when you are preparing for your Thanksgiving festivities, reducing your food waste should start before you even go to the grocery store. We have a few tips to help you reduce your waste during the holidays.

Hosting your family and friends for Thanksgiving? Try using a food calculator— like NRDC’s Save The Food Guest-imator—to help you figure out how much food you will actually need to make in order to feed your guests, and reduce your food waste!  

Now it’s time to start building your grocery list. When you’re looking for recipes, try to find recipes that will “fit” together. For example, if you have a stuffing recipe that calls for one and a half onions, find a gravy recipe that can use up the remaining half of an onion. It’s also helpful to tally up exactly how much of each ingredient you will need to complete your recipes, so you don’t overbuy ingredients. If you have only one recipe that calls for two tomatoes, write “two tomatoes” on your list, and buy two individual tomatoes instead of a bunch of them!

Do you have leftover fresh ingredients after you prepare your meal? No worries! Become a pro on how to correctly store your food so it will last longer. Check out this food storage guide that gives you the information you need to keep your food fresh for longer, helping to reduce your food waste!

When your Thanksgiving meal is over, have to-go containers at the ready to fill with leftovers for your guests to take home. Don’t want to dole out your personal reusable containers? When you invite your guests, let them know ahead of time to bring their own containers if they want to get leftovers!

In anticipation of Governor Jared Polis proclaiming Nov 11 through 15 as Colorado Recycles Week this coming Friday, Eco-Cycle and CoPIRG released the third edition of the State of Recycling in Colorado report.

While Coloradans enjoy the outdoors and value conservation, our state is shockingly wasteful with a recycling rate of only 17% -- less than half of the national average of 35%. This report shows how boosting our state’s recycling rate is a win-win for Colorado’s economy and its environment. Highlights from the report include:

• 2018 was the most wasteful in the state’s history, with an additional 1.4 million tons of trash produced compared to 2017.
• Only 3 of Colorado’s ten largest cities provide curbside recycling to all residents: Denver, Fort Collins, and Thornton.
• Many communities are making strides to reduce waste, including Loveland (best residential recycling rate - 60%); Boulder (best residential + business recycling rate - 57%); Fort Collins (best industrial recycling rate - 73%); and Boulder County (best county-wide recycling rate - 43%)

Find more success stories, and the road ahead for recycling in Colorado, in the State of Recycling in Colorado 2019 report.

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As we come to the final weeks of the year – and of the decade—may the idea of new beginnings inspire us all to look forward to what is to come. As many of you are keenly aware, last year the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change's (IPCC) issued a report stating that we have 12 years to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. While the stark facts about climate change cannot be avoided or ignored, there is also a place for optimism over the real action taking place all over the world to reduce climate change impacts. 

I am grateful to lead an organization that is taking action to help communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions by changing production and consumption systems, which account for 42% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. This year, Eco-Cycle helped pass major state legislation to boost recycling and composting programs in Front Range communities, which collectively produce 85% of the state’s waste. We raised awareness with the Governor and state legislators about the importance of recycling and composting, and in the upcoming year, we will work with legislators on new bills that will help bring end-market recycling businesses to Colorado. We will also create a plan for diverting organics from landfills to reduce methane emissions, which are 84 times stronger than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential, but, as the IPCC warns, in the fight for a balanced climate, it will not be enough to simply reduce emissions; we must also pull carbon dioxide that is already in the atmosphere back down. Eco-Cycle helped launch carbon farming trials in Boulder County, in which regenerative farming techniques, such as applying compost, are used to sequester carbon from the atmosphere. We pushed further by developing a three year study to test the power of carbon farming techniques applied to urban areas—parks, school grounds, and even our own gardens and lawns—with the help of hundreds of volunteer “Carbon Farmers.” These residents are testing these methods and contributing to the development of a model that can be used in other communities.

Our work would not be possible without the volunteers, donors, and partners Eco-Cycle is fortunate to work with every day.

I want to thank our volunteer Eco-Leaders who educate their communities, as well as our Carbon Farmers who are helping us pilot a new climate change solution. I thank our business partners for collaborating with us to pioneer ways to redesign products, packaging and systems that are more in balance with nature. I thank Colorado’s leaders, local governments, and organizations who work with us to push past the status quo and build more sustainable, circular communities in Colorado. Finally, I would like to thank our committed donors and funders who are investing in a future where we all work to can restore the health and abundance of this planet.

I look forward to working with you on the many opportunities we have to improve each other's lives and better care for our planet, to reduce our consumption impacts, and to implement climate change solutions. By working together, we can create essential models for resilient communities and a regenerative future. 

With deep appreciation, I wish you and your loved ones a warm and wonderful holiday season.

Yours in conservation,

Suzanne Jones
Executive Director
Eco-Cycle

Dear friends,

We have an exciting new opportunity to leverage your support of Eco-Cycle:  
Donate to Eco-Cycle using the Patagonia Action Works website
and your donation will be DOUBLED!

Patagonia, retailer of outdoor recreational gear and clothing, just announced that it will match all donations made to its nonprofit grant recipients now through December 31st. Patagonia Boulder has been a long-time supporter of Eco-Cycle, which qualifies us for this unprecedented event!

Your donation to Eco-Cycle will be DOUBLED by Patagonia if you donate through our profile with Patagonia Action Works – a website dedicated to connecting community to nonprofits.

Will you donate TODAY?
Patagonia will match all donations—whether it be a gift of $10 or $10,000 – but their matching funds are limited to $10 million nationally. Once Patagonia has matched this amount, this opportunity ends.

Double the impact of your support and help Eco-Cycle access these funds by donating today!

Thank you for supporting Eco-Cycle! Your generosity allows Eco-Cycle to do even more to advance Zero Waste Solutions across Colorado, including:

• Adapting carbon farming techniques typically used on agricultural land to urban landscapes – parks, school yards, even our own backyards—so that we can all help pull down carbon from the atmosphere and store it safely in our soils.
• Advocating for statewide policy to reduce single-use disposable plastics, which are made from fossil fuels, generate greenhouse gases in production, and then are used only once and thrown away—often ending up in rivers, streams, and oceans.
• Working with businesses to reduce waste and create more sustainable packaging, developing models that can be applied industry-wide, and
• Helping Colorado communities reduce waste and make curbside recycling and composting more accessible to residents and businesses.

Have a Less Wasteful, More Meaningful Holiday!

Do you feel more pressure to buy things during the holidays? Most of us do! Being more aware of what we purchase during the holiday season is especially important because Americans produce 25% more trash (and consume more natural resources) at this time of the year. That's why this newsletter is dedicated to helping you make your holidays more meaningful, joyous, and sustainable!

Why do we give gifts? We give people gifts to show them that we are grateful for them, but often we hold a common misconception that bigger, more expensive, or just more presents express greater love and appreciation. Things don’t show love and appreciation, people do! This holiday season, rethink gift giving! Here are our suggestions for more meaningful gift giving for you and your loved ones this holiday season:

Giving second hand gifts
Purchasing new items for your loved ones can carry a hefty price tag – both for your wallet, and for the planet! The average American spends almost $850 on holiday gifts alone, and these gifts tax the environment through the extraction of resources, production, distribution, packaging, and disposal. Instead of buying new things, try shopping at local thrift stores, vintage and consignment stores, on craigslist, etc. You could also see if something in good condition that you already own could be gifted to someone else, such as clothing, home décor items, books, artwork, or music.

Experiences & Memberships
Our most meaningful connections with others are often based on shared experiences, which makes giving the gift of experiences a perfect gift for the holidays! Hand-pick an experience for your loved ones, such as tickets to concerts, plays, or ballets; memberships to museums, clubs or gyms; gift certificates to restaurants; ski passes; movie passes – the options are endless!

Classes & Lessons
Do you know someone who is constantly looking to learn? Give them the opportunity to expand their horizons by gifting lessons, classes, or other learning experiences. Many dance studios, climbing gyms, and yoga studios offer class packs, and local community colleges and universities offer classes that are open to the public. There are also tons of online learning platforms, such as Lynda.com, Great Courses Plus, Master Class and Udemy, offering thousands of courses on cooking, art, languages, film, acting, music, technology, business, science and more!

DIY gifts
Make your gift giving extra personal by making it yourself and utilizing materials you already have, or by finding materials that spark your creativity at a thrift store. Ask family members for their favorite recipes and compile them to create a family recipe book. Or, put together photos and other memorabilia into scrapbooks and photo albums.

Gifts to live more sustainably
Items that help your loved ones lead a more sustainable life are gifts that keep on giving! For example, stainless steel reusable coffee mugs, water bottles, and food containers can help your loved ones avoid plastics and other toxic materials. Metal straws, travel utensil sets, and reusable shopping bags are great gifts for those who want to reduce their plastic use. Or, combine several of these items to create a Zero Waste on-the-go kit for a healthier, less wasteful new year! Check out Earth Hero's Holiday Gift Guide, Refill Revolution, and Zero Waste gifts on Etsy!

Dear friends,

Colorado Gives Day is tomorrow!

On this day of giving, Coloradans across the state show their support for nonprofits that represent their values and implement the programs they believe in. We hope that you will support Eco-Cycle tomorrow so that we can advance our programs to protect natural resources, reduce waste and pollution, and fight climate change.

If you want to support Eco-Cycle and a Zero Waste future for all Coloradans there are two great ways to give this year!

New! Give through Eco-Cycle’s page on Patagonia Action Works and your donation will be DOUBLED!

Patagonia, retailer of outdoor recreational gear and clothing, will match donations to Eco-Cycle because we are a Patagonia grant recipient. Whether it be a gift of $10 or $10,000 – when you donate through the Patagonia Action Works website, the donation will be matched 100%. Matching funds are limited to $10 million nationally; once Patagonia has matched this amount, this opportunity ends.

Double the impact of your support and help Eco-Cycle access these funds by donating today!
If you have already donated through the Patagonia Action Works website, THANK YOU!

Give through Eco-Cycle’s page on the Colorado Gives Day website tomorrow
(or schedule your gift today!)

If you prefer to make a donation through Colorado Gives Day, or have already scheduled your gift, THANK YOU! Your gift to Eco-Cycle will enable us to implement the programs, policies, and educational outreach needed to bring waste reduction recycling, and composting services to Colorado communities. Read about our impact in 2019—and help us do more in 2020 with your donation!

Any way you give, your gift is appreciated. Thank you for supporting Eco-Cycle!

If you live and give in Colorado, your inbox is likely full of Colorado Gives Day emails from worthy nonprofits making a real difference in Colorado. On this day of giving, we ask you to invest in a Zero Waste future for Colorado with a donation to Eco-Cycle.

Zero Waste is one of the fastest, easiest most cost-effective ways we as a state can make a significant and immediate difference in support of our climate and our natural resources. Over the next year, we are poised to make unprecedented gains in the state with legislation that enables communities to restrict unnecessary disposable plastics, and more cities adding recycling and composting programs than ever before.

We can't do it without you! Thank you for your generosity…and we thank the many nonprofits across the state that care for Colorado’s people, animals, environment, and climate.

Happy Colorado Gives Day!

Dear Albert, 

Patagonia is matching all donations made to Eco-Cycle and other conservation groups up to $10 million -- and they just announced that they have less than $1 million left in their matching fund!

Will you help us conserve resources, reduce pollution, and curb climate change impacts by supporting our work to advance Zero Waste programs in Colorado? 

Donate through the Patagonia Action Works page TODAY to have your donation matched 100%!
We don't know how long Patagonia will continue to match -- once the $1 million is gone, the opportunity ends!

Your donation will help Eco-Cycle:

• Expand curbside recycling and composting services to every city on the Front Range
• Advocate for the development of domestic recycling markets
• Implement Zero Waste Climate Solutions statewide, through programs like carbon farming, which has the potential to reverse climate change impacts.

On this last day of 2019...

We want to thank YOU - our partners, donors, and volunteers - for supporting our work to reduce waste, conserve resources, and curb climate change by advancing Zero Waste practices across Colorado and beyond! Together in 2019 we:

Want to Reduce Your Waste in 2020?
Let Eco-Cycle Help You Achieve Your Zero Waste Resolutions!

About 45% of adults in America make one or more New Year's resolutions, but studies show that by February, most of us have given up on at least one of those resolutions!

"Setting small, attainable goals throughout the year, instead of a singular, overwhelming goal on January 1 can help you reach whatever it is you strive for," says psychologist Lynn Bufka of the American Psychological Association. "Remember, it is not the extent of the change that matters, but rather the act of recognizing that lifestyle change is important and working toward it, one step at a time."

Are you looking to take steps towards living a more sustainable, Zero Waste lifestyle in 2020?
Here are some of our top picks for getting started!

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generate about 268 million tons of trash annually—about 4.5 lbs. per person per day. Of this, only 35% is recycled or composted. In Colorado, the “weight” of our waste is much heavier! Coloradans produce on average over 8 lbs. of trash per day, and of that amount, only 17% is recycled-- half the national average.

To reduce your waste, the first step is to know what is ending up in your trash bin! Perform a simple waste audit for one week by recording what items, and how much of it, you throw away. With 20/20 vision of what you throw away, you can start taking steps in 2020 to reduce your waste!

Avoiding unnecessary waste is a major goal for those striving for Zero Waste, and a lot of that waste comes in the form of food packaging. Avoiding single-use food packaging often means avoiding processed foods. Instead, opt for “unpackaged” foods, such as fruits and vegetables, as well as bulk items like grains, nuts, and seeds. This will lead to healthier eating for you, and less packaging waste for the planet!

Go a step further by reducing not only packaging, but also the amount of food you waste. Try planning out meals, eating produce before it goes bad, and using up food scraps (for example, use veggie scraps to make soup broth, or fruit scraps in smoothies). What you can’t consume, make sure you compost! By composting, you’ll prevent methane emissions, a major greenhouse gas that is generated when food decomposes in landfills. Instead, your food scraps will be turned into compost which, when applied to soils, not only contributes to more nutrient-dense food, but also helps soil draw down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – reducing climate change impacts.

Devotees to the Zero Waste lifestyle, like Bea Johnson, report big drops in their spending over time. For example, wasting less food may help cut down on grocery bills. Providing your own reusable packaging (cloth bags, jars, etc.) and shopping from bulk bins also cuts costs because you're not paying for packaging. Getting into the mindset of buying less, reusing, and repairing what you have results in saving money!

Check out local bulk stores, or online stores like Refill Revolution, Joy Fill,  ZERO Market and EcoMountain. Have a broken appliance? Instead of buying a new one, look for an upcoming Fix-It Clinic to repair your broken item.

Hit the ground running in 2020 by becoming an Eco-Leader! Join a community of more than 1,000 sustainability-minded residents in Boulder County who stay active by attending Zero Waste trainings, getting involved in local Zero Waste campaigns, and serving as a sustainability resource for their offices, schools, and neighborhoods. Some Eco-Leaders take on big actions, and some take on small tasks, but both sides of the spectrum are crucial to helping you and your community reduce waste! Join us at the next Eco-Leader meeting this Wednesday, January 15th - see details below!

If you are a Colorado resident, you can also take action by supporting new legislation Eco-Cycle helped draft, which will be introduced in 2020:

BAN on POLYSTYRENE
This bill proposes to ban all polystyrene food and beverage containers in Colorado. Often referred to as Styrofoam, polystyrene food and beverage containers are produced from fossil fuels and are not recyclable—instead, they can decompose into microplastics that are mistaken as food by wildlife.

STRIKE PLASTIC PREEMPTION
This bill proposes to strike down a statewide plastic “preemption”—a law that prevents Colorado communities from taking action to ban single-use, disposable plastics. These items – such as plastic utensils, straws, and plastic bags—are produced from fossil fuels, generate air pollution in their production, are used for mere minutes, and often pollute the environment after they are used.

Following the holiday festivities, January's quieter days can be the perfect time to clear out and clean up. Here's a look at some items commonly purged in the New Year that can be recycled:

Add these to your SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING BIN:
Corrugated cardboard: It might look like nothing special, but this material is the bread-and-butter of recycling operations like the Boulder County Recycling Center. Please flatten boxes and remove excess tape.

Spiral notebooks and old planners: The spiral gets screened out by recycling equipment before this high-quality paper gets turned into new paper products, so no need to remove it. Please remove plastic or non-paper covers and dividers.

Calendars: Paper calendars are a fine addition to your recycling bins. Please remove any plastic covers.

Hard plastic toys: Toys that are rigid and all-plastic (think small slides, lawn furniture, plastic doll houses and buckets) can now be recycled if they aren't candidates for reuse.

See what else can be recycled in your curbside bin -- check out Eco-Cycle's recycling guidelines!

Bring to the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM (Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials)*
Electronics: Including laptops, tablets, and TV's. These items are recycled through a partnership between the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder's CHaRM and Blue Star Recyclers that employs people with autism, providing a positive work environment and a path toward social engagement and financial self-sufficiency.

Electric and battery-powered toys: If it is not a candidate for donation, electric and battery-powered toys can be recycled as electronics at the CHaRM.

#6 White Block foam: After a flurry of holiday deliveries, you likely have a growing pile of #6 white block foam--the hard foam that is often used in packing electronics and appliances-- lurking in your home. Collected at the CHaRM, block foam is used to make products like CD cases, light switches, and other household items.

Small appliances: Make room for newly-received kitchen gadgets and appliances by donating items in good working order to thrift stores or charities, and recycling broken appliances that can't be repaired --bring them to the CHaRM.

Clothing: All unwanted clothing gets reused, right? Wrong. It's actually as low as 15%, meaning textiles are a big part of landfill waste. Textiles are sent from CHaRM to communities in need around the globe or recycled as industrial rags.

*$3.00 entrance fee and other charges may apply, see details. 

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BE AN OBSERVATIONAL CARBON FARMER!

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels is essential to reducing climate warming, but this alone will not be enough to curb the warming trend. We need to remove carbon already in the atmosphere to avoid the worst-case scenarios of climate change.

Promising research suggests that building healthy soils may be our best hope to draw down and safely store atmospheric carbon dioxide. It's called "carbon farming," and Eco-Cycle is working with a coalition of partners to bring these practices to Boulder County. Urban lands have a great potential to serve as carbon sinks, but that potential is minimally explored, documented and shared.

In 2019, Eco-Cycle, the City of Boulder and 250 participants throughout the county began a three-year scientific study to explore carbon farming in residential backyards.

You can help contribute to this important science! 
JOIN US as a volunteer Observational Carbon Farmer

We are now expanding this study to include 250 Observational Carbon Farmers who will follow along with our study, try some of these carbon sequestering techniques in their own backyards, and use a new app designed to help gather and track data. 

It's easy to be a Volunteer Observational Carbon Farmer. To qualify you need to: 

• Have a lawn that's at least 20'x 10', but it can be anywhere! While the community carbon farming campaign study is being conducted solely in Boulder County or Broomfield County, the Observational Carbon Farming study can be done by anyone anywhere! 
• Be willing to commit to the program for at least one growing season (e.g. summer to fall). 
• Have a cell phone you can use to download and use the LandPKS app we'll be using in this study.

It's fun, it's science for the whole family, and it's a hopeful solution - Join us!

Dear Albert,

If you live and give in Colorado, your inbox is likely full of Colorado Gives Day emails from worthy nonprofits making a real difference in Colorado. On this day of giving, will you consider investing in a Zero Waste future by making a donation to Eco-Cycle?

Zero Waste is one of the fastest, easiest, and most cost-effective ways we can curb climate and conserve natural resources. Over the next year, we are poised to make unprecedented gains in the state by:

•  Advocating for statewide legislation to restrict the use of unnecessary disposable plastics.

• Curbing climate change impacts by adopting carbon farming techniques, such as applying compost on both agricultural and urban lands, which increases soil health and its ability to draw down carbon from the atmosphere.

• Helping Colorado communities make curbside recycling and composting more accessible to all residents and businesses.

• Working with businesses to reduce waste and create more sustainable packaging.

• Providing environmental education to over 55,000 students and helping schools recycle and compost up to 67% of their waste - almost double the national rate.

We can''t do it without you.
Help advance Zero Waste across the state with your donation!

Support Eco-Cycle today on National Giving Tuesday!

We know many of our supporters are experiencing financial and other hardships right now and are unable to give at this time. But if you are able to make a donation to further Eco-Cycle's work during these challenging times, we would greatly appreciate your contribution! 

Eco-Cycle is advancing the widespread implementation of Zero Waste systems - systems that respect the planet, care for people, and drive an economy based on the smart and efficient use of the Earth's finite resources. In the past year, we have:

• Educated over half a million people locally, nationally, and internationally on how to integrate Zero Waste practices and systems in their homes, schools, businesses, and communities.
• Successfully advocated for legislation that will create more robust markets for compost and recycled materials and help communities establish new recycling and compost collection programs. 
• Collaborated with businesses and industry leaders to reduce plastic waste.
• Helped schools divert 67% of their waste through our Green Star Schools program. 

Will you help us continue this work?
Donate today on National Giving Tuesday (12/1), or donate on Colorado Gives Day (12/8) by scheduling your donation today!

Thank you for supporting Eco-Cycle!
We appreciate your generosity.

In celebration of America Recycles Day, and to kick off Colorado Recycles Week, which Governor Polis proclaimed in perpetuity today, Eco-Cycle and CoPIRG release our annual
State of Recycling & Composting in Colorado report.

In this 4th edition, our research found that Colorado wasted more and recycled less in 2019 than in 2018, continuing to fall short of our state recycling goals and lagging 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.

Highlights from the report include:                                                

• Colorado continues to lag far behind the national recycling rate of 35%; in 2019 the state's recycling rate was 15.9%, down from 17.2% in 2018 and far behind the national recycling rate of 35%.

• Front Range residents are responsible for 87% of the waste generated in the state.  

• Meanwhile, mountain and rural areas (collectively considered Greater Colorado) have already surpassed 2021 recycling goals set by the state and are producing less trash per person than the Front Range.

• The cities of Aspen, Boulder, Durango, Fort Collins and Loveland are leading the way with the top recycling programs in the state.

• Businesses and municipalities continue to expand composting programs to manage organic materials such as leftover food and yard debris. In fact, organics programs have grown fivefold since 2010.

We commend the cities, counties, and businesses that are innovating in the realm of Zero Waste to make recycling and composting more accessible and convenient for us all!

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Dear Albert, 

We''ve set an ambitious goal of raising $30,000 on Colorado Gives Day - and we''re so close to meeting that goal! Will you consider making a donation before midnight?

With your support, we can:

• Help expand curbside recycling and composting services to more Front Range communities, which produce 87% of Coloado''s municipal waste.
• Advocate for statewide legislation to reduce unnecessay single-use, disposable plastics.
• Implement our carbon farming trials, which has the potential to reverse climate change impacts.
• Help businesses redesign packaging to reduce waste and plastic pollution.
• Expand Zero Waste education to over 55,000 students in Colorado.

Your donation of any amount will help make a real difference in creating a more sustainable future!

If you have already donated, THANK YOU for investing in a Zero Waste future for Colorado!

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ZERO WASTE LEGISLATION in COLORADO
Legislators Support Recycling End Markets to "Close the Loop" in Colorado

At the beginning of 2020, Colorado saw more legislative action on Zero Waste than ever before, with FOUR Zero Waste bills introduced that would support a cleaner, more sustainable future for Colorado. Then on March 14, 2020, the Colorado General Assembly shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In late May, the General Assembly returned with a much shortened agenda and timeframe. Many bills that were prioritized by House and Senate leadership before the pandemic were no longer under consideration, and action on three of the four Zero Waste bills was suspended.

But Eco-Cycle, our partner Recycle Colorado, local businesses, and grassroots groups rallied behind Senate Bill 20-055, a bill that would help develop recycling end markets in Colorado. Recycling doesn't work without end markets that are willing to buy recycled resources -- the paper, metal, and plastic we throw into our recycling bins -- to use in manufacturing products. The goal of SB 20-055 is to create more end markets for recycled materials in Colorado. This will reduce the need to transport materials out of state, lower costs for recyclers, shrink the carbon footprint of recycling and create more Colorado green jobs.

On June 12th - one day before the legislative session ended, SB20-055 passed the House by a vote of 42-23 - and is headed to the governor's desk to be signed into law!

Thank you for Supporting Senate Bill 20-055, Green Star Businesses!

Many of Eco-Cycle's Green Star Business members - who collectively form a network of sustainable businesses sharing Zero Waste best practices and solutions - responded to an urgent need for business support of SB 20-055. "I'm asking that you please move SB 20-055: Developing Recycling End Markets forward," wrote Miles Hoffman, Sustainability Specialist at Premier Members Credit Union. "SB20-055 will help us continue to build a circular economy so we can be more resilient and sustainable, especially during difficult times like COVID-19." Nick Beni, Facilities Manager at Spark Fun, wrote to legislatures, "As one of many local businesses who are trying our best to create a sustainable circular economy, this [recycling end market] infrastructure would be extremely helpful to all of us. Increasing access would help lower barriers for companies who are looking to increase their business sustainability." 

Thanks to these Green Star Businesses who not only strive for sustainability within their organization, but for the communities in which they work and serve.

LOCAL ZERO WASTE LEGISLATION
Arvada Becomes Largest City in the State to Benefit from a Contracted Organized Trash and Recycling System 

The COVID-19 pandemic has paused several local efforts to improve recycling -- but not in the City of Arvada, which has been actively working on a proposed organized waste hauling ordinance for the last 18 months. 

The ordinance would change the city's waste collection system from an open market (where 9 different  haulers serve residents) to an organized trash and recycling system with a one truck/one street approach. The new service provides a large 96-gal recycling toter for collection every other week at no additional charge and offers volume-based pricing for weekly trash collection. It affects all single-family homes that are not part of HOAs -- about 32,000 households. The City points to safer and quieter streets, less air pollution, less wear and tear on city roads, and affordable hauling rates as just some of the benefits of this program. 

The idea for an organized waste hauling system originally came from the volunteer, City Council-appointed Arvada Sustainability Advisory Committee, which includes Arvada residents Randy Moorman, Eco-Cycle's Director of Community Campaigns, and Iris Horowitz, Eco-Cycle's Digital Engagement Strategist, who also led outreach to inform residents on the details and benefits of the proposed organized hauling system. Kate Bailey, Eco-Cycle's Policy and Research Director, presented research about organized hauling to council and advised city staff on contract negotiations with the selected hauler. Multiple local citizen groups also worked hard to organize the June 15th turnout after providing consistent, vocal support since this program's inception. 

At the City Council vote on June 15th, more than 120 supporters provided  positive public comments in person, via live stream, or via email (only 30 residents submitted opposing comments). After 8 hours of public comment and council debate, at 2:45 am the council approved the new organized waste hauling ordinance by a vote of 4-3!

Since the new program provides all participating households with a recycling bin and curbside service at no additional cost, it is expected that Arvada's recycling rate will more than double from just 13% to 30% or more. Additionally, residents will be charged for trash by the size of cart they use, financially rewarding residents who produce less trash. At a time when many things seem to be "on pause," Arvada is an example of communities moving forward on a path to Zero Waste! And this win is significant in that Arvada sets an example for other large cities within the state to provide recycling; the more cities that do that, the better our state's overall recycling and resource recovery rate.

Take Action on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day!

On behalf of everyone at Eco-Cycle, I hope you and your loved ones are well, and can find time for at least a few minutes outdoors together this Earth Day in appreciation of all that nature and this one beautiful planet has to offer! 

In the past month, life has changed drastically for most of us. Eco-Cycle has made many adjustments to continue our work while protecting the health of our employees and the public. Eco-Cycle operates the Boulder County Recycling Center, deemed an essential business, which is still running - so keep recycling! But the designation of recycling as an "essential business" has a deeper meaning for us all: there is no doubt that recycling has secured itself as a critical industry, and that is a bright spot during these dark days. Read more in Eco-Cycle's recent blog, "Recycling Is Deemed 'Essential,' and That's a Big Damn Deal."

Recycling is deemed essential not just because it helps protect public health through proper and timely discard management. Recycling is also critical to the health of our economy. Businesses depend on us every day to supply the feedstock to make new products (yes, including more toilet paper!). And, as many of us know, recycling - as well as composting, reuse, and repair - are critical to the health of our planet. Eco-Cycle is working every day to advance Zero Waste here at home, across the state, and nationwide.

Support Eco-Cycle's Zero Waste work by making a donation this Earth Day!

We know many of our supporters are experiencing financial and other hardships right now and are unable to give at this time. We thank you for being an important part of this movement! Many of our supporters have asked how they can help us in this challenging time. If you are able to make an Earth Day donation to further Eco-Cycle's work, please do - your gift will go far in protecting the beauty and bounty of this amazing planet we share.

Eco-Cycle's work is advancing the widespread implementation of Zero Waste systems - systems that respect the planet, care for people, and drive an economy based on the smart and efficient use of the Earth's finite resources. In the past year, we have:

• Worked for the passage of new legislation that will create more robust recycling and compost markets in Colorado.
• Collaborated with industry leaders to reduce plastic waste.
• Helped schools divert 67% of their waste through our Green Star Schools program. 
• Educated over half a million people locally, nationally, and internationally on how to integrate Zero Waste practices and systems in their homes, schools, businesses, and communities.

Cheers to Earth Day on its 50th anniversary, and to a sustainable and just future for all!

Dear friends,

Over the past week, we have all begun to face the unprecedented challenge of responding to the COVID-19 virus. Like you, we are taking action to keep our community and loved ones safe and healthy.

I want to thank each of you for being a part of the Eco-Cycle community. Without you, the work we do to conserve resources, reduce waste, and fight climate change would not be possible. I'd like to share with you updates on where the work you support stands today, temporary closings and postponements due to COVID-19, and answers to related questions we've recently received.

These are trying times, but we will get through it - together. We'll be in touch with new developments and opportunities to help the community - until then, keep healthy, and know that we are here for you!

My best to you and yours,

Eco-Cycle offices are closed, but our hotline is open.
Staff will continue working remotely. Our hotline remains open Monday-Friday from 9am - 5pm. If you have Zero Waste questions, call 303.444.6634 or email recycle@ecocycle.org.

Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) is closed to the public March 17- March 29.
The CHaRM closure is in compliance with the City of Boulder''s local emergency declaration and efforts to avoid the spread of COVID-19. No residential materials will be accepted at the CHaRM facility. Businesses in need of one-time drop-off of CHaRM materials can leave a message at 303-444-6634 x 101 to make a drop-off appointment. 

We will follow the City of Boulder's emergency efforts to determine the potential for re-opening or the need to remain closed after March 29^th. In the meantime, if you can, we ask that you please hang on to your hard-to-recycle items to drop off at the CHaRM at a later date.

For the time being, the Boulder County Recycling Center (BCRC), operated by Eco-Cycle, is open.
As an "essential operation," the Boulder County Recycling Center, where single-stream materials from all of Boulder County's curbside recycle bins are processed, remains operational for now. However, tours of the facility are not permitted at this time. Keeping operations going is subject to change if new direction is received from the county, state or federal levels. 

Please continue to collect recyclables for curbside collection according to your hauler's schedule, and stay tuned for any necessary changes that may be forthcoming.

Customers of Eco-Cycle's Commercial Hauling
Eco-Cycle's hauling of commercial recycling, compost and hard-to-recycle materials is currently in operation, with no disruptions to scheduling at this time. If you are a new client or existing customer and would like to discuss recycling or compost pick-up for your business, please contact Nick Miranda, Sales Coordinator, at nick@ecocycle.org.

Colorado Zero Waste Legislation is on hold
Members of the Colorado State House and Senate voted to suspend activities in the current legislative session due to public health concerns. The session is tentatively scheduled to resume Monday, March 30th.

Due to this closure, the four bills that Eco-Cycle is supporting are on hold, including two bills to reduce plastic waste (House Bills 1162 and 1163), a bill to promote compost statewide (House Bill 1047), and a bill to develop recycling end markets in Colorado (Senate Bill 55). Learn more about these bills and their current status here.

Eco-Leader 2.0 Training
More than 1,000 community members are part of Eco-Cycle's Eco-Leader network of volunteers. Eco-Leaders are trained in Zero Waste practices and then share their knowledge, tools, and other resources with their family, friends, classmates, co-workers and neighbors.

The next Eco-Leader 2.0 training scheduled for March 30^th at the Boulder County Recycling Center has been rescheduled as a live, virtual training on April 22 (Earth Day!) from 5:30-7:30pm. To receive a link to this training, please RSVP here.

Denver Public Action Meeting on April 29th Postponed
Due to COVID19, we will be postponing the Public Action scheduled for April 29th until further notice. Please stay connected! We plan to continue the campaign and will keep you updated. If you are interested in helping to plan the action, there are ways you can get involved. You can join a subcommittee here. Subcommittees will be meeting virtually until further notice. Our next Eco-Leader meeting will also be virtual and will take place in mid April. If you have any questions, please reach out to jasmin@ecocycle.org

Green Star Schools Program
Eco-Cycle's award-winning Green Star Schools Program provides Zero Waste education and infrastructure for public schools in Boulder and Broomfield Counties, helping schools recycle and compost up to 67% of their waste - almost double the national rate of just 35%.

Currently, schools in Colorado are closed until at least April 17^th. During this time away from school, Eco-Cycle environmental educators are exploring methods to continue to provide science-based, environmental education programs to teachers and students in the event that schools adopt online instruction.

We've received questions about composting tissues and paper towels that potentially could be infected with coronavirus after being used to blow noses or clean surfaces. Here's some advice on what to do with commonly-compostable items during this time:

• Tissues used to blow noses: According to the CDC, coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets. If you are sick with the flu, virus or a cold, or have symptoms, please do not compost tissues that were used to blow your nose, cover a cough or sneeze, or for a bloody nose; instead, put them into the trash.This is always good practice.  For other uses, you can continue composting tissue.

• Paper towels used to clean surfaces: It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. Wiping down surfaces with cleansers and disinfectants can reduce this risk. If you are sick with the flu, virus or cold, and are using paper towels to wipe down surfaces, discard them in the trash. For other uses, you can continue composting paper towels.

• Food scraps: Currently, there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. There is likely very low risk of spread from food products shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient, refrigerated, or frozen temperatures. At this time, keep composting your food scraps!

We're Here for You!
If you have questions about Eco-Cycle, the Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), Eco-Cycle Commercial Hauling, any of our community programs, or general questions about recycling and composting, contact us at 303.444.6634 or email recycle@ecocycle.org.

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Have a Less Wasteful, More Meaningful Holiday Season!

There is no denying that 2020 has been a uniquely challenging year. This holiday season, celebrating may look very different for you, your family, and your friends. We know that the health and safety of you and your loved ones is the greatest gift you can give or receive, but if you are planning on giving gifts and celebrating safely this holiday season, we want to help you make it more meaningful, joyous, and sustainable!

Being more aware of what we purchase during the holiday season is especially important because Americans produce 25% more trash (and consume more natural resources) at this time of the year. Here are some suggestions for more meaningful gift giving for you and your loved ones this holiday season:

Share your skills
Rather than wrapping up a present, give a gift certificate for your talents like knitting, cooking, home organizing, etc. For the person who has everything but time, give a service like shoveling snow, babysitting, cleaning, helping with yard work, mending clothes, organizing photos, teaching a computer program, etc.

DIY gifts
Make your gift extra personal by making it yourself and utilizing materials you already have, or by finding materials that spark your creativity at a thrift store or a specialty business, such as Art Parts Creative Reuse Center. Try asking family members for their favorite recipes and compile them to create a family recipe book. Or, put together photos and other memorabilia into scrapbooks and photo albums.

Giving secondhand gifts
Purchasing new items for your loved ones can carry a hefty price tag - both for your wallet, and for the planet! The average American spends almost $850 on holiday gifts alone, and these gifts tax the environment through the extraction of resources, production, distribution, packaging, and disposal. Instead of buying new things, try shopping at local thrift stores, vintage and consignment stores if you are safely able to do so. Due to the pandemic, many consignment stores are offering online shopping options, so you can shop secondhand from the comfort of your own home! You can also utilize some of the many online marketplaces with secondhand options, such as letgo, Mercari, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, ThredUP, or even Craigslist! 

Experiences, Memberships, and Supporting Local Businesses
Our most meaningful connections with others are often based on shared experiences, which makes giving the gift of experiences a perfect gift for the holidays! Hand-pick experiences for your loved ones, such as purchasing a National Parks pass, hot air balloon ride, or other outdoor adventures; a subscription to online newspapers or magazines; a CSA Farm Share from a local farm; or gift certificates to local restaurants and small businesses - which helps these businesses maintain revenue during challenging times!

Classes & Lessons
Do you know someone who is constantly looking to learn? Give them the opportunity to expand their horizons by gifting lessons, classes, or other learning experiences. Support local educators who are offering virtual music, art, cooking, and other classes. There are also tons of online learning platforms, such as Lynda.com, Great Courses Plus, Master Class and Udemy, offering thousands of courses about languages, film, acting, music, technology, business, science and more!

Gifts to live more sustainably
Items that help your loved ones lead a more sustainable life are gifts that keep on giving! For example, stainless steel reusable coffee mugs, water bottles, and food containers can help your loved ones avoid plastics and other toxic materials. Metal straws, travel utensil sets, and reusable shopping bags are great gifts for those who want to reduce their plastic use. Or, combine several of these items to create a Zero Waste on-the-go kit for a healthier, less wasteful new year! Check out Earth Hero''s Holiday Gift Guide, Zero Market, Refill Revolution, The Conscious Merchant, and Zero Waste gifts on Etsy for some great sustainable gift ideas!

Contribute in a loved-one's name
If you are able this year, consider making a contribution in a loved-one's name. Now more than ever, people and organizations need support to help meet their needs and to continue important work on pressing issues. 

Gifts can be wonderful tokens of our love, appreciation, and friendship, but in today''s busy and consumer-focused world, it''s all too easy to buy things simply for the sake of having something to give. Turns out that well-loved gifts don''t have to be new, expensive, or even "stuff." Here are a few of our staff''s favorite meaningful gifts that they have given or received.

Dear Albert,

2020 has been a uniquely challenging year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic impacts felt in its wake, layered on top of political upheaval, the impacts of systemic inequality, and our burgeoning climate crisis.

But 2020 has also been a uniquely inspiring year, marked by the power of people like you and me working together toward a shared vision of a more sustainable future, and being the driving force behind change.

Now more than ever, I am grateful for you.

Whether you are an Eco-Cycle volunteer, activist, educator, partner, or donor, I know you have faced unprecedented changes and hardships this year. And still, you contributed your time, talents, and investments to strengthen Eco-Cycle's work.

Thank you for standing with Eco-Cycle during these tough times.

In the coming year, we at Eco-Cycle are doubling down on our work -- at the county, state and national level.  We have a lot to do in 2021, including advocating for state legislation to ban single-use disposable plastics, helping more communities launch curbside recycling and composting collection, and creating a statewide plan to scale up composting and carbon farming.

We are able to achieve great things when we stand together! Thank you, from all of us at Eco-Cycle, for working towards a brighter future. 

Wishing you and your loved ones a healthy and happy holiday,

Suzanne Jones
Executive Director
Eco-Cycle

Dear Eco-Cycle Community, 

We write this message to express our solidarity and shared grief, outrage and motivation that is reverberating through our nation and world in response to the brutal murder of George Floyd--a son, a father, a brother, a community member whose life has been senselessly taken at the hands of police and whose name has been added to the countless others whose lives were similarly taken. We could begin to name them--Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Nina Pop--but the list is seemingly endless as there are generations of others who, for literally hundreds of years, have been facing systemic racism, inequities and brutal violence that is woven into the fabric of our American society and history.

At Eco-Cycle, it is in our mission to create "a more equitable, climate-resilient future." There is no environmentalism without equity. Without working toward social justice, we will never have a balanced, healthy climate. We must create a livable climate, both ecologically and socially, where people of all kinds can live safely and with equal access to resources. 

We are challenged as never before to look face-on at how our own actions or inactions contribute to these deeply-rooted social injustices. We cannot look away, we cannot continue with our business as usual. We are all being called to feel the rage and the pain and stand up for new systems that better define who we really are as individuals, communities, a nation and as a people. If we do not stand up, do not speak out, we too are complicit. 

Eco-Cycle will continue to strive to meet the challenge set in our own mission statement, to improve internally and contribute externally, and use our platforms to speak up for and share the voices of those fighting for an equitable future. We will be reflecting on the ways we can improve as an organization to help achieve equity for all, and will share the steps, missteps, and actions we take. Knowing this is an ongoing commitment, we invite you to share your ideas on how we can better serve this movement, and how you might help.

In solidarity for peace and justice,

Eco-Cycle Board and Staff

Resources to take ACTION and GIVE SUPPORT:

Black Lives Matter: blacklivesmatter.com

Color of Change: colorofchange.org

NAACP: naacp.org

Showing Up For Racial Justice: showingupforracialjustice.org

Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: civilrights.org

National Bail Out Fund (#free black mamas): https://secure.actblue.com/donate/freeblackmamas2020

Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org

Celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of Earth Day!

On April 22, 1970, people around the world celebrated the first Earth Day. Fifty years later, Earth Day will be celebrated within the context of a global pandemic. As we all look forward to a "return to normalcy"-a time when public health is no longer threatened and economic recovery can commence-we will also be rethinking what is "normal." While the cause of the temporary reduction in greenhouse gas emissions all over the world during this pandemic is nothing to celebrate, it is proof that a collective change in policy and human behavior can make a meaningful difference for the planet.

Reducing global emissions in "normal times" can be accomplished - not through lockdowns, but through smarter energy and transportation decisions, and the widespread implementation of Zero Waste systems. Eco-Cycle, our dedicated volunteer Eco-Leaders, and our partners in sustainability are creating a big cultural shift - one in which personal action and community activism are the impetus to structural and policy changes.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we''re offering a virtual training, "The Real Footprint of Our Stuff: How Resources Become Products & Their Upstream Impacts" on Earth Day - Wednesday, April 22nd. We also share with you the stories of inspiring local youth making a Zero Waste difference, and invite you to join us as we launch a new Zero Waste Video Series that will guide you through Zero Waste practices and principles that create a new normal of respecting the planet, caring for people, and driving an economy based on the smart and efficient use of resources.

Cheers to Earth Day on its 50th anniversary, and to a sustainable and just future for all!
 

NEW! Zero Waste Video Series: New Online Tutorials on Reducing, Recycling, Composting, and More!

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, and to continue the outreach and education services, Eco-Cycle has provided for over 44 years, we will launch the ZERO WASTE VIDEO SERIES next week!

This series is a weekly webcast, bringing you one lesson each week on recycling, composting, reducing waste, and more-along with activities for the whole family! Every week, you'll receive a new Zero Waste video lesson on topics like Recycling's Dirty Dozen, Reducing Food Waste, Alternatives to Plastic, and Backyard Composting brought to you by Eco-Cycle and partners, including Sierra Club, CoPIRG, NRDC, Environment Colorado and the Denver Compost Challenge!

These short and informative video lessons are accompanied by a variety of age-appropriate activities for you and your family that will help integrate the week's lesson into your life - like doing a waste audit at home, recipes and DIYs for commonly-packaged foods and products to help you avoid plastic packaging, and viewing documentaries for an in-depth look into a topic.

Sign up here to receive a weekly email with a new video lesson and activities for the whole family!

An Award-Winning App Developed by Local Teen Will Make Recycling Faster and Easier than Ever!

Andrew Woen, a junior at Lafayette's Peak to Peak Charter School in Lafayette, CO, first became interested in Zero Waste at his school's homecoming dance last fall. Walking over to the waste area with a plastic cup in hand, he remembers thinking, "Wait, am I supposed to recycle or trash this cup?" Seeing that there were a bunch of plastic cups in the recycling bin, he followed the herd, only to find out later that plastic cups are not recyclable. Trying to do the right thing but inadvertently contaminating the recycling bin is a mistake we've all made, and it can be costly - if contamination levels are high, an entire batch of recyclables could be rejected by markets and thrown out!

Andrew wanted to create a solution to bin contamination. "My idea came from the realization that we shouldn''t be making it easy for people to know how to recycle. We should just be making it too hard for people NOT to recycle," Andrew explains. "In everyday life, people are not going to spend more than 5 seconds determining whether to trash or recycle an object."

He decided an app was the right approach and started designing one that would help reduce contamination rates by better informing businesses and consumers what can or cannot be recycled. The finished app requires the click of just 2 buttons: To find out if an item is recyclable locally, the user simply takes a picture of it and in fewer than 5 seconds, the app will tell the user if the item is recyclable or not.

Andrew's innovative recycling app won the Congressional App Challenge for Colorado's 2nd Congressional District earlier this year. Andrew says, "I hope that the app will improve recycling rates and inspire others to utilize technology to improve sustainability."

Knowledge + Action =  How One Middle School Student is Making Change

For a class assignment at one Denver middle school, students were asked to write an essay in support of a local nonprofit. "I chose to write my essay on Eco-Cycle because they are working toward the goal of saving the environment, and I wanted to do what I could to support them," says Elliott, a middle school student in Denver, who reached out to Eco-Cycle this spring. Elliott researched and wrote about the problem of plastic pollution, noting that plastic production worldwide has exploded and is expected to nearly quadruple in the next 30 years.

Elliott incorporates his environmental concerns in his daily decisions. "I try not to use plastic products that can't be recycled because I know a lot of that will sit in the landfill for many years without breaking down, and the waste might even end up in the ocean," he says. "If no one does anything, our planet will be on the verge of becoming uninhabitable because of our own mistakes. In order for this [waste] problem to get fixed, we have no time to dawdle." We hope more of us - kids and adults alike - will take a lead from Elliott by pursuing knowledge and taking action to benefit the planet.

Eco-Kids Club doesn't let coronavirus stop their special presentation on Plastic Film Recycling

At Douglass Elementary School in Boulder, a small but mighty Eco-Kids Club organized their own Plastic Film Collection Program at their school (plastic film refers to products like plastic bags). This item is a hard-to-recycle material not allowed in curbside recycle bins, but is accepted for recycling at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM facility.

The group, led by parent volunteer Kim Zerangue, was invited by Eco-Cycle to present their program at a special "First in the Nation Celebration" event honoring Green Star Schools in Boulder County. As of 2020, all Boulder Valley public schools are enrolled in the Green Star Schools program, making the city of Boulder the first city in the nation to provide comprehensive Zero Waste education for all students throughout their academic careers!

Support Eco-Cycle today for #GivingTuesdayNow!

#GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that takes place today, May 5th, to give to communities and nonprofits in response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.

We know many of our supporters are experiencing financial and other hardships right now and are unable to give at this time. But if you are able to make a donation to further Eco-Cycle's work during this challenging coronavirus chapter, please do! Your gift will go far in helping to create a more sustainable future  for our communities and this amazing planet we share.

Eco-Cycle is advancing the widespread implementation of Zero Waste systems - systems that respect the planet, care for people, and drive an economy based on the smart and efficient use of the Earth's finite resources. In the past year, we have:

• Educated over half a million people locally, nationally, and internationally on how to integrate Zero Waste practices and systems in their homes, schools, businesses, and communities.
• Worked for the passage of new legislation that will create more robust recycling and compost markets.
• Collaborated with businesses and industry leaders to reduce plastic waste.
• Helped schools divert 67% of their waste through our Green Star Schools program. 

Help us continue this work with a #GivingTuesdayNow donation!

Thank you for supporting Eco-Cycle!
 Thank you in advance for you generosity.

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Join us for a PLASTIC FREE JULY CHALLENGE!

The global scale of plastic production and pollution may feel overwhelming, but there's a lot YOU can do. Collectively, engaged, educated, and responsible individuals can transform entire communities!

Join us for #PlasticFreeJuly by following Eco-Cycle's new Plastic Free Challenge - get facts, accessible tips, and tricks to help reduce your own plastic use, as well as ways you can contribute to large-scale change. Plus, participants will receive a free link to the film, The Story of Plastic!

The Challenge starts this Friday, July 10th, with weekly challenges throughout the month -
Sign up today!

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On these last days of 2020...

We want to thank YOU - our partners, donors, friends and volunteers - for supporting Eco-Cycle''s work to reduce waste, conserve resources, and curb climate change by advancing Zero Waste practices across Colorado and beyond! Despite the challenges of 2020, together we acomplished so much!