Denver needs your help!
Tips for recycling, composting and the resources to know the difference.
This idea is inspired from the hikes taken, the birds that fly (and the ones that don’t), and the rivers that deliver water. I'm inspired by our neighbors, family and friends and the generations to come. I'm encouraged to teach others the differences between trash, recycling, and compost so we may reduce the impacts on the land around us.
I've been inspired to provide what I know, facts gathered through research, to make a healthier earth to leave for the future animals that inhabit it, and for humans too. I know through knowledge, comes power. The power to make better, to enforce, and to encourage a “greener”, healthier earth. I love earth, and for her I act and speak.
Did you know?
Organic material makes up 58% of what Denver residents send to the landfill every year.
Denver collects more than 220,000 tons of waste from Denver homes each year. That's an average of 1.2 tons per household each year.
Denver recycles and composts only 23% of its waste, far behind the national average of 35%.
Denver is falling behind on the basics of recycling at a time when major cities, including San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, have set Zero Waste goals. Even Denver's peer cities, such as Salt Lake City, UT; Charlotte, NC; and Austin, TX, recycle twice as much as Denver.
Curbside recycling is available only to most single-family residents-not to multi-family properties or businesses-and only 6% of Denver residents have composting collection.
About a third of residents in Denver live in apartment buildings with seven or more units and those apartment buildings don’t have to provide recycling options.
About 82% of households in Denver participate in recycling. Residents have access to individual purple recycle bins, but have to pay to have composting bins.
What can we do about it?
Become a Denver Eco-Leader!
Make sure you have your purple recycling cart, then enroll in Denver’s compost program to get your green cart. For less than $10/month, you will be making a huge, positive impact on our future. Call Denver Recycles at (720) 913-1311 to get your carts.
If you live in an apartment building that does not have recycling or composting, talk to your landlord and ask for the service. Also, contact your City Council member and the Mayor so they know how many of their constituents are being left behind.
Reduce and Reuse!
The better job you do putting materials in the correct bin, the better materials can be recycled.
What is recyclable?
Food & beverage glass bottles and jars (lids can be recycled, but must be removed).
Aluminum cans, foil, trays.
Broken down boxes (cereal, tissues, beverages, food, soap, shoe boxes, paper egg cartons, paper towel & toilet paper tubes).
Plastic bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, cups and containers marked with the #1 through #7 in the recycling symbols.
Food and beverage cartons (milk, juice, cream, soup, protein drinks, wine, tofu, juice boxes, and ice cream).
All cold paper cups and hot coffee cups.
Opened mail, greeting cards (non-foiled coated), Postcards, index cards & file folders, Loose leaf & legal pad paper, Stationary, letterhead, copy & typing paper; and Brochures & glossy ads are all accepted.
Recycling Tips:
Be sure to empty all food & liquid, and remove straws & caps.
Do not flatten cartons
Remove plastic bags and wrap.
Discard non-paper inserts such as magnets or sample packets.
Window envelopes are okay to recycle.
Remove food wrappings and any food.
What is compostable and what does it mean?
Products that are capable of disintegrating into natural elements in a compost environment, leaving no toxicity in the soil:
Leaves
Grass clippings
Brush trimmings
Fruits, vegetables, peelings, bread, cereal, coffee grounds and filters, tea leaves and tea bags
Compost contains both carbon and nitrogen sources, which can be simplified as browns for carbon (e.g., leaves, straw, woody materials) and greens for nitrogen (e.g., grass and food scraps). Adequate sources of carbon and nitrogen are important for microorganism growth and energy.
Organic materials are broken down through the activities and appetites of various invertebrates that will naturally appear in compost, such as mites, millipedes, beetles, sowbugs, earwigs, earthworms, slugs, and snails. These microorganisms need adequate moisture and oxygen to degrade the organic materials in the most efficient manner.
Helpful Resources:
Resources for surrounding areas: