January 18th - Tour of Mile High Workshop
The Mile High WorkShop's (MHW), repurposing project, focuses on diverting discarded marketing materials by upcycling retired billboards, used vinyl banners, and other synthetic materials. This process not only contributes to a more sustainable end market but also generates meaningful employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers due to addictions, homelessness, and incarceration. MHW's participants undergo paid on-the-job training, acquiring skills in production and industrial sewing that opens doors to long-term employment.

Bruin Waste Management will do weekly organic waste pickup for restaurants, businesses and HOAs. Congrats Telluride!

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Longmont’s Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) third phase is quickly approaching on January 1, 2025, requiring organics (composting) collections for food wholesalers, distributers, manufacturers, and grocery stores. The City is providing resources, one-time financial assistance, and signage to support implementation. For assistance and more information on the URO, please visit bit.ly/URO-Info.

2023 Spotlight Presentations

JANUARY 19th: First Meeting with Recycle Colorado Updates and Introductions

The 2024 Annual Meeting was a SUCCESS! We appreciate everyone who was able to travel to attend and gather with fellow members. In our virtual world, connecting offline always fills us with joy, seeing our amazing group reunite for an awesome time.

Look who's hopping on Board!

Thank you to all of you that participated in our vote, watched intro videos, attended the Annual Meeting and nominated candidates. Your participation helps us get the best of the best, who will help to represent our members and your interests, on our board. Read up on our new board members and send them their congratulations. These 5 will be welcomed in at our board retreat and will start their important duties in 2025. 

What did we lobby on in 2024?
- Producer Responsibility for Paper & Packaging Products approval by the joint budget commission
- Waste Tire Management Enterprise Bill (SB24-123)
- CDPHE Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise Fund (C3E)

• Award Winners
• Scholarship Winners
• June 3rd, Policy Retreat & Welcome Reception Agenda
• June 4th, Summit Day 1 Agenda
• June 5th, Summit Day 2 Agenda
• Summit Speakers

Congrats to our 2024 Recycling & Composting Award Winners

• Outstanding Business Recycling/Diversion Program: Amber Barbella, Diversion Designers
• Outstanding Outreach: High Country Conservation Center
• Outstanding Elected Official: Kevin Priola
• Composting Champion: Julie Mach, Elements Mountain Compost
• Outstanding Government Diversion Program: Jace Driver, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
• ‘Cara Russell’ Rising Star: Emily Dennis, Walking Mountains
• Recycler of the Year: Pat Matthews, City of Lakewood
• Lifetime Achievement: Dan Matsch, Eco-Cycle
• Lifetime Achievement: Charlie Kamenides, City of Longmont

Congrats to our 2024 Future Leader Scholarship Winners

• Ethan Otto, Colorado Mesa University
• Tyler Brunet, University of Denver
• Lindsay Knecht, Own and operate New Way Refillery in Grand Junction, CO. 
• Terryann Chebet Kirui, Colorado State University
• Maryann Avila Castillo, University of Colorado Boulder
• Angela Peña de Niz, University of Colorado Boulder
• Elyssa Gentile, Colorado State University 

Agenda for Monday, June 3rd

10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Bike Tour of Powerhouse Energy Campus
Start your week by enjoying the marvelous bikeways and innovation found in Ft. Collins. We will be leading a group to bike from the Hilton (or you can drive) to the Powerhouse. The Powerhouse Energy Campus is a modern, 100,000 square foot LEED Platinum Certified building that is one of the largest free-standing energy facilities at any university. It is recognized nationally and internationally for its interdisciplinary approach and its groundbreaking work on engine technology, electric grids, biofuels, energy policy, human behavior, energy access in the developing world, and energy-focused entrepreneurship. Fort Collins represents clean energy development in the 21st century. We will have some bikes available or you can bring your own.

Do you have the next big idea in sustainable design, reuse, repair, compost, recycling, or recovered materials?  

This full-time position will work with the Sustainability Programs department at Walking Mountains to support community engagement, education, and grant management related to the Waste Reduction & Diversion programs. The position is responsible for promoting waste diversion best practices throughout the community and fulfilling the following responsibilities. Specific tactics will focus on outreach to our Spanish-speaking residents to increase program participation while elevating Walking Mountains' brand visibility throughout Eagle County and beyond. This position will focus on building relationships and creating educational opportunities and information, with the support of the bilingual Sustainability Programs staff, in Spanish for the Latinx population on sustainability and climate change resilience. This position will report to the Sustainability Programs Manager.

Learn more and apply

Is your school cafeteria still using plastic? Plastics leach chemicals that have been shown to adversely affect pituitary systems, reduce testosterone levels, and increase the incidence of breast cancer. Tell your principal, or nutrition services director, or teacher that PlasticFreeRestaurants.org is offering FREE MONEY to eliminate single-use plastic from school cafeterias, and that schools that switch to reusable, toxin-free stainless steel SAVE MONEY even after accounting for increased labor, water, and electricity costs. 

Schools and Restaurants can apply FOR FREE

Discover reuse-friendly businesses in Denver through our Reuse Business Directory. You’ll find places to repair, rent, or buy used items all while supporting local. In 2023, these Denver reuse businesses employed over 3,000 people and contributed $540 million to the economy annually. They are making a huge impact on Denver, and we are making it easier for Denverites to access their services! Choose to consume differently, repair it, rent it, or buy it used — it’s just as good as new. 

Tersus Solutions is a Colorado-based, clean-tech company that enables brands to participate in the circular economy by offering advanced, environmentally-friendly cleaning technology alongside a full suite of textile reclamation and single-SKU logistics solutions. 

NRC seeks a highly effective communicator and strategic thinker with dynamic leadership skills to fill the Executive Director role. This person will demonstrate a strong analytical, multi-tasking, and organizational ability to oversee multiple programs and events within the NRC while providing strong management skills to offer vision, plan, and problem-solve creatively.

Boulder County’s Circular Economy Funding projects provide an opportunity for organizations and businesses to participate in Boulder County’s vision of becoming a zero waste community and closing the waste loop through circular economy practices. 

The Colorado Communications Manager is a strategic role responsible for advancing CAA’s goals within the state of Colorado to ensure the successful execution of the Colorado EPR program, while aligning to CAA’s national communication strategy.  This role will oversee all aspects of internal and external communications in Colorado including the strategic planning and execution of organization’s engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders.

PaintCare seeks a qualified candidate to assist with administering the paint stewardship program in Colorado. This position is remote, located in Colorado, and requires a significant amount of in-field work to coordinate the activities of the PaintCare program for a portion of the state.

Recycle Colorado member, Pretred, is a finalist in the Colorado Chamber's Coolest Thing Made in Colorado competition.