Boulder County Report to the USDA Rural Utilities Programs Final Report: Including successes from November and December 2011

Transcription

1 Boulder County Report to the USDA Rural Utilities Programs Final Report: Including successes from November and December 2011 I. Overview In accordance with Boulder County s contract with the USDA Rural Development Division, the project s overall goal was to double the waste diversion rate in eight targeted mountain communities from an estimated 12.5 percent to 25 percent. This was estimated to equate to 900 tons recycled during 2011, a figure surpassed by more than 240 tons. Objectives include implementing steps of Boulder County s Zero Waste Action Plan, listed as deliverables, below. II. Deliverables A report on success with each of the 11 project deliverables is detailed in the pages that follow: 1. Adopt Zero Waste Ordinance: Achieved in Lyons; progress in Jamestown and Nederland; 2. Provide Additional Opportunities to Drop- off and Chip or Compost Tree Limbs and Beetle- Damaged Wood and Slash: New Community Forestry Sort Yard opened in Nederland; grants provided for community chipping programs; diversion of close to 1,325 tons estimated over the course of the project 1 ; 3. Require Construction and Demolition Recycling in Conjunction with Building Permit Awards: Better measures implemented in unincorporated Boulder County and tracked after 2010 s Four Mile Canyon fire affected the target area; 41 tons diverted; 4. Provide Organics Collection: New programs implemented in Nederland and Ward; new program pending in Eldorado Springs; nearly 19 tons diverted; 5. Require Recycling Services for Businesses: Some business audits were provided during this project period. The Stone Cup in Lyons achieved Zero Waste standards for the countywide Partners for a Clean Environment program; 6. Implement Electronic Recycling: Additional programs were developed in and for the mountain communities, including collection during summer Clean Up events; 7. Offer Zero Waste Event Planning: Festivals in Nederland and Lyons reported diversion success. A planning workshop was held in Lyons; a second is planned for Nederland in 2012; 8. Update Municipal Land Use Code to Correspond with Existing Zero Waste Code Requirements in Unincorporated Boulder County: No substantial progress; 9. Provide Education: Three newsletters delivered; 10. Measure Diversion: Metrics tracked, and 1,141 tons documented in 2011; 1 This tonnage was not included in the 1,141 total tons diverted through this program, as large quantities of wood waste are not traditionally included in residential recycling / composting programs. 1

2 11. Estimate Behavior Change: Only 59 of the target 500 behavior change pledges were completed. The metrics of waste prevention are challenging to measure in communities throughout North America. This project proved no exception. 1. Adopt Zero Waste Ordinance / Resolution This objective aimed to pass a resolution in support of the Boulder County Zero Waste Action Plan in the four incorporated target communities: Lyons, Jamestown, Nederland and Ward. During this reporting period, the Town of Nederland continued drafting an ordinance, which is likely to pass in Lyons previously drafted and passed an ordinance in support of the Plan; Jamestown felt their support of a regional Consortium of Cities document was sufficient. Outreach to Ward will continue after the project s completion. 2. Provide Additional Opportunities to Drop- Off and Chip or Compost Tree Limbs and Beetle- Damaged Wood and Slash Boulder County s Community Forestry Sort Yard, which provides the mountain communities with drop- off locations for tree limbs, beetle- kill wood, and slash, operated a drop- off site in Allenspark from early August to mid- October and re- opened the Nederland sort yard on weekends in October only. Over the course of this project, the two sites diverted more than 950 tons of wood. In addition, the Boulder County Forest Health program provided a total of $19,000 in matching grants this year to special chipping programs in seven mountain communities in or adjacent to the target areas. Previous reports documented an estimated 227 tons of wood diverted through three of the seven programs. Additional paperwork submitted to Boulder County during this reporting period indicates new diversion in four communities, for a total of close to 375 tons diverted through this matching grant program, alone: During this reporting period, Gold Hill reported collection of 4,071 cubic yards of slash, which was chipped into 214 cubic yards of wood chips. During this reporting period, the PUMA Magnolia Rd area reported collection of 612 cubic yards of slash, which was chipped into 37 cubic yards of chips. During this reporting period, Sugarloaf collected 17,600 cubic yards of slash, which was chipped into 330 cubic yards of wood chips. During this reporting period, Sunshine collected 520 cubic yards of slash. A reduction ratio equivalent to that seen in the other three communities would result in 13.5 cubic yards of chips. 2

3 As detailed above, the four projects completed during this reporting period reduced more than 22,800 cubic yards of slash to nearly 595 cubic yards of chips. EPA estimates 1 cubic yard of wood chips weighs 500 pounds; the additional diversion attributable to this program element is, therefore, roughly tons of wood waste. 3. Require Construction and Demolition Recycling in Conjunction with Building Permit Awards Current Boulder County BuildSmart regulations require building projects to divert a percentage of their construction and demolition waste to reuse or recycling. Following the Four Mile Canyon wildfire in September 2010, project staff members began working with the Boulder County Land Use Division to measure the diversion from new construction in the burn area. In previous reports, staff recorded diversion of more than tons of building materials from the target area (weights were not available for some reusable materials). During this reporting period, an additional tons have been documented at five locations in the mountains, including three in the burn area (one project initiated before the fire) and one each in Nederland and Eldorado Springs. 4. Provide Organics Collection Nederland and Ward have continued their compost collection and processing projects in recent months. Nederland: During this reporting period, the Nederland Composting and Resource Recovery non- profit (NCRR) continued to collect and compost food waste from businesses in the town. An estimated 400 gallons of material were collected this quarter. The collections equate to an estimated 1.5 tons 2. NCRR was able this quarter to acquire two surplus Earth Tub composters contributed to the project by Boulder County and transported to Nederland by Town staff. The new equipment is sited and will be maintained on Town land. A newspaper article about delivery and set- up of the tubs is available at county- news/ci_ ?iadid=search Food waste estimated at 7.5 pounds per gallon using figures from RecycleMania: tracking/conversions.pdf 3

4 Ward: The Ward compost project diverted 200 gallons of material during this reporting period, an estimated.75 tons. 5. Require Recycling Services for Businesses None of the mountain municipalities is prepared to require business recycling at this time. County staff will, therefore, encourage continued voluntary compliance with Zero Waste goals. This project had limited initial success with outreach to businesses in the towns of Lyons and Nederland, with assistance from Boulder County Public Health s Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) business outreach program. The Stone Cup in Lyons achieved certification as a PACE partner in the Zero Waste area of excellence by documenting a greater than 70 percent diversion rate. Additional outreach will be offered in Nederland. 6. Implement Electronic Recycling This quarter, staff finished researching sites to which electronic materials could be mailed for recycling a possible options for mountain residents and businesses that don t want to travel to Boulder with their electronics. Separate opportunities for computers and for cell phones have been identified. The attached list will be edited and modified into a user- friendly format in early Offer Zero Waste Event Planning On Nov. 15 th, staff coordinated a Zero Waste Event Planning workshop in Lyons in honor of America Recycles Day. Several members of the Lyons Sustainable Future Commission attended, along with town and parks staff, members of the local public and representatives from the University of Colorado, Louisville, Nederland and Ward. For the Lyons event, Boulder County Zero Waste staff brought in speakers from Western Disposal, Eco- Cycle and Green Mountain Recycling, all of whom provide recycling and compost service in Lyons. Managers from the Planet Bluegrass event center and The Stone Cup coffee shop added their perspective. Education was discussed at length. The two- dozen workshop attendees also asked several questions of EcoProducts staff in attendance, especially inquiring about the difference between compostable and biodegradeable materials. 4

5 Those in attendance agreed to work on a comprehensive to do list for planning Zero Waste Events that would help bring consistency to varied activities around Boulder County. Nederland hopes to have a separate training in spring Update Municipal Land Use Code to Correspond with Existing Zero Waste Codes Requirements in Unincorporated Boulder County This element of the Zero Waste Action Plan was designed to improve recycling collection infrastructure at multifamily and commercial buildings. Staff members have determined that very few opportunities exist in the target communities. This element will be explored more closely in Nederland and Lyons but not pursued in other areas. 9. Provide Education A third edition of Zero Waste Boulder County Mountain Community News was mailed to more than 2,400 addresses in the target area in October Wildfire Awareness Month in Boulder County. Additional copies were distributed to the transfer stations in Allenspark and Nederland and handed out at public meetings in the mountain communities. All three of the newsletters distributed through this program can be viewed at A webpage dedicated to ongoing Zero Waste education for Boulder County mountain communities is planned for The community of Eldorado Springs was successful in its application to Boulder County for grant funds to purchase bear- proof compost collection containers. More information is available on the Eldorado Springs Community Association website: Measure Diversion Waste generation for the target communities is estimated at 3,600 tons per year, not including wood waste (large quantities of wood waste are not traditionally included in residential recycling / composting programs). The 25% recycling goal set for this project would be met by proven diversion of 900 tons per year or more of traditional recyclables, compostable food waste and reusable / recyclable electronics, textiles and construction materials. In 2011, staff was able to define and refine reporting metrics for this project, initiating measures for food waste diversion in Nederland and Ward, measures for BuildSmart diversion, and tracking of Spring Cleanup successes. 5

6 Diversion through the Community Forestry Sort Yard and chipping programs, though it represents an estimated 1,325 tons of wood chips and reusable wood, was determined by staff to be extraneous to the 900 ton diversion goal, as indicated above. In previous reports, this program documented diversion of more than 134 tons of material, including: tons of food and other organic materials in Nederland, 3.33 tons of food waste in Ward, tons of construction recycling, tons of metal recycled in Nederland, 34.3 tons of cardboard recycled at the Nederland and Allenspark transfer stations, 3 tons of electronics, and 14.6 tons of Spring Cleanup materials (not including electronics nor wood) This quarter, staff documented an additional 2.25 tons of food scraps diverted from Nederland and Ward, as detailed above, and tons of construction materials from BuildSmart projects in the target area, also detailed above. Boulder County s new textile diversion program, established in 2011 in Allenspark and Nederland, diverted additional material, but no weights are available. In addition, staff is able to include with this report year- long diversion figures for the Allenspark (110 tons), Lyons (495 tons) and Nederland (378 tons) drop boxes, as well as nearly 38 tons (75,880 pounds) collected at monthly recycling events in Jamestown and Ward. These figures, added to 90 tons previously documented 3, bring the 2011 diversion total to an estimated 1,141 tons: more than 240 tons higher than this project s 900- ton goal. 11. Estimate Behavior Change An electronic version of the Zero Waste Pledge for mountain communities was posted to the Boulder County website and shared electronically with towns in the target communities. Throughout the year, 59 pledges were returned of the 500 anticipated. The Zero Waste pledge creates a format for collecting addresses, allowing project staff to provide ongoing education, as well as information about new campaigns and initiatives. One measure of behavior change occurs when members of the target communities make 3 Does not include 34.3 tons of cardboard previously reported in the May July time period in order to avoid double- counting with the annual drop- box diversion numbers. 6

7 commitments to behavior change and pledge a greater effort toward recycling and composting. This effort was not as successful an outreach mechanism as hoped. However, staff members are increasing their knowledge of social marketing and behavior change practices in order to design more effective behavior change methods in the future. In 2012, those who took the Zero Waste pledge will receive copies of this project s final report. 7

8 Boulder County Mountain Communities Electronics Recycling Further Information Several electronic item brand names that are not listed for the following reasons: 1. Some brands did not have recycling options at all or specifically available in our area. 2. Some brands seemed to have ineffective or questionable recycling information or charge for shipping without any added benefit to the consumer. 3. There are convenient recycling options for all of those brands with the availability of several recycling resources which will accept all brands for free recycling. Apple Store - Boulder 29th Street Mall th St. Boulder, CO apple.com/29thstreet apple.com/recycle Batteries ipods Trade in and Purchase Recycling: Ten percent off purchase for a new ipod in store when customer brings in an ipod for recycling at time of purchase. Mail in Credit: Go online, describe the device, an estimate and free shipping information will be given online. An Apple gift card will be sent for use in the retail or online store. Desktop, Mac or PC Notebook, Mac or PC ipad iphone Mail in Recycle: Apple partners with WeRecycle! to responsibly recycle computers and displays from any manufacturer. Just call to receive a free prepaid shipping label. Then pack and send. Best Buy Boulder and Longmont Best Buy - Boulder th St. Boulder, CO bestbuy.com Best Buy- Longmont 210 Ken Pratt Blvd. Longmont, CO bestbuy.com Any brand of the following- All-in-one fax, scanner, printer Audio receivers- car and home Cables Cameras Camcorders Computers- desk and laptop Controllers Drives optical and hard drive E-readers Fax machines Game systems and hand held GPS devices ipods and Zunes Keypads Mice s Notebooks 8

9 Best Buy Boulder and Longmont (cont.) Peripherals cables, keypads, mice, speakers Players Blu-ray, CD, DVD, VHS Printers Projectors - multimedia Radios Remotes Scanners Speakers Tablets and ipads Video games Best Buy will accept any brand of the following; up to 3 large items a day per customer. A $10 fee is charged and customer receives a $10 gift card in return. TV up to 32" Flat screen up to 60 Monitor Free Recycling for Small Items Recycling:: No charge for the following small recyclable items deposited in bins at store entrance: Cables Controllers DVD and CD cases Rechargeable batteries Buy Back Program: Best Buy has a buy back program for computers and printers originally purchased at the store and returned within one year for the purchase of a new computer or printer - a credit of up to 50% will be given off the purchase price of the new item. Recycle Pickup: TV s will be picked up for free with delivery of a large TV purchased from Best Buy. Delivery charge is $60 charge flat rate and an additional $1 per mile over 25 miles.) Without purchase, pickup can be arranged for $120 and $1 per mile over 25 miles. Store Credit for Trade in of Useable Items: A store gift card credit is given for some functional items. See online to see if they will accept your item and to input the item information. Store Credit Mail in Option Online: Online at bestbuy.com (go to the bottom of the page and click trade) the customer can input the item information and a value will be given then package and mail per online instructions After processing a gift card will be sent. Check online, accepted items include: Computers laptop and desktop Cameras Gaming consoles GPS ipad ipods Store Credit In Store Option: The Longmont store will purchase useable electronics at a price determined by the Geek Squad. A gift card will be given at the time, or a check for a lesser amount will be mailed. Note The Boulder store does not offer this drop off service due to City of Boulder regulations. Items considered for gift card credit include: Computers laptop and desktop Cameras Gaming consoles GPS ipad ipods Cell for Cash cellforcash.com An ISO 9001, ISO and IAER Certified Recycler. Instructions on website. They will recycle nonworking phones and provide postage paid shipping label. Payment for Recycling: See website. Identify phone brand, enter a description, follow instructions for mailing with postage paid label. 9

10 Cellular Recycler Boulder 4840 Sterling Drive, Unit A Boulder, CO 80301; retail@cellularrecycler.com info@cellularrecycler.com Currently compliant and expecting to receive R2 Certification (Responsible Recycling). Free Recycle: Camera digital ipad Game systems Pay for Recycle: Will pay something for cell phones, depending on value. Fund Raising Option: Check online for information on their fund raising program to collect cell phones for charities, and to order free collection boxes. Mail in Options : Check on line for free shipping information. Camera - digital ipad Game systems Payment for Recycling: only. Payment will be made by mail for shipments that total $7.50 or more in value. Check online for free shipping information. Fund Raising: Check online for information on their fund raising program to collect cell phones for charities, free shipping and to order free collection boxes. Mailing address Sterling Drive, Unit A Boulder, CO Eco-Cycle/CHaRM 5030 Old Pearl St. Boulder, CO 80301; ecocycle.org Check the website for complete details on all accepted items and for more information on recycling issues. A $3 facility free is charged per visit. Samsung consumer electronics Appliances, small with 50% metal Audio equipment Computers and computer equipment Phones Players DVD and VCR Small electronics games, TV s Re - Use Exchange Online Community Bulletin Board: Eco-Cycle Exchange is an online community bulletin board for reuse to offer free unwanted but useable items. Free to join, post and browse. Mail in Option: Note - Check website or call to include fees for each item when mailing: Samsung consumer electronics Appliances, small with 50% metal Audio equipment Computers and equipment Phones Players DVD and VCR Small electronics games, TV s Mailing addresses - For UPS/FedEx deliveries 5030 Old Pearl St.; Boulder, CO For US Postal Service deliveries - PO Box 19006; Boulder, CO

11 Electronics Recycling International (ERI) 4890 Ironton St. Denver, CO 80239; erecyclingco.com Prefer drop off by appointment. Electronics Recycling will also come to communities for recycling events. There is a charge for recycled items but the pickup fee is waived. Events usually last 3-4 hours. Keyboards Mice Goodwill Industries-Boulder 2486 Baseline Rd. Boulder, CO goodwill.com Committed to ethical practices and they partner with Eco-Cycle/CHaRM on some recycling. Goodwill provides employment land training for individuals to refurbish items and has been in the recycle business since before it was considered a responsible practice. Free Recycle: The Goodwill store accepts almost anything, working or not, without charge, including: Adding machine Batteries alkaline and Nicad Camera Computer systems Computers laptop and desktop Copy machine CPU tower Credit card terminals Docking stations Fax machine Hard drive Key boards Mainframe Mouse Overhead projectors Palm pilot Player CD and DVD Printers including laser Router Scanner Speakers Stereo Tape Drive Telephone TV Video Recorder Second location: This location can only accept a small volume of computers and printers by appointment W. Colfax Ave. Lakewood, CO (call main office for information) Audio receivers, car and home All-in-one fax, scanner, printer Batteries, rechargeable and NiCad Cables Calculators Camcorders Cameras Computers- desk and laptop Controllers Copiers CPU s DVD and CD cases E-readers Game systems, hand held Drives optical and hard drive Fax machines GPS devices Household appliances, small ipods and Zunes Keyboards Mice Microwaves, over the stove and counter top s Multimedia projectors Notebooks Overhead projectors Peripherals cables, keypads, mice, speakers Players Blu-ray, CD, DVD, VHS Printers Radios Remotes Scanners Shredders Speakers 11

12 Goodwill Industries-Boulder (cont.) Tablets and ipads Telephones TV s Video Games Mail in Option: The Goodwill store accepts almost anything for free, working or not, without charge. Audio receivers, car and home All-in-one fax, scanner, printer Batteries, rechargeable and NiCad Cables Calculators Camcorders Cameras Clothes Computers- desk and laptop Controllers Copiers CPU s DVD and CD cases E-readers Game systems, hand held Drives optical and hard drive Fax machines GPS devices Household appliances, small ipods and Zunes Ink and toner cartridges Keyboards Furniture Mice Microwaves, over the stove and counter top s Multimedia projectors Musical instruments Notebooks Overhead projectors Peripherals cables, keypads, mice, speakers Players Blu-ray, CD, DVD, VHS Printers Radios Remotes Scanners Shredders Speakers Tablets and ipads Telephones TV s Luminous Recycling Denver East 51st Avenue Denver, CO (303) ; info@luminosrecycling.com Will take anything that plugs into the wall or runs on batteries that is not used in a kitchen. (working or not) Camera - digital Computer laptop CPU DVR Flat screen TV (must be working) Gaming systems PDA Phones cell and smart Processor ($.15 per pound) Personal/Office Computers CPU s Hard drives Laptops Keyboards Mainframe computers Mice Modems Servers Consumer Electronics Camcorders Compact disc players DVD Players Electronic games Stereos AM-FM receivers, portable Radios Tape players TV s Two-way radios VCR s Office Equipment - Copiers Duplicators Electronic typewriters Printed circuit boards 12

13 Luminous Recycling Denver (cont.) Printers Scanners UPS, uninterrupted power supplies Word processors Telecommunications Answering machines Fax machines Handsets Pagers Telephone systems Mail in Option: Will take anything that plugs into the wall or runs on batteries that is not used in a kitchen. (working or not) Computer laptop CPU DVR Flat screen TV (must be working) PDA Phones cell and smart Processor ($.15 per pound) Personal/Office Computers Hard drives Keyboards Mainframe computers Mice Modems Servers Consumer Electronics Camcorders Compact disc players DVD Players Electronic games Stereos AM-FM receivers, portable Radios Tape players TV s Two-way radios VCR s Office Equipment - Copiers Duplicators Electronic typewriters Printed circuit boards Printers Scanners Toner cartridges, laser and inkjet UPS, uninterrupted power supplies Word processors Telecommunications Answering machines Fax machines Handsets Pagers Telephone systems Payment for Recycling: (call for pricing) Mailing Address: E. 51 st St. Denver, CO MeTech Denver 500 W. 53 rd Denver, Co metechrecycling.com MeTech will also come to communities to do collection recycling events. and accessories ipod Palm pilot PDA Sony products Adding Machine Boom box Cameras CD s DVD s 13

14 MeTech Denver (cont.) Circuit boards Coffee makers Computers laptop and desktop Computers systems Copy machine CPU tower Credit Card terminal Docking station Fax machine Hard drive Keyboards Printer laser and other Main frame Matrix switches Microwaves Mouse Overhead projector Paper shredder Modems Router Scanner Sewing machine Speaker Stereo Players CD and DVD Tape drives Tapes, cassettes and VCR Telephones TV any size, console and projections Video recorders Note: Will accept older computers with Freon for an additional $30 charge for Freon removal. Credit for Purchase: For the purchase of a new printer from an identified list of printers, Office Depot will give a $50 credit to recycle any brand printer as a trade in. Office Depot will sell you a small ($5, 8x6x18), medium ($10,16x16x18)or large box ($15, 18x18x24) to recycle. Customers can put as many items in the box as they are able. Office Depot arranges to have the boxes picked up from their store for recycling. Cables Computers laptop, desktop, netbooks Cords Electronics all small type Fax machines ipod ipad Keyboards s Palm pilot Printers Towers Note not accepted TV s and batteries that are separate from electronic items. Office Max Boulder Office Depot Boulder and Longmont Office Depot Boulder th St. Boulder, CO officedepot.com Office Depot Longmont 2251 Ken Pratt Blvd. Longmont, CO officedepot.com th St. Boulder, CO Officemax.com Recycling for Purchase Credit: For purchase of identified printers, a credit of $50 is given to recycle any brand of printer. Any brand of computer can be recycled for credit towards purchase of a new computer. The recycled computer is evaluated for processor function to determine value. 14

15 Staples Boulder and Longmont Staple-Boulder th St. Boulder, CO 80301; staples.com Staples-Longmont 210 Ken Pratt, #140 Longmont, CO 80503; staples.com Calculators Cameras, digital Computer Copiers, small CPU s Digital Cameras Fax machines GPS devices Hard Drives Keyboards Laptops Mice s Overhead projector Printers Telephones Scanners Shredders Speakers Recycle for Credit: Staples has occasional promotions will accept any brand of printer or computer as a recycle trade in for a $50 credit on purchase of a new printer or computer. Free Recycle Mail in Option: Check website at staples.com for the mail in option for some items and shipping information. Cameras Cell phone Desktop DVD GPS Key board Laptop Verizon Wireless Boulder and Longmont Verizon will recycle to cell phones to Hopeline which provides cell phones to battered women s shelters. will be wiped clean of information before donation. Items accepted: Cell phone accessories Verizon Wireless Boulder th St. Boulder, CO vzw.com Verizon Wireless - Longmont 1067 So Hoover Longmont, CO Western Disposal Boulder 5880 Butte Mill Road Boulder, CO westerndisposal.com Appliances Computers TVs The Wireless Alliance 5763 Arapahoe, Unit G Boulder, CO TWA-CARE thewirelessalliance.com Currently compliant and expecting to receive R2 Certification (Responsible Recycling) and by ISO, 14,001 Certification (for responsible deletion of personal information). See website online for instructions for removing personal information from phones. 15

16 The Wireless Alliance (cont.) Free shipping label on website for all recycling. Free Recycle: Cameras - digital working or not Cell phone accessories GPS ipods, ipads s Payment for Recycling: Payment for Recycling: For some electronics they will set up an account and after an evaluation will send payment for items of value, or if preferred by customer, will make a donation to one of the charities they work with. Check website for free shipping label. Monthly payments for large accounts. Cameras digital ipad Mailing address 5763 Arapahoe Ave, Unit G; Boulder, CO For some electronics they will set up an account and after an evaluation will send payment for items of value, or if preferred by customer, will make a donation to one of the charities they work with: Monthly payments for large accounts. Camera digital ipad Mail in Options: Camera - digital Cell phone working or not Cell phone accessories GPS ipod, ipad PDA 16