This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Ever wonder what Longmont residents throw away in their weekly trash carts? Turns out, over half of what's inside could actually be recycled or composted.
THE 21-DAY CHALLENGE:
Just in time for Earth Day, City of Longmont Waste Services is upping its game and launching a 21-Day Challenge to encourage Longmont residents to do their part, no matter how big or how small, and make a pledge to send less to the landfill and put more to good use.
The Challenge, hinged on the notion that it takes 21 days to instill a habit and make significant and lasting change, asks participants to get involved by making a personal commitment to create a new lifestyle routine. Participants need to sign-up between April 8 and May 14. Those that join will get weekly emails with helpful tips and information about City waste diversion programs as well as be entered into a drawing for gift cards to spend in Downtown Longmont.
SMALLER CART, CHEAPER PRICE, BIGGER IMPACT:
According to the City, most Longmont residents are paying for more trash service than they need. But, by getting a smaller trash cart and recycling as much as possible, residents can actually keep more money in their pockets. Even if residents also decide to add composting service, the total bill with either a medium or small trash cart is still cheaper than one, large 96-gallon trash cart priced at $24/month.
As Charles Kamenides, Waste Services Manager, puts it: “Trash cart size is the main factor in your monthly waste service cost. The larger your trash cart, the more you pay. So, if you’re not filling your cart between pick-ups, why not get a smaller one and pay less?” This approach, called “Pay As You Throw,” works just like water or electric rates… the more you use, the more you pay. In the case of trash, it helps encourage waste diversion – sending less stuff to landfills – by incentivizing alternatives like composting and recycling.
COMPOSTING IS EASY AND COST-EFFICIENT:
Last year the City launched a composting program that outlined the ease, simplicity and cost efficiency of adding composting to monthly waste pick-up. According to the City, year-one of the program was a success with nearly 4,000 households signing up to compost.
“Contrary to what some might think, adding composting to your trash subscription, and incorporating composting into your daily routine, is really pretty simple,” explained Holly Milne, a communications and marketing manager at the City. “It’s just like recycling – you learn what goes in the cart and you make sure to put it there. And, with the help of compostable bags, there is no smell or mess; it’s just like taking out the trash.”
The composting process is as easy as putting your yard waste and branches, food (including meat, dairy, and bones), soiled paper (e.g. napkins, paper towels, tissues), shredded paper, and other organic materials in your curbside compost cart provided by the City. (The cost to add curbside composting to your existing trash service is $6.60.) Just as with recycling, the cart will be picked up every other week and taken to a commercial facility. There, the compost naturally cooks to temperatures of up to 150 degrees, breaking down materials that won’t decompose in your backyard compost pile and destroying disease-causing bacteria.
Every little bit helps. By choosing to compost, and by getting in the habit of sorting your waste, you help:
- Save landfill space and delay building a new one
- Reduce methane (a potent greenhouse gas)
- Enrich and improve soils
- Support Longmont's sustainability goals for waste reduction
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About City of Longmont Waste Services: City of Longmont waste services encompass residential trash, recycling, and composting collection. Also included are numerous special services (such as paper shredding, fall leaf pick up, hard-to-recycle items, spring branch pick up, Christmas tree recycling, and pharmaceutical and hazardous material disposal). The Waste Diversion Center, located at 140 Martin Street, offers additional recycling and composting opportunities. For more information, answers to frequently asked questions, schedules, and helpful tips on how to reduce waste visit www.LongmontColorado.gov/solidwaste.
This is a news release issued by the City of Longmont and is published here as a public service
