This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Landfills are established to collect a city's waste. Longmont's landfill closed in 1993 and since then the city has relied on the Front Range Landfill, located at 1830 Co Rd 5, Erie, for trash disposal.
According to the Front Range Landfill website, "The Front Range Landfill opened in 1996 and is expected to operate through 2051." The Front Range Landfill has a permitted footprint of, "326 acres on the 460 acre site with a 70 million cubic yard capacity."
When a landfill reaches capacity and must close, "you either need to construct a new one or come up with innovative solutions to manage waste. There are few land options for landfills in convenient locations because no community wants a landfill in their backyard. There are already reports of some large communities in the U.S. having to haul trash by rail to remote locations – an expensive proposition," states Charles Kamenides, Longmont waste services manager.
The City of Longmont identifies that there is a need to work with its residents to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill. The solutions to this problem include the "Pay as You Throw" program, the 21-day Challenge, curbside recycling and composting bins and the Waste Diversion Center.
Longmont now offers three levels of trash collection for residents to tailor size their waste needs and spread out service costs more proportionately based on usage.
"This is referred to as a “Pay as You Throw” pricing structure. It puts trash in line with how other city services, such as water and electricity, are charged," says Kamenides. "By taking advantage of recycling, composting and a smaller trash bin, it’s very possible that you could find yourself with a greater total volume for disposal at a lower cost."
In April, according to Kamenides, Waste Services had created a 21-day challenge to encourage residents to think about waste and how they dispose of it. Although it's ended, it's a challenge open to anyone anytime.
"I encourage everyone to rethink what they put in the trash container. We all can find ways to practically incorporate the ideals of reduce, reuse, recycle and compost into our routines. Also, residents can get connected with our “Tips and Tricks” blog to learn about ways send less to the landfill and put more to good use. https://www.longmontcolorado.
The city began offering curbside pickup for both recycling and composting. These services were offered in an attempt to divert materials from the landfill. "When we send less to the landfill through recycling and composting, we prolong the landfill’s useful life and delay the challenge and expense of building a new one."
"Longmont is entering a new era in solid waste management. The goal is twofold, encourage waste reduction (send less stuff to the landfill) and provide more equitable rates for service," says Kamenides.
Kamenides offers a guess that without recycling and composting services, the amount of waste going into the landfill would possibly be double the amount that it is today.
The Waste Diversion Center was created to allow residents who are unable to receive curbside services an opportunity to participate in helping the city manage waste. The Waste Diversion Center is located at 140 Martin St., Longmont. According to the City of Longmont website, "The Waste Diversion Center accepts yard waste, household food waste and other compostable materials year-round during regular business hours."
In addition to giving all residents the opportunity to recycle, the Waste Diversion Center offers a place for all residents to dispose of items that are not accepted in curbside recycling and compost. Visit the Waste Diversion Center website for a comprehensive list.
Another resource offered by the city to help divert waste is the WasteWizard research tool found on the City of Longmont's website. This tool allows participants to type in the item they wish to discard and learn the proper way to dispose of the item.
The disposal of waste is a problem all cities face in America. The City of Longmont recognizes the significance of the problem and is working to find solutions that benefit all its residents.
To learn more about The City of Longmont's waste management efforts visit https://www.longmontcolorado.gov/departments/departments-n-z/trash-and-recycling.
