ZERO WASTE COMMITTEE
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the SRL Zero Waste committee organized an educational webinar series. Click HERE to access our Youtube channel and view the recordings!
QUARTERLY COMMUNITY CLEAN-UPS!
- Join the SRL Zero Waste Committee for quarterly weekend park clean-ups
- For more information or to RSVP, contact us.
Get Involved! Fill out this short form and let us know how you'd like to help make Longmont a zero waste city!
Longmont Zero Waste Committee Meeting
Zoom online meetings, with occasional in-person park meetings in the summer months
Zoom online meetings, with occasional in-person park meetings in the summer months
- The Zero Waste Committee meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 5:00-6:30pm
- RSVP to get the link
2021 Zero Waste Webinars
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Grow Local: Home Gardening and Community Agriculture
April 8, 2021 | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Watch this webinar to learn home gardening tips for the Colorado growing season, as well as the benefits of community agriculture and investing in our local farms. Our SRL Moderator, Naomi Curland, Chair of the Zero Waste Committee and Executive Director of Longmont Food Rescue, engages in conversations with our expert panelists:
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Zero Waste Update: December 2020
Ten members of the SRL Zero Waste Committee gave public comment on December 1 at the City Council meeting, which saw the first comprehensive review of the Waste Services programs since 2010. If you’d like to hear our committee’s public comments, you can start watching the meeting HERE. A few other comments in support of our policy recommendations came after our committee speakers - great to have additional community support!
About 2 hours later, Bob Allen gave the Waste Services Program Review, which you can find HERE. He started out by saying the waste plan is guided by the Sustainability Plan, and was very supportive of our group comments. He went on to list the most common feedback from community members, waste services staff, and stakeholders (which aligned perfectly with our committee recommendations):
1) enhanced participation in residential composting
2) universal recycling ordinance
3) nearby options for hard to recycle items
One of their goals is 50% residential waste diversion by 2025 - currently at 26% diverted at the curb in Longmont. Our voluntary compost program is at 21% participation, and they expect it to level out at 25% if other measures aren’t taken. He offered some policy options for increasing our waste diversion, such as a universal recycling ordinance (YES!) and the possibility of a plastic bag ordinance. He also mentioned the opportunity to collaborate more with Eco-Cycle for outreach and education, including the Green Star Schools program.
City Council directed staff to identify and analyze potential program changes that would represent impactful, quick-wins. City staff will return to City Council in early 2021 to present findings and receive further direction on priorities and alternatives.
About 2 hours later, Bob Allen gave the Waste Services Program Review, which you can find HERE. He started out by saying the waste plan is guided by the Sustainability Plan, and was very supportive of our group comments. He went on to list the most common feedback from community members, waste services staff, and stakeholders (which aligned perfectly with our committee recommendations):
1) enhanced participation in residential composting
2) universal recycling ordinance
3) nearby options for hard to recycle items
One of their goals is 50% residential waste diversion by 2025 - currently at 26% diverted at the curb in Longmont. Our voluntary compost program is at 21% participation, and they expect it to level out at 25% if other measures aren’t taken. He offered some policy options for increasing our waste diversion, such as a universal recycling ordinance (YES!) and the possibility of a plastic bag ordinance. He also mentioned the opportunity to collaborate more with Eco-Cycle for outreach and education, including the Green Star Schools program.
City Council directed staff to identify and analyze potential program changes that would represent impactful, quick-wins. City staff will return to City Council in early 2021 to present findings and receive further direction on priorities and alternatives.
2020 Zero Waste Events
Longmont Clean Up Green Up: October 4
Together, we filled 13 large orange trash bags, 3 large white recycling bags, and rescued a tire and a fire extinguisher for safe disposal. Thank you for helping keep our greenway and waterways clean of plastic and debris!
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Food Preservation: Tips & Tricks for a Zero Waste Kitchen: September 2
Learn about a variety of food preservation techniques to prolong the life of food in your kitchen, and save fresh produce from a bountiful harvest to be enjoyed later in the year. There will be practical demonstrations, hands-on techniques, and recipes included.
Featuring in-kitchen presentations from SRL Zero Waste committee members:
Jenny Kim
Jasmine Walker
Naomi Curland
Featuring in-kitchen presentations from SRL Zero Waste committee members:
Jenny Kim
Jasmine Walker
Naomi Curland
Living a Zero Waste Lifestyle in the Time of COVID: July 28
With an ongoing public health crisis, people are home more than ever. How has this affected our consumption habits? Learn how to shop sustainably, upcycle what you have, and live zero waste amidst a pandemic.
Speakers:
Presentations & Links:
Speakers:
- Rosie Briggs, Community Campaigns/Eco-Leaders Network Manager, Eco-Cycle
- Jenny Kim, MD, Longmont resident
- Devin Quince, Owners, Simply Bulk Market
Presentations & Links:
Food Waste and the Climate Connection: June 17
Join us for a webinar exploring the connection between food waste and climate change, with a focus on solutions. Learn about food rescue and hunger relief efforts, landfill diversion through composting, and how our Green Star Schools are leading the way in food waste education. Find out more about what local organizations are doing to make an impact and what you can do to help reduce food waste.
Speakers:
Speakers:
- Naomi Curland, Executive Director, Longmont Food Rescue
- Dan Matsch, CHaRM Facility and Compost Department Director, Eco-Cycle
- Stephanie Potter, Teacher/STEM Explorers Advisor, Eagle Crest Elementary School
- Rachel Zelaya, Program Coordinator, Sustainable Resilient Longmont
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Zero Waste Committee Background Information:
Did you know that Longmont was the first city in Colorado to offer residential curbside recycling pickup services in the early 1980s? How about that Longmont’s Rhythm on the River was the first official Zero Waste event ever? Or that their every-other-week trash pickup option is the envy of many other municipalities who haven’t quite been able to make it work?
And yet, Longmont is below the national average residential recycling rate, despite our long history of Zero Waste leadership and innovation. Please join fellow Longmont residents as we explore the possibilities for keeping Longmont a national leader in Zero Waste.
Two major branches of activity are currently being focused on: education initiatives, and advocacy and action. Other ideas for creatively moving Longmont further toward Zero Waste are welcomed and encouraged. Please join us at our next meeting!
Initiatives
We are organizing educational events in English and Spanish!
Estamos organizando eventos educativos en inglés y español!
The Zero Waste Committee organizes a series of educational events, including facility tours and community presentations.
Facility tours focus on resources coming into and leaving your home, giving residents a holistic educational experience and connecting us with resources affecting our daily lives. Tours look at incoming water, electricity, gas, and food, as well as outgoing recycling, trash, compost, and wastewater. Community presentations are in-town events where speakers share zero waste knowledge and local businesses highlight their zero waste initiatives.
If you have ideas for an event or want to get involved, please join our group at the next meeting!
And yet, Longmont is below the national average residential recycling rate, despite our long history of Zero Waste leadership and innovation. Please join fellow Longmont residents as we explore the possibilities for keeping Longmont a national leader in Zero Waste.
Two major branches of activity are currently being focused on: education initiatives, and advocacy and action. Other ideas for creatively moving Longmont further toward Zero Waste are welcomed and encouraged. Please join us at our next meeting!
- Click here to join the Zero Waste Committee google group and get involved!
Initiatives
We are organizing educational events in English and Spanish!
Estamos organizando eventos educativos en inglés y español!
The Zero Waste Committee organizes a series of educational events, including facility tours and community presentations.
Facility tours focus on resources coming into and leaving your home, giving residents a holistic educational experience and connecting us with resources affecting our daily lives. Tours look at incoming water, electricity, gas, and food, as well as outgoing recycling, trash, compost, and wastewater. Community presentations are in-town events where speakers share zero waste knowledge and local businesses highlight their zero waste initiatives.
If you have ideas for an event or want to get involved, please join our group at the next meeting!
CURBSIDE COMPOSTING
- Longmont began a curbside composting program in 2017.
- Find out more and sign up for service HERE!