Recycling

Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and offsets the need to harvest new raw materials, which conserves energy, reduces air and water pollution, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Why it matters:

Recycling is not just good for the environment. It’s also good for the economy, creating jobs and generating local and state tax revenue. On average, ten times more jobs are created from recycling than from trash. Recyclable materials are a valuable resource, many of which can be recycled indefinitely.

What we’re doing:

YVSC is working with local governments and businesses to determine baseline recycling and contamination rates for the Yampa Valley and setting metrics for measuring recycling success. This information will help guide community goals and measure project impacts. YVSC provides programs and services to increase Yampa Valley recycling rates, such as our Yampa Valley Recycles App, Zero Waste Events and Recycling Drop-Off Days and supports recycling with education and community outreach.

What you can do:
  • Download the Yampa Valley Recycles app. Our Yampa Valley Recycles app can answer any local recycling questions you might have.
  • Join a recycling task force. In 2019 YVSC worked with Routt County to create the Waste Diversion Strategic Plan which identifies curbside recycling and business waste diversion as priority areas. YVSC needs community volunteers to serve on those task forces. For information about joining a task force, please contact our Waste Diversion Director at winn.cowman@yvsc.org.
  • Volunteer at YVSC zero waste events.