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Fall is Here and so is the 2009 DenverLeafDrop
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The snow sure did speed up the fall of leaves this year, so the annual raking begins! Did you know that organic materials such as food, food-soiled paper and yard debris account for 58% of what is thrown away in Denver? Denver Recycles’ LeafDrop program once again will be providing options for Denver residents to compost their leaves and avert them from the dump.
If you can, try and reuse and recycle your leaves by digging them into the garden, composting them or using a lawn mower to mulch small amounts into the lawn. This adds nutrients and helps the soil retain moisture. Home composting and mulching information can be found by clicking here. Remember to never sweep your leaves into the street. This clogs up storm sewers and street sweeper vehicles. If you can’t reuse your leaves at home, take them to a LEAFDROP site this fall and Denver Recycles, a program of Solid Waste Management, will ensure they are composted. Please note that leaves must be tied or secured in bags. If you can use paper yard debris bags (found at most hardware and home improvement stores), they can be composted with the leaves. You can also treat your Halloween jack-o-lantern to a second chance and compost it with LEAFDROP. Then, reclaim your leaves next spring in the form of rich compost at the Treecycle Mulch Giveaway and LEAFDROP Compost Sale. Reclaim your leaves next spring in the form of rich compost at the 2010 Treecycle Mulch Giveaway & LeafDrop Compost Sale.
Drop-off locations:
- 10 am – 4 pm Sundays, November 1, 8, and 15
- Northwest – Sloan’s Lake Park, 17th Ave. at Sheridan Blvd.
- Southwest – John F. Kennedy High School, Newland St. and Brown Place
- East Central – Cranmer Park, 3rd Avenue and Clermont Street
- Southeast – South High School, Louisiana Ave. and Franklin St.
- Northeast – Smiley Middle School, 26th Ave. and Holly St.
- 7 am – 2:30 pm, Monday – Friday (closed Holidays), October 5 – December 4
- Havana Nursery, 10450 Smith Road, just south of I-70 and Havana St.
- Denver Solid Waste Transfer Station, 7301 E. Jewell Ave., Quebec St. & S. Cherry Creek Drive
For more information or to check for extreme weather cancellations call 720-865-6810 or visit DenverGov.org/DenverRecycles
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Recycle 8 in 10: District 10 Pilot Recycling Program
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Recycle 8 + in 10 - Pilot Program Completed
In April 2008, my office, in cooperation with Mayor Hickenlooper’s Greenprint Denver Office in conjunction with a $5,000 grant from Waste Management of Colorado’s Recycle America Division, launched a pilot multifamily housing recycling program in District 10. The pilot program, entitled “Recycle 8+ in 10,” was intended to test recycling opportunities for apartment complexes and condominiums. The program monitored participation levels and user experience, while ironing out logistics and exploring long-term feasibility.
Over the last year, Recycle 8 + in 10 diverted 115,612 pounds of recyclables from Denver’s landfill. This is just under 58 tons and is about 324 cubic yards of space. In 2008 the average single family home recycled between 650 and 700 pounds each. Our 115,612 pound total equals about 170 homes recycling. If a small number of buildings can make this much impact, just imagine what involving all the multi-unit buildings in Denver could do!
We received great feedback from the Recycling Coordinators at each building. Some of the problems that they encountered were illegal dumping, trash going into the recycling, having to lock their dumpster because of dumpster divers. Some of the successes were a decrease in trash amounts and trash collection pickups and costs, increased education and awareness in their buildings about recycling, more community conversation and unity in their building, and other earth-friendly programs like a building garden.
Currently, Public Works Solid Waste Management service parameters don't permit the collection of garbage or recycling from properties with more than 7 residential units. Many folks who live in these buildings have contacted me about getting recycling. Providing recycling for high-rises, condominiums and apartment buildings is a huge challenge, and I view this program as the first step toward addressing this issue. Denver is a very conscientious community, and Recycle 8+ in 10 supported our efforts to divert more waste from Denver’s landfill.
Over 40 buildings applied to take part in Recycling 8+ in 10. The number of applicants and the quality of the applications made the selection process extremely competitive. The outpouring of interest clearly demonstrated the importance of multi-unit recycling to Capitol Hill residents. We selected buildings of varying sizes so that the data can provide a better picture of the needs of District 10 constituents.
I want to give a big thank you to Waste Management, Greenprint Denver, and especially the Recycling Coordinators who stepped up as leaders in their buildings to make this program happen.
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Recycling Drop-off Locations
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Even if you were unable to participate in Recycling 8+ in 10, I would encourage you to collect your recyclables or recyclables for your building and then take them to a drop-off location. Here are some recycling drop-off locations:
- Waste Management Recycle America, 5395 Franklin St., Denver, CO
- Waste Management Recycle America, 3780 East 48th Ave., Denver CO
- Waste Management Recycle America, 2400 West Union Ave., Englewood, CO
- Whole Foods Market, 900 East 11th Ave., Denver, CO
- King Soopers, 1155 East 9th Ave., Denver CO (aluminum cans and plastic bags)
- King Soopers, 1331 North Speer Blvd., Denver, CO (aluminum cans and plastic bags)
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Links to Recycling Information
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Click here to view the April 15, 2008 press release announcing the selected buildings for Recycle 8+ in 10
Click here to view the Channel 4 Story on Recycle 8+ in 10
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