HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/17/2015 - Community Recycling Ordinance - Natural Resources Advisory Board
Environmental Services
215 N. Mason
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221-6600
970.224-6177 - fax
fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
FROM THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD
DATE: December 17, 2015
TO: Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: John Bartholow on behalf of the Natural Resources Advisory Board
SUBJECT: Community Recycling Ordinance Recommendation
The Natural Resources Advisory Board (NRAB) recommends Council adoption of the proposed
Community Recycling Ordinance that extends recycling services to multi-family residents and
businesses and sets in place a process for yard waste and food scrap collection/composting
within a specific time frame.
We received several briefings from Staff and one of our members actively participated in both
the Road to Zero Waste and the Community Recycling Ordinance Advisory Groups. On
December 16, Staff provided NRAB with a comprehensive draft of the overall structure of the
proposed ordinance, its objectives and significant detail concerning Code changes which would
accompany the new ordinance.
The Council’s adoption of the Road to Zero waste emphasizes the importance of conserving
resources that are already at work in the community, whether human, manufactured or natural. It
set a goal of 75% waste reduction by 2020 and 90% or more by 2025. These goals, similar to the
Climate Action Plan’s goals, require a basic culture change that views “waste” not as discards
but instead as resources for others to use in new processes or products. In short, it more closely
emulates natural systems. This culture change will take time, a great deal of community
education, and sustained leadership.
The proposed Community Recycling Ordinance takes two major steps necessary to reach our
2020 target of 75% waste reduction. First, we must extend waste diversion services beyond
single-family residences to insure that multi-family residents and businesses have similar access
to alternatives to landfill waste disposal. Second, we must incorporate organics
recycling/composting services for all Fort Collins residents and businesses. The proposed
Community Recycling Ordinance creatively tackles this challenge and provides a phased-in
approach to yard waste collection/processing, followed by food scrap collection and processing
over the next 2-3 years.
NRAB recognizes that the Community Recycling Ordinance goes beyond “tweaking” an existing
system and tackles head-on the challenge that the Council has set for the City to reach its Road to
Zero Waste goals. NRAB applauds the Council commitment to the Road to Zero Waste and
believes that the proposed Community Recycling Ordinance takes the proper next steps to realize
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that commitment. NRAB additionally recognizes that this goal and the efficient implementation
of the Community Recycling ordinance cannot be achieved without significant participation
from our residents and community businesses. We encourage the exploration of new and creative
opportunities to engage citizen volunteers as part of the community education process under
Staff leadership and coordination.
The NRAB applauds Staff and the consultants for pro-actively engaging a diverse group of
concerned citizens in this process, specifically including three private operators who currently
provide waste and recycling collection in the City.
Respectfully submitted,
John Bartholow
Chair, Natural Resources Advisory Board
cc: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Susie Gordon, Sr. Environmental Planner