1. SOUTHWEST COLORADO RECYCLING STUDY

2. How the heck did we get here?  Identified Need/Desire  Funding  Recycling Task Force

3. Ground Zero

4. Policies Vary Across the Region

5. 2014 Municipal Solid Waste Stats  99,000 people  107,000 total tons MSW  5.9 pounds/ capita-day (ppcd)

6. How Southwest Colorado Compares RecycledCompostedDisposed State of Colorado (2013) United States (2013) SWCCOG Region (2014)

7. Breakdown by County Durango diverts 32% of MSW city hauls

8. SWCCOG MSW Composition (by weight)

9. LANDFILL NUMBERS  Tip Fees for MSW*  Archuleta = $52/ton  La Plata = $46/ton  Montezuma = $39/ton  Landfill Capacities  Archuleta – 20 to 30 years  La Plata – at least 20 years  Montezuma – over 40 years (full build-out) * Fees converted to $/ton as needed

10. Residential v. Commercial (100% scale) Durango & Pagosa Springs - high residential scrap metal

11. Every Rural Area Struggles with:  Low Recyclables Tons  Low population/density  Lack of policy incentives  Long Hauls  High Cost/Low Revenues  Bigger environmental footprint

12. Small Program Issues Decentralized Programs  Even fewer tons/higher unit costs  Reinventing the wheel - inefficient use of resources  Every program  Collects different materials  Gives different messages  Uses different markets Confused Public  Frustrated by variability  Inadequate motivation to participate

13. Name of Game = Increasing Tons Why  Meet sustainability goals  Improve system economics  Improve stability & longevity of both public & private sector services How  Policies that drive diversion  Regionalize  Effective public education & outreach (both residential & commercial)  Organics recovery

14. What Can SWCo Achieve By 2025? If All Recyclables & Organics Recovered... If Current Recovery Levels Are Doubled...

15. Challenges for Rural Recycling  Distance to market  Distance Between Communities  Local government(s) policy(s)  Education  Low value of recyclables Increasing Rural Recycling  Hub and Spoke Models  Public/Private Partnerships  Education  Communication

16. Contact Information Miriam Gillow-Wiles Southwest Colorado Council of Governments 970.779.4592 director@swccog.org www.swccog.org