Solid Waste

Environmental Indicators

Solid waste is the trash that goes to the landfill. Part of what is thrown away is organic waste, such as paper products, food waste, and yard trimmings. These materials cause methane emissions when they break down in the landfill. These emissions represent about 2% of the community’s emissions and are best reduced by reuse, recycling, and composting – important actions that will help the City reach its Climate Action and Road to Zero Waste goals.

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Solid Waste Emissions

Solid Waste Measures

The following measures are categorized as direct or indirect. Direct measures track data used to calculate carbon emissions. Indirect measures show community trends that may impact carbon emissions but are not directly tied to carbon calculations. Some measures are not evaluated against a target and are simply informational. This is indicated when the status bar is gray instead of green, yellow, or red.

Measures

Actual

Target

Results

Direct Measures

ENV 139. Community Landfilled Waste

This includes waste generated by all sectors of the community: residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal operations. A decrease in waste is a positive trend. The amount of waste is calculated from information reported to the City from waste haulers, the Larimer County Landfill (information about individual self-hauled material), and City departments that directly haul material to the landfill.


149,156		2022

Indirect Measures

Community Solid Waste Landfilled per Capita per Day (in lbs.)

This shows waste per capita by dividing the waste landfilled by all sectors of the community: residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal operations by the Fort Collins population. A decrease in waste per capita is a positive trend and is a good indication of diversion efforts. Waste per capita is calculated from information reported to the City from waste haulers, the Larimer County Landfill, and City departments that directly haul material to the landfill.


5.38	3.50	2021

Residential and Commercial Waste Diversion Rate

This metric tracks residential and commercial waste that is diverted from the landfill through recycling or composting. The metric divides the amount of waste diverted by the total waste generated (landfilled plus diverted waste). Data for this metric are provided by waste haulers, the Larimer County Landfill, and the City of Fort Collins. This metric is currently being reevaluated as the ultimate goal for materials management and waste diversion is to reduce the amount of material going to both the landfill and recycling.


24.00%	77.04%	2022

Tons of Yard Trimmings Diverted (Composted)

This metric tracks the amount of yard waste generated by the Fort Collins community and includes tree trimming conducted by the City’s Forestry Department, as well as the residential yard trimmings collected by hauling companies and reports of materials dropped off to Hageman Earth Cycle or other businesses. Higher tons diverted are desired. The City of Fort Collins, yard trimmings processors, and local waste haulers provide data for this metric.


8,192	N/A	2022

Solid Waste Links

Click here to go to Fort Collins Utilities Recycling homepage.