Residential and Commercial Waste Diversion Rate

Desired Result:  Above Target

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Metric Definition
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.
Why Is This Important?
To support the economy and provide environmental benefits, Fort Collins has set ambitious goals for landfill reduction. When materials are landfilled, their potential value as a commodity is lost and new natural resources must be harvested to make new products, rather than using recycled materials. Additionally, organic materials that could be composted, such as yard trimmings, generate methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas.
City Organization Impact on Performance
Medium – The City creates ordinances, educational programs and infrastructure such as the Timberline Recycling Center to foster materials being reduced, reused, or recycled rather than landfilled. A 2016 ordinance requires businesses and apartment complexes have recycling service by the end of 2020. Recycling has been bundled with trash service in a Pay-As-You-Throw system for residents of single-family homes since 1995.
Benchmark Information
None available