Valleywide recycling rate increases in 2014

EAGLE COUNTY — A project led by Walking Mountains Science Center to track local recycling and waste diversion rates indicate both have increased every year for the last five years — good news for environmental efforts underway throughout the Eagle Valley. Trends at Eagle County’s landfill, materials recovery facility and household hazardous waste facility show the residential and commercial recycling rate rose from 14.7 percent in 2010 to 24.8 percent in 2014.

The industrial waste diversion rate, which includes construction and demolition debris, increased from 11.2 percent to 18.4 percent during the same period.

According to the Colorado Association for Recycling, the statewide average recycling rate is approximately 11 percent. Ken Whitehead, managing director for Eagle County Public Works & Transportation, says the valley’s higher rates reflect recycling as a community priority. The county recently partnered with the towns of Eagle and Gypsum to upgrade their collection sites. In addition, the town of Vail adopted townwide recycling regulations in 2014, requiring mandatory recycling for residents, multi-family and commercial customers.

Entities throughout the county are encouraging residents and businesses to continue efforts toward increased recycling rates. Opportunities for recycling, diversion and disposal include:

Curbside Recycling

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Curbside recycling is available from all commercial waste haulers serving the Eagle Valley and is mandatory within the town of Vail. Contact your provider for more information:

• MRI at 970-476-7789.

• Vail Honeywagon at 970-476-3511.

• Waste Management at 970-524-1800.

Recycling Collection Sites

All sites are open to the public for residential recycling.

Accepted items include plastic containers No. 1 through No. 7, glass bottles and jars of any color, aluminum and tin cans, corrugated cardboard and paper, including newspaper, phone books, magazines, junk mail and mixed office paper.

• Avon at Nottingham Ranch Road, located across from the Church of Latter Day Saints.

• Eagle at Town of Eagle Public Works, located at 1050 Chambers Ave.

• Edwards at Edwards Rest Area, located south of Interstate 70 on the Edwards Access Road.

• Gypsum at Bella’s Market, located at 210 Crest Wood Drive.

• Red Cliff at Red Cliff Community Center, located at 400 Pine St.

• Vail at Town of Vail Community Development, located at 75 S. Frontage Road.

• Wolcott at Materials Recovery Facility, located at 605 Ute Creek Road.

Household Hazardous Waste

The Eagle County Household Hazardous Waste Facility accepts common products found around the home that require extra care for disposal. To keep these chemicals out of soils and waterways, residents may bring up to 20 items per visit for free to the HHW for recycling or proper handling. Examples include lawn and garden products such as herbicides; paint and related products such as thinner and rust removers; cleaning products including ammonia and bleach-based cleaners; automotive fluids and batteries; and miscellaneous items such as mercury thermostats and swimming pool chemicals.

In addition, statewide regulations prohibit the disposal of electronic devices, or e-waste, in Colorado landfills. Eagle County residents and businesses may recycle e-waste at the HHW for 20 cents per pound. The regulations apply to televisions, computers, printers, DVD players, stereo equipment, video game consoles and more.

Contact the HHW facility at 970-328-3463 or visit http://www.eagle county.us/recyclingwaste for a complete list of accepted household hazardous waste and e-waste items. The facility is located adjacent to the Eagle County Landfill at 815 Ute Creek Road in Wolcott and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The HHW is closed on Sundays and all major holidays.

Landfill

For items that cannot be recycled, Eagle County residents may dispose of up to 1,600 pounds of trash and four tires per year at the landfill for free with proof of residency. Visit http://www.eaglecounty.us/recyclingwaste or call 970-328-3470 for information on how to obtain a free punch pass. The landfill is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The landfill is closed on Sundays and all major holidays.