In a bid to improve waste management, Denver has adopted a more educational and less punitive approach to recycling and composting, in stark contrast to cities with stricter enforcement policies.
Sean Brown, who manages the diversion and education program for Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, highlights that the city is focused on helping residents understand the new rules rather than imposing fines.
While some cities aggressively fine residents for small mistakes with their recyclables, Brown mentioned that Denver isn’t currently issuing penalties.
“We are not fining anyone right now, and we have basically multiple touch points built into this whole process,” he explained.
This more lenient approach allows residents to receive numerous warnings—up to 25—before any serious consequences occur.
One common mistake among consumers is the mishandling of recyclables. Many people unknowingly place mixed recyclables inside plastic bags, thinking that they are ensuring cleanliness.
However, Brown emphasized that flimsy plastic films, such as garbage bags, are not recyclable in Denver and can cause significant issues during the sorting process.
On the composting front, residents are still adapting to changing guidelines from compost handlers. Previous assumptions that items like paper napkins or pizza boxes could simply decompose with compostable materials have proven incorrect.
Brown noted that contamination could lead to costly complications.
If residents do not heed the educational warnings about contamination, their composting carts may be confiscated, though they can be returned once convincing arguments for correct composting practices are presented.
Denver’s recent transition to a pay-as-you-throw model signifies a major shift in how waste management is handled.
Under this new system, households are charged up to $21 a month for trash pickup based on the size of their cart, while recycling remains free.
Composting carts are equally free; however, residents need to request them explicitly.
With the recent rapid expansion of the composting program, approximately 30,000 to 40,000 households have signed up, bringing the total number of composting carts to around 70,000 across the city.
Despite the positive response, Denver still faces challenges in educating its residents about proper waste disposal. As the city’s overall waste diversion rate hovers at around 15%, significant improvements are necessary.
Brown pointed out that issues with contamination specifically arise due to Denver’s previous reliance on alley-dumpster trash systems.
Neighbours would often dump various items into large communal bins, leading to contamination and influencing the city’s efforts to divert waste and promote recycling.
With the expansion of the composting program, new contamination issues emerged, causing the city’s early composting partner to halt processing.
The initial composting contractor reported that excessive contamination from items like paper products and glass impacted the quality of the compost produced, highlighting the need for stringent guidelines.
Currently, Denver’s waste management partner, Waste Management, seeks to limit compost bin contents to basic organic waste, such as food scraps and garden waste.
Their guidelines also include specific regulations on ‘compostable’ bags, which must be approved by state law before they can be accepted in compost bins.
To support compliance with these guidelines, Denver has launched an extensive educational initiative aimed at informing residents about what can and cannot go into their recycling and composting bins.
City haulers now carry educational materials with clear illustrations, enabling them to visually communicate proper practices while on the job.
Brown emphasized the goal of gradually altering the recycling habits of Denver residents, stating, “It’s an all-hands-on-deck attempt to slowly change the culture and the habits of Denverites regarding their recycling and compost carts.”
So far, the city has seen promising compliance rates, with contamination levels for compost carts measured at just over 1%, significantly under the 10% cap set by the city’s contract with the sorting firm.
Brown explained that while fines are technically an option, the city is focused on educational measures at this time.
Current efforts include teams patrolling neighborhoods, leaving informative notes about proper waste disposal and monitoring contamination levels during trash collections.
Additionally, Brown and his team engage directly with frequent violators by phone, warning them about potential issues regarding their compost cart usage.
He likened this educational approach to the presence of increased police patrols, suggesting that consistent monitoring can instigate behavioral change among residents.
As the city continues its push toward better waste management, the most common issue reported is the confiscation of compost carts due to repeated violations.
Brown noted, “What we see in the report is that the compost cart is completely full of trash. They never intended it to be a compost cart. They just wanted a second trash cart.”
Moving forward, Denver officials remain optimistic about enhancing the waste-diversion rates, focusing on education rather than penalties to evolve local habits and practices surrounding waste disposal.
image source from：coloradosun
