YAMPA VALLEY SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL

<p>Zero Waste is a growing concept, spreading fast across the globe. Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them.</p><p>Our own Zero Waste program started in 2009 in partnership with the Steamboat Ski Area's Food and Beverage Department and Twin Enviro with a goal to divert food waste from the landfill at 8 on-mountain dining facilities.&nbsp; Immediately their dumpsters went from filling daily to weekly, and other ski areas took notice.</p><p>In 2010 YVSC&#8217;s Zero Waste program expanded to public events, and with the help of the ZW legion of Zero Hero volunteers, the program made waste into resources at 23 community events, impacting approximately 30,000 attendees.</p><p>In 2011 the Zero Waste program doubled to meet the demand from the community and had to hire a program coordinator to manage the immensity of this growth. Events new to Zero Waste in 2011 included the local middle and elementary schools, the Spring Carnival, 5 Free Concerts, a two-day Ride the Rockies visit, all 14 Saturdays Farmer&#8217;s Market, the Routt County Fair, and the Rotary Barn Dance, all of which impacted new and large audiences with the Zero Waste message. In total for 2011, YVSC worked to make 55 community events and 16 school events waste-free. These Zero Waste events impacted more than 60,000 adults and children, and engaged 210 volunteers who donated 764 hours of their time. As a result of our pre-event consulting and on-site efforts, these events diverted 18,144 gallons of recyclables and 14,560 gallons of compostable materials from the landfill&#8212;resulting in a 97% diversion rate!</p><p>In addition, in 2011 the program purchased its first Water Monster, a giant, blue, 120 gallon water tank that reduces plastic water bottle consumption and keeps our locals and visitors hydrated on delicious mountain water at many public events including all Free Concerts and many sporting events. As of December 2012, YVSC has expanded its team to 3 Monsters!</p><p>Goals of the Zero Waste program are to have all public events Go Zero by 2015, to have Water Monsters at all summer sporting events by 2014, and to continue to divert 90% or higher at as many events as possible!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div>View our web page here&nbsp;http://www.yvsc.org/programs/zerowaste/ <br /></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong><em>Vision</em></strong><em><br /> To advance the local green building movement with educational opportunities and collaborative outreach; by highlighting rebates, showcasing sustainable projects, and offering an educational series; we will make an impact on waste management, increase energy efficiency and help improve the indoor health of our built environment.</em></p> <p>Over the past few years YVSC&#8217;s Green Building Committee has collaborated with various groups to bring educational and hands-on workshops, green building tours and more to the community.&nbsp; A few of its members participated with the drafting of the Green Building Program for the City of Steamboat Springs and Routt County. The group continues to partner with these entities as well as other organizations such Governor&#8217;s Energy Office, Energy Star Colorado, other businesses, organizations and individuals in the building industry.</p> <p>As more homeowners and businesses explore ways to improve energy efficiency in existing buildings, we are encouraging these efforts. Whether it is to expand jobs in the sustainable building field, reduce energy consumption or increase renewable energy development, we are evaluating best practices. The focus in the next year (2012) is to learn more about successful programs in other mountain and isolated communities so we can introduce and implement similar programs here. To that end, the Green Building Committee will be collaborating with other groups to host nationally recognized speakers to assist us in educating our community. Programs such as EnergySmart, PACE, and iCAST are making great strides in developing energy efficient economies across the country.</p> <p>Since buildings produce over 50% of the greenhouse gases that are affecting global warming, one of our key goals is to continue to influence building requirements in the Yampa Valley: green building is a smarter building, both financially and for the health of its inhabitants. This is not just a trend!</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>YVSC&#8217;s Green Building committee now has an active group of 15 members who meet monthly. This year, the self-guided tour of seven homes and commercial buildings was conducted in partnership with the national American Solar Energy Society (ASES) Solar Tour. Steamboat was one of 3,200 communities around the country participating in the tour on October 2, 2010. More than 35 community members and volunteers participated in the tour and networking event that followed. </p>

<p>The goal of YVSC&#8217;s Sustainable Schools program is to create a culture of sustainability in Routt County schools. As part of the Sustainable Schools program, YVSC&#8217;s Energy Education is helping lay the foundation for the next generation to meet perhaps their single most important challenge&#8212;the need to develop cheap, abundant, clean energy. Our ongoing energy education in Steamboat Springs schools complements state education standards, as well as the work of other nonprofits, and reinforces energy conservation behaviors throughout the school year. YVSC SS also promotes Waste Education in collaboration with our Zero Waste program, supplying recycling and composting at 4 of our public schools. More here: http://www.yvsc.org/programs/sustainable-schools/<br /></p>

<p>Since 2010 Sustainable School projects have included:</p> <p>1. replacing Styrofoam trays with reusable plates in the elementary and middle schools;</p> <p>2. making school events zero waste;</p> <p>3. promoting the use of reusable water bottles with a 120-gallon drinking water tank used at school, community, and sporting events; and</p> <p>4. providing educational support in the schools for other YVSC events and programs, such as Earth Hour, Every Day is Earth Day, and ReTree Steamboat.</p>

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<p>Talking Green is a monthly networking event that brings together individuals, organizations and business to learn about various environmental topics. Depending on the venue and the topic, as many as 60 people have attended monthly Talking Green events. Recent topics have included Zero Waste, Recycling, Geothermal heating, Xeriscaping, Energy Efficient Home Design, the Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic and Community Supported Agriculture. </p>

<p>YVSC&#8217;s Talking Green program joined the international Green Drinks movement and is now listed in the online Green Drinks directory of eco-focused networking events worldwide. More than 200 community members have attended Talking Green events this year, and the Talking Green Committee now has an active group of six volunteers who meet monthly.</p>

<p>YVR believes it is possible for people to co-exist with the environment without depleting natural resources for polluting the environment. We aim to expand and support comprehensive recycling programs in the Yampa Valley by educating, promoting, and implementing creative solutions to help communities reduce, reuse, and recycle.</p> <p>We have a strong sense of citizenship towards our community, both locally and globally. We feel a responsibility to encourage a &#8220;Stewardship of the Earth&#8221; in the projects we promote and in the way we live our lives.</p>

In Routt County, Waste Management (WM) is the largest local solid waste and recycling hauler. They provide free residential curbside recycling pickup biweekly within the city limits of Steamboat Springs, including the Steamboat II subdivision, condominium recycling and cardboard recycling for retail businesses for a fee. In Hayden, recycling pickup is offerd biweekly. <p>WM maintains a Small Materials Facility (SMRF) in Steamboat Springs that houses a City-owned baler. Citizens are allowed to drop off recyclables at the SMRF. Materials accepted include aluminum cans, tin cans, glass, magazines, newspaper, office paper (no neon), plastic bottles #1 through #7, corrugated cardboard, and wax-lined milk and juice cartons.</p> <p>The landfill in Routt County is located in Milner and is owned and operated by Twin Landfill, Inc. In August 1998, the Board of Routt County Commissioners instituted a tipping fee, assessed at the landfill, to assist local recycling efforts.</p> <p>In February 1998, the City of Steamboat Springs passed a resolution adopting a Recycling Policy recommended by Yampa Valley Recycles. In April, 2000, the City of Steamboat Springs passed an ordinance requiring Waste Management to offer residential curbside recycling free of charge.</p> <p>Moffat County&#8217;s landfill is municipally owned and operated. They are the solid waste hauler within their county and offer no recycling services. Materials recycled by the private sector include aluminum, scrap metal, and used motor oil.</p>

<ul><li>Make recycling, reduction, and reuse in the Yampa Valley more convenient and cost effective in order to increase the total tonnage of recyclable materials diverted from the landfill.</li><li>Support comprehensive sustainable recycling programs that serve all residents, businesses, and guests.</li><li>Nurture relationships with our communities, Steamboat Springs City Council, Routt County Board of commissioners, local waste handlers, private industry, as well as national, state, and local organizations.</li><li>Foster an ethic of &#8220;Stewardship of the Earth&#8221; by providing information on what, where, how, and why the public should reduce, reuse, and recycle.</li><li>Encourage environmental legislation that supports our vision and mission.</li><li>Obtain ongoing funding sources to support our programs and projects.</li><li>Expand the membership base and increase public participation in reduction, reuse, and recycling programs.</li><li>Promote reuse, &#8220;buy recycled&#8221; programs, and end-use market development to &#8220;close the loop&#8221;.</li><li>Utilize measurable indicators to evaluate our programs on an on-going basis.</li></ul>