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Late Summer 2025 Newsletter

Hello, and welcome to the Public Works Resource Conservation Division (RCD) Newsletter, Late-Summer Edition.

I’m so happy to be in your inbox.

This quarterly newsletter will keep you up-to-date with RCD news and provide fun information and helpful resources.

January 1, 2025

View as a webpage

RCD Highlight

RCD participates in several Mountain Diversion Days during the summer to help residents of our mountain communities recycle and divert waste from landfills. In collaboration with towns, we attend events in Gold Hill, Nederland, Ward, Jamestown, and Allenspark.

Each town has a different way of facilitating these cleanups, but, in general, RCD brings hazardous materials staff to collect batteries, motor oil, and antifreeze. Other vendors come to collect paints, tires, mattresses, electronics, and single-stream recycling.

Dumpsters are available for anything that people need to get rid of. RCD pays for the items that are recycled and the town pays for landfill dumpsters.

I enjoy helping at a few of these events each summer. Talking with the locals, doing physical work, diverting waste, and taking in the mountain views are huge highlights for me. What I love most about these events is knowing that we’re helping county residents clean up their homes and their lives. Getting rid of the clutter in your home helps rid the clutter in your mind.

Through these events, we helped divert over 96,521 pounds of materials in 2025, including:

125 mattresses and box springs
5,275 pounds of paint
1,549 pounds of motor oil
229 pounds of antifreeze
2,817 pounds of various types of batteries
736 tires

Resource Highlight

Figuring out if your item belongs at the Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF) or the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) can be tricky, but we're here to help. HMMF and CHaRM staff often receive items that people believe belong in one facility but are actually intended for the other. Here are a few common mixed up items…

Household hazardous waste that can be taken to the HMMF:

✔️ Motor oil

✔️ Batteries

✔️ Fluorescent & LED lightbulbs

✔️ Paint

✔️ One-pound propane canisters

Hard to recycle items that can be taken to the CHaRM:

✔️ Rigid white foam

✔️ Fire extinguishers

✔️ Cooking oil

✔️ Appliances

✔️ Electronics

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE

Boulder County Parks and Open Space has a podcast that I have really enjoyed called Voices of Open Space. I’ve learned about conservation easements, land stewardship, and the importance of volunteers for Parks and Open Space work. It’s an especially enjoyable listen because I’m hearing voices from colleagues I’ve met and able to visualize the places they are talking about, having been to those places myself.

ODDS AND ENDS

Hazardous Materials Management Facility:

The Hazardous Materials Management Facility will close early on Thursday, September 18, so staff can attend a Public Works event. The facility will be open 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.

GUIDED TOUR ALERT:

My colleague, Tina Guenther, has an opportunity for individuals to join an afternoon of tours on Tuesday, September 30. You’ll tour the recycle center, the HMMF, and the CHaRM! Email tguenther@bouldercounty.gov for more information.

Grant applications for 2026 Circular Economy Fund projects are open until Tuesday, September 30!

Local governments, non-profits, school districts, individual schools, private companies, and incorporated or unincorporated communities may apply as long as the scope of work is within the service area.
Project requests may be between $1,000 - $30,000.
See the website and introductory packet for more details.

Calling all young artists!

K-12 students are invited to submit their artwork to the first Boulder St. Vrain Watershed Art Contest for the chance to win art supplies and gift cards. Grab your art supplies, head outside, and get inspired: How does water connect everyone in the Boulder St. Vrain watershed? Get more details on how to participate at https://www.keepitcleanpartnership.org/art/.

Thanks for reading! If this resonated with you in any way, I’d love to hear from you. You can email cvalenza@bouldercounty.org.

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