Cortez is running a three-week trial of a recycling collection method known as single-stream recycling to gather data that could help improve its recycling program in the future.
In single-stream recycling, all recyclable items are placed into one bin or truck instead of being separated by type. City officials stressed that this is not the same as “wishcycling,” in which people throw in items that are not accepted, hoping they will be recycled because they display a recycling symbol.
“Just because something says ‘recyclable’ doesn’t mean it is,” Refuse/Recycling Superintendent Colby Earley told The Journal.
Residents are asked to continue separating recyclables from trash as they normally do during the trial. The mixed collection is being used only to collect data at this stage. Earley said the first trial load received “high marks.”
“Cortez residents do a great job in educating themselves and maintaining high quality, and we want to mirror our residents’ efforts,” Earley said. “We want to continue this trend, no matter what the future holds.”
The trial will help the city collect information on the volume and quality of recyclable materials, along with other data points. That information could be used in reports to seek funding later. The city is also working with the Montezuma County Landfill to explore the possibility of building a future transfer station.
“Once we have a preferred method of moving our clean single-stream materials to a material recovery facility, like the one in La Plata County owned by Phoenix Recycling, we will then look into converting routes to single-stream collection,” Earley said.
If the trial is successful and an effective system is identified, the city may consider switching to regular single-stream pickup in the future.
“Single stream allows for economies of scale, and the clean collection methods should ensure that a high capture rate moves the material to market with little to no residuals per load being the goal,” Earley said.
He added that buying products with high-value, easy-to-recycle packaging helps create demand for recyclable materials.
“My go-to tag line is, ‘There is no magical place called away,’” Earley said. “We want to empower everyone to understand the cost, either up front or behind the scenes, of what it takes to deal with their trash and recycling. The more local we can keep it, the better off we will all be.”
The trial runs for three weeks, including this week and next. Residents may see recycling loaded into what appears to be a garbage truck, but that is only for the data collection phase. Earley emphasized that residents should continue separating recyclables as usual during the trial.
For more details, visit www.cortezco.gov/340/recycling or www.montezumacounty.org/landfill/recycling, which includes a video explaining recycling basics.
