eco-briefs

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BOULDER COUNTY AWARDS FUNDING FOR ZERO WASTE PROGRAMS 

The Board of County Commissioners recently awarded $50,000 to eight waste-reduction programs in Boulder County.

The awards come from the Resource Conservation Division’s zero waste funding initiatives, established in 1997 to provide an opportunity for businesses, organizations and individuals in the community to contribute to Boulder County’s move toward zero waste.

The following programs were awarded funding for 2015: The City of Lafayette to launch a bilingual compost opportunity educational program in seven neighborhoods; the City of Lafayette to purchase additional zero waste stations; the Town of Lyons to purchase zero waste stations for municipal buildings and to provide incentives for zero waste volunteers at community events; the City of Louisville to engage in a zero waste education program targeted at individuals who use larger garbage containers; the Boulder County Resource Conservation Division to purchase equipment for community compost drop off and infrastructure at the Nederland Transfer Station; an educational program to be conducted by Bands for Lands to offer a zero waste event in Longmont for Earth Day; and the Town of Ward to provide support and documentation for monthly recycling collection services and a one-time hard-to-recycle collection event.

RECYCLING BOLSTERS COLORADO’S ECONOMY 

Recycling, reuse and remanufacturing aren’t just good for the environment — they actually improve the economy here in Colorado, according to a study commissioned by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The waste diversion industry, according to the study, accounts for approximately 5 percent of Colorado’s overall economic output, sustains more than 85,000 jobs and generates nearly $1.3 billion per year in state and local tax revenue. Plus, for every job created within the waste diversion industry, one additional job is created elsewhere in the labor market.

“This study reveals that investing in infrastructure that helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills is a winwin situation for the economy and the environment,” Eric Heyboer, recycling grant program administrator at the CDPHE, said in a press release.

COLORADO RANKS SECOND IN NUMBER OF LEED-CERTIFIED BUILDING SPACE IN THE U.S.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, Colorado has the second most LEED-certified space in terms of square feet per resident in the United States, with nearly 16 million square feet.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a rating system encompassing design, construction, operation and maintenance of sustainable buildings — those that use less energy and water, and thus reduce carbon emissions.

Colorado, second only to Illinois, made a leap from its position at eighth place last year.

The annual Top Ten States for LEED, now in its fifth year, is based on the most recent U.S. Census data from 2010, and includes commercial and institutional green building projects that were certified through 2014.

“LEED-certified buildings and the innovations they have driven contribute substantially to our national economic growth, create jobs and improve the quality of life in the communities where they are found,” Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair for the U.S. Green Building Council, said in a press release.