The High County Conservation Center (HC3) thanks everyone for their participation in the public forums on the proposed changes to trash and recycling services in Summit County. Recordings of the residential and business forums are available to view on HC3’s Pay as you Throw page.
Watch the ForumsSurvey Now Available
There is still time to provide your input. A survey about the proposed ordinances is available, and HC3 is encouraging everyone to review the forums recordings before taking the survey, as many questions and concerns have been addressed.
The survey will be open until Sunday, February 6. The survey takes less than five minutes.
About the Ordinances
Pay as you Throw (PAYT)
Pay as You Throw will apply to residents who have curbside trash collection with an individual bin. PAYT will incentivize recycling by including recycling with trash service and by allowing residents to choose the size of their trash bin. The less residents throw away, the less they will pay. This is similar to a water bill, which is billed by usage.
- Residents will be offered three different bin sizes for trash collection, with the smallest bin costing the least.
- Residents will continue to use the same trash/recycling providers that they currently utilize.
- Estimated program start is in early 2023.
Universal Recycling Ordinances (URO)
Universal Recycling will ensure that everyone in Summit County has access to recycling and applies to businesses or residents that share a dumpster for trash and/or recycling service. Universal Recycling will require that all businesses have recycling collection if they already have trash collection.
- For businesses that have a liquor license – including restaurants and bars – glass recycling collection will also be required. Recycling collection will need to be 50% (by volume) of trash service.
- There will be additional requirements for public spaces and hotels.
- Estimated program start is early 2023 with a phase-in period during the next 18-24 months.
*Please note: these programs will not apply to residents who do not have trash service at their homes.
Why are these changes being proposed?
Despite the introduction of recent programs, such as opening the Silverthorne recycling center, creating a public marketing and outreach campaign, adding glass recycling stations throughout the community, offering free food scrap drop-off for residents, and providing free mattress recycling, the county’s diversion rate remains approximately 20%, far below the state and national averages. At this rate, the Summit County landfill will close by 2056. Pay as You Throw and Universal Recycling Ordinances have been shown to dramatically increase recycling in communities and will help meet the countywide goal of 40% waste diversion by 2035.
More Information
For questions about the programs info@highcountryconservation.org.
For more information about the two programs, recycling in Summit County, and other sustainability programs, please visit HighCountryConservation.Org.