“The Yampa Valley is an open river valley located within Routt and Moffat counties in northwest Colorado.  The “Yampa Valley” refers to the entirety of these two counties, its six incorporated municipalities, and numerous towns, from Dinosaur in west Moffat County to Toponas in south Routt County.  The area encompasses 7063 square miles and holds an estimated 1997 population of 29,812 people.”  (The Yampa Valley Partners Community Indicators Project 1999 Report.) 

Yampa Valley Recycles is comprised of a dedicated group of citizens, representing Routt County, concerned with promoting the recycling of solid waste and educating the public on reducing, re-using and recycling.  It is our responsibility and stated goal this coming year to increase community awareness of recycling options in the Yampa Valley in order to increase the total tonnage of solid waste recycled. 

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 offered biweekly. 

WM maintains a Small Materials Recovery 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 pack, plastic bottles #1 & #2, and corrugated cardboard.  Glass is the only material with a local end use.  WM hauls it, free of charge, to the glass crushing facility operated by Connell Resources at their Thompson Gravel Pit.  The Governor’s Office of Energy Conservation assisted in funding both the SMRF and the Glass Crusher. 

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 of $.25/yard, assessed at the landfill, to pay for household hazardous waste collection, to assist local recycling efforts, to clean up illegal dumping sites and for maintenance of landfill areas previously operated by the County. 

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. 

Moffat County’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. 

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Yampa Valley Recycles is a voluntary  organization composed of concerned citizens.  Its formal status is a City of Steamboat Springs Advisory Committee on Recycling.  Both the City of Steamboat Springs and Routt County financially support YVR. 

YVR believes it is possible for people to co-exist with the environment without depleting natural resources or 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. 

We have a strong sense of citizenship towards our community, both locally and globally.  We feel a responsibility to encourage a “Stewardship of the Earth” in the projects we promote and in the way we live our lives. 

YVR has a set of long-term strategic goals.  These are: 

1. 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 landfills. 
2. Support comprehensive sustainable recycling programs that serve all residents, businesses, and guests. 
3. 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. 
4. Foster an ethic of “Stewardship of the Earth” by providing information on what, where, how, and why the public should reduce, reuse, and recycle. 
5. Encourage environmental legislation that supports our vision and mission.
6. Obtain ongoing funding sources to support our programs and projects. 
7. Expand the membership base and increase public participation in reduction, reuse, and recycling programs. 
8. Promote reuse, “buy recycled” programs, and end-use market development to “close the loop.” 
9. Utilize measurable indicators to evaluate our programs on an on-going basis. 

To support the strategic goals, YVR identifies a set of specific objectives annually. Year 2000 was the first year that Yampa Valley Recycles had a formal business plan.  The objectives for that year and the level of success in achieving them is listed below. 

1. Conduct a Waste Assessment Survey to identify a baseline to measure the recycling program’s performance and better evaluate what items are disposed of in the landfill.

A Waste Assessment Survey was carried out using 1998 data and the results of that survey were printed in a report and made available to the public through the Steamboat Pilot newspaper.  The report revealed that the recycling rate in the Yampa Valley for the year 1998 was 4.2% of all waste generated.  The report also indicated areas where recycling can be improved.  This Waste Assessment Survey was updated for 1999 and 2000, showing improvements in the percentage of waste recycled.  By 2000 the recycling rate had risen to 5.3%.  This activity will continue as long as YVR has a qualified person to analyze the data. 
 

2. Expand community involvement and our membership base by instituting Recycling Wranglers and Neighbor-to-Neighbor Leaders Programs.

Yampa Valley Recycles prepared a detailed prospectus for the Recycling Wranglers and Neighbor-to Neighbor Leaders Programs.  The Recycling Wranglers program, a program to assist persons at the Waste Management recycling site to recycle properly, and to assist the elderly by picking up their recyclables, ran from April to August of 2000.  Assistance to the elderly is an on-going program, limited only by the number of volunteers.  This program was then reoriented toward an education program at the schools in Routt County.  In 2000 an educational program based on a skit with a mascot named “Whistle Pig Willy” was presented to fifth graders in Hayden and Steamboat Springs.  As a result, 42% of fifth graders set up recycling areas in their homes.  This program will continue through 2001 with programs scheduled in South Routt and Steamboat Springs.  There was not enough time or volunteers to carry out the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program. 
 

3. Make recommendations on enhancing the recycling program:

a. Expand collection throughout Routt County by having a combination of curbside collection, multifamily and rural feeder sites, small town satellite sites, and a satellite collection site on the south side of Steamboat Springs to encourage greater participation through convenience. 
b. Construct a community yard waste/composting center. 
c. Build a construction waste disassembly, recycling, and reuse facility. 
d. Create a Business/Restaurant recycling program. 
e. Provide collection bins in parks and public areas. 
f. Institute a “pay as you throw” solid waste program to encourage the separation and proper handling of recyclable materials. 
g. Increase the types of materials accepted for recycling.

One of the multiple sub-objectives (a) of objective three was partly realized.  A satellite site in the community of Clark was worked on over a period of months but proved infeasible.  The town of Hayden did achieve biweekly pickups of recyclables and the town of Oak Creek will have recycling service when they achieve a minimum number of 125 families to sign up. 

Sub-objectives (b) through (g) were not realized because most were beyond the capability of a small volunteer organization to carry out. 
 

4. Complete web site publication

A web site for Yampa Valley Recycles was achieved and has a person dedicated to updating the site monthly.  The address of the web site is: (www.yampavalleyrecycling.org) 
 

5. Sell a reusable mug at special events, Chamber Mixers, and concerts.

The mug program was also achieved and most of the mugs were sold.  YVR does not intend to continue the mug program because it proved to require too many volunteer hours in getting the mugs sold. 
 

6. Host a Rural Recycling Seminar with the assistance of Colorado Association for Recycling.

YVR hosted a Rural Recycling Seminar on March 31, 2000 on the topic of expanding recycling throughout Routt and Moffat Counties.  A Regional Task Force was formed at the seminar but the realization of the expansion of recycling throughout these counties has not yet been realized. 

• Advised the City in a work session about policy and programs. 
• Participated in Chamber Resort mixers and disseminated educational materials and offered recycling services to members. 
• Participated in the Tread of Pioneers Museum’s “Festival of Trees” for the second year, decorating a tree with recycled materials made into ornaments. 
• Conducted a successful phonebook collection drive. 
• Updated the Recycling Guidelines brochure for the Yampa Valley. 
• In conjunction with City Parks & Rec, promoted a holiday tree mulching program. 
• Hosted an appreciation party and dinner for 50 volunteers. 
• Held the second annual retreat for incoming and outgoing officers. 
• Hosted a Rural Recycling Seminar with 45 participants.  A Regional Task Force was formed. 
• Participated in the Colorado Summit for Recycling. 
• Solicited proposals for various Hazardous Waste materials contractors and entered into contract with Curbside to provide residential collection of household hazardous wastes, beginning August 2000. 

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Awards in 2000

Yampa Valley Recycles won the following awards during 2000: 
 

• Awarded Colorado Recycles “Overall Recycler of the Year 2000.” 
• Awarded second place at Earth Fest 2000 for environmental education programs. 
• YVR Chairperson won the Chamber Resort Association’s “Outstanding Volunteer and Hospitality Person of the Year. 

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Goals and Objectives 
for the fiscal year January 2001 - May 2002
(Fiscal year will now be May - May)

Based on experience from the year 2000 and earlier, and with specific suggestions from Waste Management on realistic recycling objectives from their business perspective, Yampa Valley Recycles set the following objectives for 2001: 

 1. Increase recycling in single family residences, condominiums and rural communities; add 632 single family residences in the City of Steamboat Springs to sign up for recycling and support Hayden’s recycling efforts. 

 2. Increase cardboard recycling of large retailers in Steamboat Springs with 36 additional containers. 

 3. Increase condominium participation in the curbside program in Steamboat Springs with 100 additional carts. 

 4. Assist Oak Creek to realize a sustainable recycling program. 

 5. Increase the volume of glass going to the glass crusher. 

 6. Install community recycling bins for common areas in the downtown and mountain areas. 

 7. Increase the membership of YVR. 

 8. Achieve greater community awareness of reducing, reusing and recycling. 

 9. Establish a City/County community composting site. 

 10. Establish a recycling facility for used motor oil and anti-freeze. 

 11. Revive the Regional Task Force on Recycling 

The program strategy for achieving these objectives is described in part III Program Strategy.  Part II describes how we function as an organization. 

1. Acquire monthly MRF volumes and increases in household recycling 

2002 - February                                 2003 – February
                ONP = 84,000                             ONP = 126,000 
                OCC = 126,000                           OCC = 168,000
                Coming - 60,000                          Coming = 54,000
                Household Recyclers = 675       Household Recyclers =1518
                Business Recyclers = 78            Business Recyclers = 92
 
 

2. Education Programs – Increase the education program, track the progress of the education programs by monitoring the direct impact or number of houses creating recycle centers in their homes 

During the 2001-2002 school year we taught 288 students. During the 2002 -2003 school year we have taught 616 students.

3. Update the Waste Assessment Survey quarterly 

Bob Peterson, an active member of YVR, updated the Waste Assessment Survey.  His findings were included in the Community Indicators Project 2002/2003 Report on page 79 under the heading Environment Solid Waste. 

4. Create another ½ time paid position by acquiring funds 

The County approved a request for additional funds for our education programs. A second part time educator was added to the group - this greatly improved our ability to reach more students.

5. Computer Recycling Collection Day - July 27th, 2002 

In terms of recycled materials collected in a one day event, this has been 
our most impressive project to date. 45,000 lbs. of computer equipment was collected which was a total of 1766 pieces. There were 180 participants who dropped off equipment. We had drop-offs from private citizens, businesses, government entities, and schools. 52 volunteers spent a total of 235 hours that day collecting the equipment. The 12 committee members spent 299 hours planning and evaluating the day. Between 2975 - 4760 lbs. of lead was diverted from the landfill.

6. Increase Condo Recycling 

Research is underway on the City Ordinances pertaining to: condo recycling; the involvement and interest of management companies; and establishing contacts at the larger units.

7. Pedestrian Recycle Unit (PRU) – Downtown Recycling Committee will continue to move forward in establishing downtown recycling. First PRU will reside on 7th and Lincoln in early summer 2002.

The first PRU was unveiled during America Recycles Day Week on November 13th, 2002.  We received a Community Service Award in January 2003 of $1000.00 for our PRU.  During the April 2003 CAFR meeting we received the Most Creative Recycling Award for our PRU. YVR and the City of Steamboat Springs presented TCD with one of our two 2002 annual Recycling Awards for their participation in this project).

8. Construction Recycling 

The Construction Recycling Committee was formed. TCD is sponsoring a pilot construction project that will monitor the cost savings of recycling vs. throwing all items away

9. Telephone Book Collection Drive 

The Post Office and City Market both had drop-off boxes for telephone books. City Market offered an additional drop-off during the month of December. YVR and the City of Steamboat Springs presented City Market of Steamboat Springs with one of our two 2002 annual Recycling Awards for their participation in this project). 

10. Update Recycling Guidelines Brochure Annually 

The 2003 -2004 guidelines were updated with new information. 2000 brochures were ordered in May 2003 and are available for distribution.

See the YVR 2002-2003 Calendar of Events to view all public relation activities.

1.  Acquire Quarterly MRF Volumes and Increases in Household Recycling; Graph on a Bar Chart 

2.  Update the Waste Assessment Survey Annually 

3.  Increase the Education Programs and Record Number of  Individuals Reached 

4. PRU's - Add Three More PRU's to the Downtown Corridor/Mountain Area for the Purpose of Recycling and Streetscape Beautification

5.  Increase Condo Recycling 

6.  Research Construction  Recycling 

7.  Telephone Book Collection Drive 

8.  On-Going Public Relation Activities 

9.  Increase Public Awareness and Funding 

10.  Research Electronics Recycling 

11. Post Office Recycling 

12. Increase Business Recycling/Buying Recycled Products 

13. Assist Moffat County in Establishing a Recycling Program 
 
 

Yampa Valley Recycles is a City of Steamboat Springs advisory committee given formal status by City Council resolution in 1990 to advise and oversee the curbside program. During the next decade, the Committee dwindled down to a handful of City and County employees without much community representation.   In 1997, with the resurgence of interest due to the glass crisis and ensuing solution, a new organizational flow chart was needed and created to reflect the available talents of the leadership within the organization.  In 1999, Yampa Valley Recycles evolved into this model: a Steering Committee composed of present officers, last year’s officers, and all previous Chairpersons. Another 20+ volunteers, business representatives, and government liaisons who attend general membership monthly meetings and assist with decision-making, tasks, projects, and administrative support. 

The Steering Committee of Yampa Valley Recycles meets at least once per month, the Thursday prior to the general membership monthly meeting, to discuss current issues and set the agenda for the following week.  It is comprised of a Chairperson, a paid Administrative Officer, a Financial Officer, a Membership Director, and a Public Education Officer. Officers serve a one-year term, with elections held in the autumn.  All members of the organization are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. 

Nancy Stahoviak, Routt County Commissioner 
Mike Zopf, Director of Routt County Environmental Health Department 
Arianthe Stettner, Steamboat Springs City Council Representative 
Wendy DuBord, Deputy City Manager of Steamboat Springs 

In addition to the outstanding public sector support Yampa Valley Recycles receives, members represent a diverse group of businesses and interests within the community including: Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, Waste Management, Twin Landfill, and Connell Resources, Inc.  In 2001 YVR developed an alliance with the Steamboat Community Players to assist us in the school education program “Recycling Wranglers,” and in the future in other areas of public education. 

While Yampa Valley Recycles is a volunteer organization, administrative support is necessary to provide program sustainability in some instances.  Beginning in the year 2001, YVR will have one paid part-time administrator to assist in the achievement of the future objectives, with special emphasis upon the school education program, and to carry out some of the routine administrative responsibilities. 

The City of Steamboat Springs maintains a computerized membership data base for YVR and the membership officer is responsible for keeping the data base up to date.  The Yampa Valley Community Foundation holds and manages all funds for YVR for a small fee.  The financial officer submits receipts and prepares budget and financial reports.  The Administrative Officer mans the Hotline and sends out printed materials on request. 

Each of the eleven program objectives has support activities, indicators of progress and leadership responsibility from specific volunteers within Yampa Valley Recycles.  It is the responsibility of the leaders of each objective to make sure the objective is achieved by the end of 2001.  YVR will provide support for advertising, printing and administration to the leader of each objective as requested and needed. 

At each monthly meeting of Yampa Valley Recycles, persons responsible for objectives are requested to report on progress. 
 

Objective 1: Increase recycling in single family residences, condos and rural communities; 632 additional homes in the City of Steamboat Springs, support Hayden’s recycling efforts. 

Support activities: The main support activity is the School Recycling Wranglers Program.  This program encourages fifth-graders throughout Routt County to set up a recycling area in their own home.  A skit, based on the TV game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” is entitled “Who Wants to be a Recycling Wrangler?”  and features a mascot named “Whistle Pig Willy.”  The game show involves learning about recycling and its benefits for the environment.  Children report later to their teachers if they have set up a recycling area at home by returning a confirmation form signed by a parent.  All children who successfully set up a recycling area at home receive reusable book covers and recycling badges as prizes for participating in the skit.  We have formed a partnership with the Steamboat Community Players to take over the skits in the schools starting in September 2001 and to provide other creative input into the school education program.  In addition, Waste Management will continue to encourage sign-up for recycling through their own advertising campaigns.   Ginny Winn, a YVR volunteer living in Hayden, will concentrate on sustaining and building Hayden’s recycling program. 

Indicators of progress: Number of fifth grade children in each school that returned a reporting slip on setting up a recycling area in their home; reports from Waste Management on new curbside sign-ups and progress in Hayden. 

Leadership/Responsible persons: YVR: Ginny Winn, Barbara Hughes, Dina Berray, Maggie Smith. 
 

Objective 2: Increase cardboard recycling of large retailers in Steamboat Springs; 36 additional containers.

Support activities: Letters to businesses, ads or articles in the Chamber Round-up newsletter. 

Indicators of progress: Number of new cardboard containers added per month reported by Waste Management. 

Leadership/Responsible persons: YVR and Waste Management: Vince Rosa, Ken Bohney. 
 

Objective 3: Increase condominium participation in the curbside program in Steamboat Springs; 100 additional carts. 

Support activities: Brainstorming with Waste Management on ways to make recycling easy and attractive to condominiums;  letters to Condominium Boards and Management Companies, ads or articles in the Chamber Round-up Newsletter, improved signage at waste containers. 

Indicators of progress: Number of new carts added per month. 

Leadership/Responsible persons: YVR and Waste Management: Stuart Orzach, Shari Gleason, Maggie Smith, Ken Bohney, Barbara Hughes 
 

Objective 4: Assist Oak Creek to realize a sustainable recycling program.

Support activities: Seek Oak Creek residents who would like to lead this activity, YVR supports as requested. 

Indicators of progress: Reports from Nancy Stahoviak. 

Leadership/Responsible persons: Nancy Stahoviak to seek a leader in Oak Creek 
 

Objective 5:  Increased glass volume going to the glass crusher.

Support activities: YVR will support through brainstorming solutions with City. 

Indicators of progress: Monthly reports from Connell Resources on glass volumes. 

Leadership/Responsible persons: City of Steamboat Springs: Wendy DuBord 
 

Objective 6: Installation of community recycling facilities.

Support activities: Activities being led by the City of Steamboat Springs in cooperation with the Steamboat Chamber Resort Association. 

Indicators of progress: Reports from City in June and September on progress. 

Leadership/Responsible persons: City of Steamboat Springs: Wendy DuBord. 
 

Objective 7: Increased YVR Membership.

Support activities: Develop a membership plan and drive. 

Indicators of progress: Monthly reports on membership. 

Leadership/Responsible persons: YVR: Ginny Winn. 
 

Objective 8: Greater Community Awareness of Reducing, Reusing and Recycling.

Support activities: Develop a public education plan in support of the eleven objectives. 

Indicators of progress: Monthly reports on tasks completed under the plan. 

Leadership/Responsible persons: YVR: Barbara Hughes. 
 

Objective 9: Establish City/County community composting sites.

Support activities: Twin Landfill to undertake a feasibility study and report to YVR, City and County. 

Indicators of progress: Report on study in March. 

Leadership/Responsible persons: Twin Landfill: Doug Bell, Les Liman. 
 

Objective 10: Establish a recycling facility for used motor oil and anti-freeze.

Support activities: Activity underway, led by Routt County. 

Indicators of progress: Reports at monthly meetings. 

Leadership/Responsible persons: Routt County – Mike Zopf. 
 

Objective 11: Revive Regional Task Force on Recycling.

Support activities: Partner with Yampa Valley Economic Development Council to generate ideas; continued contact with relevant persons.  Consider another Rural Recycling Seminar with the Colorado Association for Recycling (CAFR). 

Indicators of progress: Reports from responsible persons at monthly meetings. 

Leadership/Responsible persons: Yampa Valley Economic Development Council: Arianthe Stettner and Bob Peterson; River Basin Partnership: Mike Zopf 

JANUARY ‘01
Recycling Wrangler skit presentations to fifth grades in  South Routt Elementary 

FEBRUARY
“Who Wants to be a Recycling Wrangler?” – Soda Creek Elementary 

MARCH

APRIL
22: Earth Day 31st Anniversary 

MAY 
May 16 – Colorado Annual Recycling Summit – Mt. Vernon Country Club 
Every Day is Earth Day newspaper insert 

JUNE
City & County funding requests due 
Green Up/Clean Up day 
 June is Recycle Month 

JULY
4th of July parade 
Art in the Park/Rainbow Weekend 

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER
National Pollution Prevention Week 
Oak Creek Labor Day Celebration 

OCTOBER
Ornament making party for Festival of Trees 
Southwest Public Recycling Association (SPRA) Annual Conference 

NOVEMBER
Election of new officers for 2002 
Annual retreat for setting new objectives 
November 15 – America Recycles Day 
Festival of Trees 

DECEMBER

Yampa Valley Recycles is supported financially from two main sources, Routt County, which is providing $7,500, and the City of Steamboat Springs, which is providing $5,000.  YVR obtains small donations from community members and has small fund-raising events throughout the year.