Loveland residents’ continued efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle have been noticed for the fourth year in a row, placing the Sweetheart City at the top of the state for residential recycling efforts. During a meeting with city officials from across the state, Eco-Cycle recognized the top performing recycling cities for the work they have been doing to increase the rate of recycling for both residents and industry, through Eco-Cycle’s fourth State of Recycling and Composting in Colorado report.
Loveland ranked as the top Colorado city for residential recycling rates for the fourth year in a row, according to the report. Loveland saw a 60% diversion rate in 2019, which represents the amount of waste that is diverted from landfill for recycling. Loveland’s rate has remained consistent for the last four years.
Suzanne Jones, executive director of Eco-Cycle, a non-profit recycling and zero waste organization, said during the meeting that, despite having some cities with high recycling rates, state recycling rates are still low overall. “The bad news is Colorado is recycling less and wasting more than the year before,” Jones said. She added that recycling rates across the state were just below 16%, ranking far below the national average of 35%.
Despite the low statewide numbers, however, many officials from across Colorado spoke about what their towns are doing to continue to increase recycling rates and what they have been doing to reach their high numbers. Officials from Loveland, Fort Collins, and Boulder made appearances during the meeting.
“I think in general Loveland people want to be a part of the solution,” Loveland Mayor Jacki Marsh told those gathered for the virtual meeting. “The quality of life we get being responsible citizens of the earth is important.”