Gov. Polis and First Gentleman Reis Celebrate Colorado Recycles Week
DENVER - Today, Governor Polis declared the third week of November “Colorado Recycles Week.” Alongside First Gentleman Marlon Reis, Suzanne Jones, Executive Director of Eco-Cycle, Kristin Kim, Executive Director of Recycle Colorado, and Timothy Garcia, Principal of Red Hawk Elementary, Governor Polis celebrated recycling in Colorado while addressing the continued challenge of expanding access to recycling across the state.
“Coloradans invest in our future and that of our beautiful state by recycling,” said Governor Polis. “Not only does recycling help preserve our ecosystems, it creates jobs in Colorado and contributes to our economic prosperity. As we celebrate the progress that cities and towns around the state have made towards expanding access to recycling, we also use this week to focus on the work ahead to make Colorado a true leader in recycling and reuse.”
“As we see from recent global environmental disasters and wildfire evacuations right here in our state, climate change is happening now and is affecting Coloradans,” says First Gentleman Marlon Reis. “As I wrote in a recent op-ed, we’re already seeing the negative impacts of climate change on our friends and neighbors. We have a responsibility to safeguard our environment for ourselves and for the people of the future. Recycling is an important step we can take in our own homes and communities.”
Currently, Colorado recycles and composts only 16% of annual municipal waste, lagging behind the national average of 35%. Through recycling and composting, Coloradans can advance sustainability on an individual level while supporting job creation in their communities.
The second annual Colorado Recycles Week builds on the work already done by stakeholders across the state. Last year, CDPHE’s Front Range Waste Diversion Grant Program awarded over two million in grants targeted at reducing waste. This year, Governor Polis signed into law Senate Bill 20-055, which takes a number of steps to advance public education and market development for recycling in Colorado. Through Colorado Recycles Week, the Polis Administration recognizes the work done by nonprofit leaders, community stakeholders, and individual Coloradans in creating local jobs and protecting the environment.
"Recycling is an important component of addressing climate change and increasing local sustainability,” says Eco-Cycle Executive Director Suzanne Jones. “Through cooperation between the public sector, nonprofits, and communities, Colorado can increase its poor recycling rate and make progress towards achieving Zero Waste. A top goal is ensuring that every household on the Front Range has access to curbside recycling. We’re grateful to Governor Polis and his administration for their work to promote recycling, which will help to mitigate climate change, create jobs, and bolster the economy.”
Eco-Cycle started Colorado’s first recycling program 44 years ago, and is now one of the largest non-profit recyclers in the country, working to innovate, implement and advocate for Zero Waste solutions to foster a more sustainable, equitable and climate-resilient future.
“Recycle Colorado leads the nation in innovative solutions and intuitive partnerships to drive a holistic approach to waste diversion,” said Kristin Kim, Executive Director of Recycle Colorado. “As the statewide nonprofit who spearhead the FWRD and RREO grant funding programs, we applaud the sustainability initiatives Governor Polis and First Gentleman Reis are investing in. Our diverse body of members will continue to push workforce development, progressive business practices and be Colorado's recycling resource hub. We are ready for the recycling industry to be a key driver in the Governor's plan to build a stronger, more sustainable future for our state."
Recycle Colorado is an action-oriented and mission-driven organization that works on projects that are tangible, actionable and measurable related to infrastructure and end markets for material recovery, reuse and manufacturing.
“Red Hawk Elementary is proud to be a leader in green building design and sustainability,” says Red Hawk Elementary Principal Timothy Garcia. “Our kids are the beneficiaries of our efforts now to protect our environment and learn to live sustainability. Our students know the value of environmental preservation. Learning about sustainability is built into our curriculum, and we’re honored to have students who are engaged in finding solutions to the problems we face. We’re excited to join Governor Polis and First Gentleman Reis in celebrating Colorado Recycles Week.”
Students from Red Hawk Elementary also participated in the press conference, sharing information about the programs that they participate in and some of what they have learned.