Volume 126, No. 15
OPINION
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Sean Kennedy defends ASCSU PAGE 10
A&C
Come N Get It
New food truck to Fort Collins PAGE 12
THE
STRIP
City Recycling Improvements:
More drop off options and possible pickup expansions PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NATALIE DYER. COLLEGIAN
By Julia Rentsch @juliarentsch
Changes are coming to Fort Collins’ recycling scheme this month and potentially into September as the result of two projects being undertaken by the City government. New Recycling Drop-Off Location A new site for recycling dropoff, which will accept a wider array of hard-to-recycle items than previously allowed, opened August 22 to replace the old location at the Rivendell School. According to Jonathon Nagel, City of Fort Collins waste reduction and recycling program assistant, the old location diverted 15,000 tons of recyclables per year and had an average of 400 users per day.
The Timberline Recycling Center was paid for by public funds from the City’s General Fund, wrote Caroline Mitchell, Fort Collins City Planner, in an email to the Collegian. At the time of publication, total cost of the project is unclear, and the project manager, Susie Gordon, was unreachable for comment. The project was approved by City Council in response to public interest in more recycling options for items traditionally sent to the landfill. “A 2011 study assessed the infrastructure needs for additional recycling in the community and the concept for the Timberline Recycling Center emerged as the top priority,” Mitchell wrote. “It provides an opportunity for a one-stop
recycling (area) for community members.” The new recycling area, which will be located at 1903 S. Timberline Road, will be identical to the old facility in that it is a free dropoff location for conventionally recyclable materials like corrugated cardboard, paperboard, newsprint, co-mingled containers and glass. Moving the location allowed for the room necessary for an expansion of services to cover hard-to-recycle items, Nagel said. For $5 per visit, the Timberline location will provide recycling opportunities for non-traditionally recycled items like paint, used motor oil, batteries and electronics. A complete list of accepted items can be found on the Fort Collins governmental website.
Conventional recyclables may be deposited at Timberline every day of the week during daylight hours, year-round. The specialty recycling area will be staffed and open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during summer, and will close at 4:30 during winter. A limited access to composting will also be available at Timberline, with dumping fees assessed by the yard. According to the City website, those depositing waste like branches, yard trimmings and untreated lumber are limited to dumping two yards per visit and will be charged fees that reflect the higher processing costs associated with commercial compost operators. see RECYCLING on page 6 >>
Other things we’d love to be able to recycle in Fort Collins
Squirrels. “What would they turn into? Is that how beavers are made?” -Anonymous Collegian employee One-night stands. Essays for class. #SaveTheEarth