Recycling/ Recycle Center

Strategic Plan Goal: Environmental Sustainability and Resilience

Customer Service Strategy:

The Recycling Collections Division is an Enterprise fund responsible for collecting residential and commercial single stream recyclables within the city limits, and delivery of the recyclable materials to the Recycle center for processing. The single stream recycling program is a key sustainability program responsible for the diversion of recyclable materials from area landfills.

Core Functions:

The Recycle Center is responsible for processing, marketing, and selling the recyclables that are delivered to the Recycle Center.

Residential recycle collection
Commercial recycle collection
Collection occurs 5 day a week on routes
14 different routes collected weekly
Recycle Center operates 5 days a week
Expanded recycle services on Saturdays
Process recycle material and the operation of the public drop-off area
Collect and process household recyclable materials, electronic waste and batteries.
Provide high level of customer service to city residents and businesses.

Budget by Strategic Plan Goal

FY 2023 Total Budget: $1,263,388

FY 2023 General Fund: $1,263,388

Total FTE's: 7.37

Performance Results:

Municipal Solid Waste, per capita amount sent to landfill and diversion rates Reducing landfill waste and increasing diversion reduces emissions and pollution and reducing unnecessary material consumption in general decreases the amount of resources used to produce materials in the first place. Reuse of materials is encouraged in City Operations. This measurement focuses on tons diverted from landfill to recycle by City processes, tons per capita.

Budget by Type:

Source of Funds:

Strategic Operating Actions:

3. Improve the quality and resiliency of natural resources through conservation, recycling and effective management.

3.1 Maintain high quality levels on environmental indicators such as landfilled waste.

4. Provide Solid waste Disposal that is oriented toward Recycle and Reuse

4.1 Promote conservation and recycling of material resources through well - designed and well – managed city services.

4.1.1 Evaluate landfill waste streams for potentially recyclable material.

4.1.2 Adopt goals for both Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated per capita and diversion rates.

4.1.3 Expand organics diversion through partnership with Table to Farm to Compost.

4.1.6 Increase diversion from landfill to recycle by City processes.

4.2 Continue to offer award-winning single stream recycling and trash services in an environmentally and fiscally responsible manner.

2022 Strategic Results:

Generated 12 new commercial recycle customers
Provide service to 613 commercial customers
Provide service to 5,029 residential customers
3,907 bales of single stream material diverted from the landfill, processed and shipped
Continue to grow commercial cardboard route collections

2023 Strategic Deliverables:

This Division will continue to engage and educate the community to increase diversion rates
Explore outreach opportunities to minimize contamination of the recycling stream
Continue to improve Durango’s diversion rate from the landfill to align with the statewide goal of 35% diversion by 2026 and 45% BY 2036
Continue to offer multiple recycling options to the public
Continue to work on making the public drop off area cost neutral
Continue to explore new options for resource recovery
Continue to increase diversion rates