Earth In Crisis: What Do We Want?
Less Garbage Now. Ideas For Our New Mayor, Council, Ourselves.
By Tracey MacDermott
For the GPHN
America has a waste problem and so does our city. Recent passage of waste reduction initiatives in Denver — such as Bring Your Own Bag and Waste No More — are promising. Yet a casual stroll around Park Hill on trash day makes me wonder, are we really even trying?
Week after week, our neighborhood has overflowing trash bins. Recycling and compost bins appear largely empty. Some of the debris and litter flows out of bins, making its way along our streets, and the trash is often left there by many who pass.
I see shoppers at nearby grocery stores utilizing the self check-out without their own reusable bags and I can’t help but to glance over and see if they add on the extra 10 cents per bag for plastic. By and large they don’t. Large-item pick-up day looks like the end of spring semester on just about any college campus in this country. Perfectly usable items are discarded because they become an inconvenience and it’s apparently too burdensome to find a new home or use.
Our city, nor our country is alone in this ubiquitous problem.
This spring my family took a trip to beautiful Cozumel to meet up with dear friends, allowing us to take a break from everyday life and dip our toes in the sand. Immediately the island takes you in with its white sandy beaches, stunning turquoise water and various birds who are not afraid to swoop in and grab at your breakfast. I was pleased to see recycling and composting at our hotel, as well as at the ruins of San Gervasio and the Mayan Bee Sanctuary.
As we walked into town the city was alive with lively gatherings along the water’s edge, filled with music and locals enjoying their evenings. In the mornings I would go for a run along the same route, and to my disappointment see trash strewn along the route from the parties the night before. Wildlife would rummage through the debris, carrying it off, while the wind would blow it further along and into nearby waters.
The island is only 184 square miles. In March of 2022, it was announced that a tenth landfill would be created. Nearly 110 tons of garbage a day is dumped into landfills on Cozumel.
One step forward, two steps back
Here in Colorado, we generated nearly 6 million tons of waste in 2021 — 95 percent of which could have been composted or recycled. The United States is the most wasteful country on the planet. Each American produces 1,700 pounds a year. Depending on the routes, our streets are no different than those of Cozumel.
Denver’s Waste No More programs partially went into effect starting in January. Many are still waiting for their compost bins to be delivered. Officials now say that compost carts are expected to be distributed to homes this summer — six months after the city began charging residents for the new program.
And, just recently, the city notified residents that, due to its new provider, residents can compost less than they did before. Greasy pizza boxes, napkins, compostable silverware, cups and plates will now be sent to the landfill.
Currently, the Waste No More task force is evaluating what to do with construction and deconstruction (C & D) waste — which in Denver currently comprises nearly half of what gets sent to the landfill.
The Environmental Protection Agency highlights multiple benefits of reducing C & D waste, including employment opportunities, saving landfill space, lowering building project costs and reducing environmental impact. Cities such as Portland have had policies in place since 2016. Denver should not wait one more month to follow suit.
What can you do?
While the city works on our waste issues, what can you personally do to keep our streets clean?
• Make it a practice to use less.
• Make it a goal to rarely have to roll your trash bin to the curb.
• Reuse items and reduce the need for them. Recycling should be your last choice.
• Adopt your own block and quietly lead by picking up trash as you go. Recycle what you can.
• Write to your city council person, and the new mayor, and demand that Denver’s waste collection trucks be converted to electric now. No more diesel or natural gas vehicles.
• Write city leaders and demand a construction and deconstruction recycling policy be adopted.
• Utilize designated social media pages by posting items for sale or for free. You help both keep our landfills from filling up and provide someone else opportunities from your perfectly good stuff you no longer want.
Yes, be the change. One person can do so much and can elicit change through their own everyday actions. We can solve our waste and consumption habits by making a commitment to start now.
Tracey MacDermott is an at-large member of the board of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., and immediate past chair. She was trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2017, and is currently the Statewide Co-Chair of the Climate Reality Project for the 100% Committed Campaign.