Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Wednesday November 18th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories, and a quick summary of other important things happening in our state.

 

Today, we’re addressing how a recent recycling report from Eco-Cycle showed that Colorado recycled less last year and created more trash.

 

Before we begin, let’s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we take you back to November 18th, 2005 - five days after the death of Vine Deloria Jr. who was one of the most prominent voices among Native Americans in the 20th Century. On this day a memorial service took place in Golden, where friends and admirers gathered to celebrate Deloria for the hope that he infused in the Native American community. 

 

Now, our feature story. 

 

Recycling is down in Colorado, and the amount of trash produced is up. But don’t blame it on COVID-19 and the numerous to-go containers Coloradans used to patronize local restaurants and businesses in the pandemic.

 

The most recent data is from 2019, months before the first coronavirus case in the state was confirmed. According to Eco-Cycle’s annual “State of Recycling & Composting in Colorado,” the state’s recycling rate dropped to 15.9% in 2019, from 17.2% the year before.

 

Today, Colorado Sun reporter Tamara Chuang joins us to talk more about the issue.

 

Tamara, thanks so much for your time, can you start by explaining why it appears that recycling has gone down? And can you also tell us more about Eco-Cycle, the group that published the report?

 

So, obviously it’s unfortunate to see that the state recycling rate dropped, but is there any positive news here?

 

And finally, as we all know there have been a lot more home deliveries this year because of Covid. Is that something that will make it tough for the state to meet its goal recycling rate?

Thank you so much, Tamara.

 

Colorado has done much better than other states in terms of keeping recycling facilities open during the pandemic. About one-third of communities surveyed for the report said COVID-19 challenges resulted in temporarily closing down a recycling facility, but those have all reopened. 

 

Eco-Cycle organizers, however, do prefer zero-waste since recycling only works if someone can figure out how to reuse plastic, paper and other items. 

 

The organization is now promoting policies that would have greater impact than recycling, such as demanding that the producers and packaging companies pay into the recycling system or use less materials in the first place.

 

Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:

Colorado this month became one of the first states in the nation to let pharmacists prescribe HIV prevention drugs, part of a public health effort to curb rising infection rates nearly a decade after breakthroughs in medicine that can stop HIV’s spread. 

-

Schools across Jefferson County are trading in-person learning for remote instruction as the Thanksgiving break approaches and coronavirus cases surge, but Two Roads Charter School’s Arvada and Littleton campuses are continuing in-person instruction. 

-

Gov. Jared Polis announced new coronavirus restrictions Tuesday aimed — at least temporarily — at preventing about half of Colorado’s counties from being forced into lockdown as COVID-19 sickens more people and fills more hospital beds each day.

-

Chaffee County’s commissioners want more analysis of a plan by Nestlé Waters North America to pump as much as 65 million gallons of water a year from the Upper Arkansas River Valley for bottling in Denver. 

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. 

 

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

 

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Wednesday November 18th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories, and a quick summary of other important things happening in our state.
&nbsp;
Today, we&rsquo;re addressing how a recent recycling report from Eco-Cycle showed that Colorado recycled less last year and created more trash.
&nbsp;
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
&nbsp;
Today, we take you back to November 18th, 2005 - five days after the death of Vine Deloria Jr. who was one of the most prominent voices among Native Americans in the 20th Century. On this day a memorial service took place in Golden, where friends and admirers gathered to celebrate Deloria for the hope that he infused in the Native American community.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Recycling is down in Colorado, and the amount of trash produced is up. But don&rsquo;t blame it on COVID-19 and the numerous to-go containers Coloradans used to patronize local restaurants and businesses in the pandemic.
&nbsp;
The most recent data is from 2019, months before the first coronavirus case in the state was confirmed. According to <a href="http://ecocycle.org/files/pdfs/2020_State_of_Recycling_and_Composting_in_Colorado.pdf">Eco-Cycle&rsquo;s annual &ldquo;State of Recycling &amp; Composting in Colorado</a>,&rdquo; the state&rsquo;s recycling rate dropped to 15.9% in 2019, from 17.2% the year before.
&nbsp;
Today, Colorado Sun reporter Tamara Chuang joins us to talk more about the issue.
&nbsp;
Tamara, thanks so much for your time, can you start by explaining why it appears that recycling has gone down? And can you also tell us more about Eco-Cycle, the group that published the report?
&nbsp;
So, obviously it&rsquo;s unfortunate to see that the state recycling rate dropped, but is there any positive news here?
&nbsp;
And finally, as we all know there have been a lot more home deliveries this year because of Covid. Is that something that will make it tough for the state to meet its goal recycling rate?
Thank you so much, Tamara.
&nbsp;
Colorado has done much better than other states in terms of keeping recycling facilities open during the pandemic. About one-third of communities surveyed for the report said COVID-19 challenges resulted in temporarily closing down a recycling facility, but those have all reopened.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Eco-Cycle organizers, however, do prefer zero-waste since recycling only works if someone can figure out how to reuse plastic, paper and other items.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The organization is now promoting policies that would have greater impact than recycling, such as demanding that the producers and packaging companies pay into the recycling system or use less materials in the first place.
&nbsp;
Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:
Colorado this month became one of the first states in the nation to let pharmacists prescribe HIV prevention drugs, part of a public health effort to curb rising infection rates nearly a decade after breakthroughs in medicine that can stop HIV&rsquo;s spread.&nbsp;
-
Schools across Jefferson County are trading in-person learning for remote instruction as the Thanksgiving break approaches and coronavirus cases surge, but Two Roads Charter School&rsquo;s Arvada and Littleton campuses are continuing in-person instruction.&nbsp;
-
Gov. Jared Polis announced new coronavirus restrictions Tuesday aimed &mdash; at least temporarily &mdash; at preventing about half of Colorado&rsquo;s counties from being forced into lockdown as COVID-19 sickens more people and fills more hospital beds each day.
-
Chaffee County&rsquo;s commissioners want more analysis of<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/10/26/nestle-waters-permit-arrowhead-colorado/"> a plan by Nestl&eacute; Waters North America</a> to pump as much as 65 million gallons of water a year from the Upper Arkansas River Valley for bottling in Denver.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.
&nbsp;
Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you&rsquo;ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again tomorrow.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

The Daily Sun-Up

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

Our intro music is by Matt Skellenger Group: https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission 

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we&rsquo;re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at <a href="https://coloradosun.com/">https://coloradosun.com/</a>.
Our intro music is by Matt Skellenger Group: <a href="https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission">https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission</a>&nbsp;