Here’s a quick recap of the May 2018 issue of Closing the Loop, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s (CHPHE) newsletter discussing waste recycling and sustainability.
Brewers Are Going Green. Around 350 craft brewers make their home in Colorado…and many of them are making the move to adopting extensive sustainability practices. A recent CDPHE assessment helped identify additional opportunities to reduce energy and water use and minimize wastewater and solid waste. It’s hoped that the initiative with help cultivate a more active sustainable brewers network with a summit to be held to share best practices.
Colorado’s Impact Regarding China’s Recent Ban on Imported Recyclables. China’s new policy has resulted in substantial economic and logistical challenges for recycling programs throughout the US and Colorado. Over the last decade, the US has become dependent on export markets for recyclables because lots of paper and plastic collected from single-stream recycling end up in China for processing. The effects of the import ban have been felt most by recyclers in the west coast states. A handful of recyclers in California and Oregon, most affected by the ban, have even had to landfill their stockpiles of recyclables due to running out of storage space.
