Spur Change Data-Metrics

Knowing you cannot manage what you do not measure, this information is intended to provide progress towards the Routt County Climate Action Plan Waste Sector (CAP) strategies.

Waste Sector Strategies

  1. Reduce the amount of solid waste disposed of in the landfill.
  2. Increase waste diversion.
  3. Support waste reduction initiatives at the state level.

The 2018 Northwest Colorado Waste Diversion Study categorized Routt County’s waste composition. The study revealed that only 22.5% of the waste sorted represents garbage that could not be diverted.

Routt County 2017 Waste Audit revealed that only 22.5% of the waste sorted represents garbage that could not be diverted.

Routt County is home to many programs that provide the opportunity to divert most of these materials from the landfill. Diversion programs include opportunities to donate used items, metals and aggregate recycling, traditional recyclables drop-off and curbside collection, organics drop-off by See Me Compost, and drop-off of hazardous and special wastes. 

For example, Yampa Valley Recycles Depot in Steamboat Springs is a partnership of the Western Resilience Center, Routt County, and the City of Steamboat Springs. The Recycles Depot accepts hard-to-recycle materials such as electronics, lightbulbs, ballasts, batteries, and ink printer cartridges. Other recycling drop-off options and repair services can be found in the Recycling, Repair and Drop-Off Guide.

Steamboat Springs Waste Hauler Reporting Data

The following data metrics are aggregated from waste hauler tonnage reports. The reported tonnages of waste were collected from within the City of Steamboat Springs by licensed local haulers in accordance with Ordinance 2871 of municipal code Chapter 19 Solid Waste.

For purposes of this report, waste is categorized by sector - residential, commercial, construction and demolition, and other- and major categories of waste which are defined as follows:

  • Recyclables consists of mixed paper, cardboard, plastic containers, glass containers, aluminum cans, steel/tin cans, and contaminants.
  • Food Waste consists of all food waste which includes fruits and vegetables, bones, meat, cooked or raw, and grains. 
  • Other Diversion consists of metal, aggregate, wood, and manure. Biosolids are not included in this data.
  • Trash consists of all waste that is not diverted, even though some of this waste could potentially be diverted as recyclables, organics, household hazardous waste, or hard to recycle materials.
  • Household hazardous waste and hard to recycle materials are not included in this data.

Waste haulers report their data quarterly.  The following information illustrate:

  • Waste generation by material type.
  • Contamination rate of recyclables. The contamination rate is the weighted average of contamination as reported by all haulers. The contamination rate does not include contaminated loads of recyclables that were rejected in the field and collected as trash.  This is because the contamination rate is calculated at the sorting facility.  Anything that happens before the materials are sorted is not captured in this data.
  • Total waste generated.
  • Tonnages and percentages, respectively, of waste materials generated by afore mentioned sectors.

City of Steamboat Springs Waste Generation by Material Type, Fourth Quarter FY2025 (tons/percentages)

Total Trash Generated: 8988.1 tons or 87.7%

Recyclables Diverted: 1,171.7 tons or 11.4%

Food Waste Diverted: 26.7 tons or .3%

Other Diversion (wood, manure, aggregate, metal): 62.3 tons or .6%

Contamination (as measured at sorting facilities): 19%

2025 Construction and Demolition Diversion Feasibility Report

2025 Construction and Demolition Diversion Market Analysis

The following documents are available by request through NextRequest. Archived documents are provided for download in PDF format, which may not be compatible with assistive technology. Individuals requiring an alternate format to access our digital services can complete the Request for Assistance Form.

  • 2018 Northwest Colorado Waste Diversion Study
  • 2021 Steamboat Adaptation of Local Tourism Sector to Climate Change (Steamboat Chamber)