Social, Economic & Environmental Issues
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Are You Wish-Cycling?
ish-Cycling, also known as aspirational recycling, is X Metals such as pipes, rods, spare auto/machine parts, when we put items in the single stream recycling that rebar, fencing, horseshoes, and other steel items. we HOPE will be recycled. Worst case, if we are wrong, These items damage the automated machines that sort recyclables, without which the recycling facilities cannot we assume the sorting facility, also known as the materials function. Look for local scrap metal centers to recycle recovery facility (MRF), will be able to send it to where it these items, and possibly earn a little money back. belongs. Wish-cycling begins with the best intentions, but it X Plastic Bags. These items get caught in the cog wheels of contributes to the single biggest problem at any recovery the automated machines that sort recyclables. Front Range facility: contamination. facilities must stop their operations almost hourly to cut Be familiar with what your waste hauler accepts. While plastic bags out of the wheels. Instead, bring bags and wrap a material might be recyclable, if it is not accepted by your to collection sites at stores such as King Soopers and Target. hauler then it will only serve as contamination. Customers of X Glassware such as vases or drinking cups, ceramics, the City of Golden’s Pay-As-You-Throw waste program can find or window glass. These glass types are treated with the list of acceptable items at www.cityofgolden.net/trash. reinforcements which require a much higher temperature These common items are NOT accepted in any curbside to melt and can contaminate an entire batch of glass recycling service: recyclables.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Update
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his year the Community Sustainability Advisory Board spearheaded an effort to update Golden’s greenhouse gas inventory report for the first time since 2010. This report not only estimates the total emissions from Golden’s commercial, residential, and municipal sectors, but also estimates the anticipated impacts of current electrification and energy efficiency efforts. The report will be used to inform future city strategic plans and to guide initiatives as Golden works to align its greenhouse gas emission reductions with the Paris Accord by 2050. The report can be found at www.cityofgolden.net/energy.
Research from Mines: Nitrogen Recovery from Urine and Using Heat from Wastewater Golden Sustainability is currently collaborating with two Colorado School of Mines student groups on resource recovery projects as part of the Senior Design capstone class. • One project aims to estimate the possible heat recovery from wastewater, similar to the undertaking by Denver Water at the new National Western Complex. • The other group is designing a nutrient diverting toilet to recover nutrients found in urine and use for fertilizer. The preliminary findings from both groups can be found at www.cityofgolden.net/water-conservation.
10 | December 2021
Holiday Tips If you’re making your list and checking it twice, finding extra ways to save energy is always nice. Here’s how to cut back on your home-heating expenses this holiday season: • Let the sunshine in. Keep draperies and shades open on south facing windows and let Colorado’s 300 days of annual sunshine help warm your home. Just be sure to close them at night to keep drafts at bay. • Lower the thermostat when the party starts. Holiday cooking and having extra people around raises the ambient temperature in your home without the need for supplemental heat. • Unplug electronics before leaving town. TVs, DVD players, computers, printers, radios and many other electronics use energy even when they are not turned on. Take the time to disconnect these phantom energy users before going away for the holidays. • Deck the halls with energy saving LED holiday lights. When you are ready to upgrade, make sure to recycle your old lights. Action Recycling at 7610 W 42nd Ave in Wheat Ridge pays $0.10 per pound for string lights. • Ask Santa to upgrade to a smart thermostat. Xcel Energy has a rebate program for it! Conveniently monitor and adjust your home thermostat from wherever you may be this holiday season.
