COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Colorado Springs city officials said the city has recycled about 20 tons of recyclables since launching its new public space recycling program in April.
The 20 tons makes up about 41 percent of the total waste collected from downtown Colorado Springs and seven city parks where recycling bins are available.
The program is free to both the city and taxpayers thanks to a partnership with Greener Corners, a full-service recycling organization that sells sponsorships on the sides of recycling bins to cover the cost of the program and earn additional revenue for the city.
"Colorado Springs should be proud of the huge strides we are taking to become a more sustainable city with the help of the Greener Corners recycling program," Mayor Steve Bach said in a statement. "To go from basically zero public space recycling to diverting 20 tons of recyclables in four months is quite an accomplishment, and at no cost to the city - it’s a win-win."
There are currently 60 bins downtown and 90 throughout Memorial, Acacia and Palmer Park, as well as Skyview, Leon Young and Goose Gossage Sports Complex and the parking lot at Red Rock Canyon.
City officials hope to expand the program over the next year.
City officials broke down the recycling in terms of environmental savings. Twenty tons of recyclables is the equivalent of any of the following:
- Saving 171 trees
- Conserving 252,464 gallons of water
- Taking 15 cars off the road
- Saving 333,261 kilowatt hours of energy
- Reducing oil consumption by 9,080 gallons
- Averted 58,376 pounds of greenhouse gas
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