Dear Eartha, I’ve heard more and more about the water shortage impacting Colorado and other western states. What can I do to reduce the amount of water I use at home? Water conservation is a very important topic everywhere, but especially here in the western part of the US. While shortening your shower and installing […]
Dear Eartha, I don’t have a garage, and it’s been really cold lately. I always let my car warm up for 10 – 15 minutes, but I feel guilty about it. Is it so wrong? What’s a better alternative? I get it – it’s been cold and snowy and cleaning off frozen windshields is definitely […]
Dear Eartha, what is a circular economy? Are there any local examples? Great question, as this is a term that I hope we all hear more about in the future. Factors such as climate change, population growth, unsustainable lifestyles and dwindling resources are pressuring global economies to evolve. One such evolution is that circular economies […]
Dear Eartha, What can I do to conserve energy in 2024? As we bid farewell to another year and welcome the promise of a new one, it’s essential to reflect on our habits and choices that impact the environment. In the era of climate change and growing ecological concerns, there’s no better time to make […]
Dear Eartha, As the holidays roll on, I’m dealing with loads of torn wrapping paper, gifts I’ll never use, and food I won’t devour on my own. Can you help me sort through this mess? It’s not too late to sprinkle joy and eco-magic into your holiday season! Amidst the parties and presents, it sounds […]
Dear Eartha, Each year my family cuts down our own Christmas tree, but we are never sure what to do with it after the Holidays. What is the best way to dispose of our tree in the new year? Nothing says Christmas like the smell of a freshly cut pine tree. Some of my best […]
Dear Eartha, I’ve been noticing the strides our residents are making towards sustainability, but what about our businesses? From glass recycling and selling eco-friendly products to the adoption of LEDs and low flow toilets, businesses are doing their bit – big or small – to maintain the beauty of Summit County, just like our residents […]
Dear Eartha, My sister recycles berry containers at her house on the Front Range. Why aren’t they accepted in Summit County? The short answer is that berry containers are not accepted for recycling in Summit County because they wouldn’t actually get recycled. They’d get mixed with #1 plastic bottles and rather than melting down during […]
Dear Eartha, What is climate equity? Take a few moments and imagine that you live somewhere else. Instead of mountains in your backyard, there’s block after block of buildings — row homes, high-rise buildings and skyscrapers in the distance. Concrete and asphalt replace local singletrack. A nearby highway is busy with traffic. A few miles away, […]
Dear Eartha, I have recently heard of extended producer responsibility in the world of recycling. What exactly does this mean? For the state of Colorado, extended producer responsibility is happening thanks to HB22-1355, a bill that requires companies selling packaging and printed paper into the state to fund and manage a coordinated statewide recycling system […]
Dear Eartha, A friend recently told me that environmental health is public health. We don’t have any power plants in Summit County, so how does that relate to me? Human health and environmental health are deeply interconnected, and as you noted, energy use is a great example of this. Even if we don’t all think […]
These grants are designed to help local entities and government agencies prevent and reduce waste. Recieve up to $70k to make your waste diversion projects a reality!
