Eagle County Government

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, United States | Waste recycling

Pitkin WaterSMART

Currently, residential septic sewage from Pitkin County, Colorado is hauled many miles away for treatment because there are no nearby treatment facilities—sometimes as far as 140 miles away round trip. We risk potential environmental accident to shallow aquifers and nearby rivers and streams at both the source and on the road as waste is transported over slick mountain roads in winter. The high cost of treatment causes homeowners to delay proper maintenance of their systems.

Pitkin County is studying modular wastewater treatment options to offer a local alternative and looking at how to re-use the effluent in innovative ways to reduce existing pressure on our potable water resources.

Background

To remain a rural area Pitkin County chose to adopt rigorous growth control measures, including a stringently maintained urban service boundary. Therefore, many of our homes, most of them quite large, are not supplied with municipal sewage and must rely on septic systems. Pitkin County Environmental Health Department estimates there are 3,000 such systems in just Pitkin County and many more in our watershed.

And like most of the Western US, Colorado has experienced severe drought conditions. To address this at the local level, the citizens of Pitkin County have acted to support policies protecting our watershed. For example, Pitkin County voters created the Healthy Rivers and Stream Fund and Board in 2010 out of concern for in-stream flows and Front Range water diversions. We are also a signatory to the Roaring Fork Watershed Plan adopted in 2009 from the work of the Roaring Fork Conservancy and the plan was consulted in the development of this study.;

Our project will evaluate innovative re-uses for the estimated two million gallons of effluent that could potentially be reclaimed from  a local treatment facility.  Some ideas are for on site use at the Pitkin County Solid Waste Center and other ideas include soliciting the help private and public partners to create a new water market and reclaimed water distribution system to use effluent to replace potable water currently being used when non-potable would suffice.

We will also study innovative engineering solutions for the treatment and storage of effluent and educate the public about wastewater treatment and effluent re-use. We hope other rural and remote communities in our region can replicate our program.

Recycling

There are several options for recycling in Pitkin County.

The Pitkin County Landfill offers Single Stream Recycling at three locations.

The Rio Grande Recycling Center, located in Rio Grande Park in Aspen, is a joint effort between Pitkin County and the City of Aspen:  The Rio Grande is open twenty four hours a day (though is closed periodically for up to 30 minutes for servicing) and offers free recycling for single stream recyclables.  Glass recycling can be done in either the glass only bin or any of the single stream bins.  There is a separate bin for household battery recycling and a seasonal holiday lights and Christmas tree program.  For specific issues related to the operation of the Rio Grande Recycling Center phone 429-1831.

The Pitkin County Landfill accepts single stream recycling and scrap metal recycling at no cost to the public.  We also offer tire, hazardous materials, paint, appliance, electronics waste (e-waste) collection and recycling during our hours of operation for a fee. There is a seasonal holiday lights and Christmas tree program.  The landfill is located on Highway 82 at mile marker 32 between Aspen Village and Wildcat Ranch.  Call 429-2880 for more information.

The Redstone Recycling Center is located behind the fire house on Redstone Boulevard and accepts single stream recycling ONLY on the first Thursday of the month from 1-3pm and the third Saturday of the month from 1-3pm.  This program is offered

at no cost to the public.  Call 429-2880 for more information.

In single stream recycling there is no need to sort the recyclables.  All recyclable commodities may be collected together at home and placed in the same bins at the recycling center.  These materials are collected and then go to Denver where they are sorted and baled for market.

Single Stream Recyclables include:
Newspaper
Cardboard
Recyclable Plastic #s 1-7 (Look for the triangle w/ the numeral in it on the bottom to determine if it is recyclable)
Magazines
Metal/Steel/Tin Cans*
Glass Bottles & Jars*
Paper Bags
Phone and Paperback Books
Office Paper
Aluminum
Paperboard (cereal/beer boxes)*
Milk/juice cartons

*Materials should be rinsed out and free of food waste, lids should be off (but may be included in the recycling), plastic liners, for instance in cereal boxes, should be removed and discarded as trash.

The following items may not be recycled:
Plastic bags of any sort
Styrofoam
Bubble Wrap
Plastic Film
Ceramic dishware
Glassware, window glass
Pizza Boxes
Foam Food Containers

Waste Management operates a public drop-off facility on Park Avenue in Willits for residential single stream recycling ONLY.  It is located at the corner of Park Avenue and Willits lane and is open from 9am-3pm Monday thru Friday.

Company Details
Company NameEagle County Government
Business CategoryWaste recycling
Address SNOWMASS VILLAGE
United States
ZIP: CO 81615
PresidentNA
Year EstablishedNA
EmployeesNA
MembershipsNA
Hours of OperationNA
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