Supporting the City's Zero Waste Resolution goals, an increase in the City's total waste diversion rates through the commercial sector can be achieved through recycling and organics (composting) collections. The City curbside recycling collection service in Longmont is currently only offered to residential households. Adopting this Ordinance focuses on commercial recycling and organics needs for businesses and recycling requirements multifamily communities.
Waste /
WA-6Adopt a Commercial Recycling Ordinance that Includes Multifamily Properties
Progress
On time
- Not started
- Planning
- Completed
- Implementation
Description
The Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) is an effort to support the City’s goal of diverting 75% of our waste from landfill by 2030 and 95% by 2050. The Ordinance focuses on a phased implementation for recycling and organics collection services for commercial and multifamily properties. City Council passed the URO on July 11, 2023.
As of June 1, 2024, recycling collection for all commercial businesses and multifamily properties is required for those that are not already subscribed to recycling collection services. In 2025, the URO implementation is focused on diverting organics.
The URO requirements include the following timeline:
- Jan. 1, 2024: Recycling services required for commercial properties over 10,000 square feet and multifamily properties with more than 75 units
- June 1, 2024: Recycling services required for all commercial and multifamily properties
- Jan. 1, 2025: Organics collection required for food wholesalers, distributers, manufacturers, and grocery stores
- June 1, 2025: Organics collection required for other select business types
- Jan. 1, 2029: Composting required for landscaping companies
Working alongside the commercial and multifamily sector to implement the URO sustainably and to help divert waste in Longmont- this phased implementation includes financial assistance, qualifying exemptions, and additional support resources.
Tasks
What are we doing?
- 6/1/2025
URO Phase IV Implementation
- 1/1/2029
URO Phase V Implementation
The fifth and final phase of implementation of the Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) will begin on January 1, 2029, requiring composting collection for landscaping companies.
What has been done?
- 01/01/2025
URO Phase III Implementation
The third phase of implementation of the Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) will begin on January 1, 2025, requiring organics (composting) collection for food wholesalers, distributers, manufacturers, and grocery stores.
- 06/01/2024
URO Phase II Implementation
The second phase of implementation of the Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) will begin on June 1, 2024, requiring recycling collection recycling services required for all commercial and multifamily properties.
- 01/01/2024
URO Phase I Implementation
The first phase of implementation of the Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) began January 1, 2024, requiring recycling collection recycling services required for commercial properties over 10,000 square feet and multifamily properties with more than 75 units that are not already subscribed to recycling collection services.
- 07/11/2023
URO Passed in City Council
On July 11, 2023, Longmont’s City Council passed the Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) as an effort to support the City’s waste diversion goals.
- 06/01/2023
URO Draft
On December 13, 2023, Longmont City Council discussed the components of a Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO). City staff is planning to return to Council with a draft Ordinance the second quarter of 2023 for further direction.
Read more
Summary and contacts
Topic Area
Timeline
1/2022 → 1/2029
Initiation period
Responsible organizations
Contact persons
- Nicole ManeshSustainability CoordinatorSustainability
Information updated 01/09/2025
The fourth phase of implementation of the Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) will begin on June 1, 2025, requiring organics (composting) collection for other select business types.