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Waste /

WA-6Adopt a Commercial Recycling Ordinance that Includes Multifamily Properties

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Progress

On time
  • Not started
  • Planning
  • Completed
  • Implementation

Lead paragraph

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.

Description

Mid-year 2025 update, in accordance with the City's Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) recycling collection is now required for all commercial and multifamily properties in Longmont. Organics (composting) collection is now required for all commercial businesses producing food waste. Currently Longmont has 59% of our total commercial waste being diverted from the landfill.

Tasks

What are we doing?

  • Todo1/1/2029

    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?

  • Done06/01/2025

    URO Phase IV Implementation

    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.

  • Done01/01/2025

    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.

  • Done06/01/2024

    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.

  • Done01/01/2024

    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.

  • Done07/11/2023

    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.

  • Done06/01/2023

    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.

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Summary and contacts

Topic Area

Timeline

1/2022 → 1/2029

Initiation period

Contact persons

  • Nicole Manesh
    Sustainability Coordinator
    Sustainability
Information updated 07/29/2025

How this action contributes to the outcome