The City of Loveland was recognized as the best residential recycling program for the eighth consecutive year in the 8th annual State of Recycling and Composting report. Loveland’s residential recycling program achieves an impressive 58 percent diversion rate, meaning more than half of the waste generated by residents is kept out of landfills through recycling and composting. This highlights the city’s commitment to sustainability and protecting the environment.
“Over the years, we have developed a diversion system focused on keeping items out of our landfills, making it cost effective, easy and convenient for our residents,” says Solid Waste Manager Tyler Bandemer. “Our community has a strong commitment to sustainability and has adopted a reduce, reuse and recycle way of life. By recycling at home, using the Loveland Recycling Center, which saw approximately 140,000 visitors last year, and continuing to participate in our semiannual Shred Events and Paint Recycling Events, Loveland continues to show the state of Colorado how recycling gets done.”
Loveland achieved its success through five evaluated categories:
- Universal curbside recycling: Recycling services are readily available to all residents.
- Volume-based pricing: A system that encourages waste reduction by charging based on landfill contribution.
- Convenient access: Drop-off centers and curbside collections make recycling simple and accessible.
- Education programs: Informative initiatives ensure residents understand how to recycle effectively.
- Community engagement: Advocacy and participation from residents drive waste reduction efforts.
The rankings are compiled annually by Boulder-based Eco-Cycle, a zero-waste advocacy group and one of the nation’s largest nonprofit recycling businesses, and Colorado Public Interest Research Group, a statewide nonprofit group that makes environmental policy recommendations. The two groups’ research results are contained in their annual publication, State of Recycling and Composting in Colorado.
The report’s diversion rates are based on the community’s recycling rate, citywide recycling rate, residential recycling rate and industrial recycling rate. The report evaluates residential recycling rates based on single-family homes and apartment buildings with up to seven units.
In 2023, the City of Loveland collected 21,000 tons of trash, 8,000 tons of recyclables and 24,000 tons of organic material.
Beyond recycling, Loveland also excels in organics management. Through programs such as curbside yard waste collection, free yard waste drop-offs for permit holders at the Loveland Recycle Center and partnerships with landscaping companies, Loveland fosters a high diversion rate and demonstrates the power of community-driven sustainability.
For more information about Loveland’s recycling programs, visit lovgov.org/solidwaste.
Program Funding
The Solid Waste Division, part of the Public Works Department, provides comprehensive waste management services to the Loveland community. These include curbside trash, recycling and optional yard waste collection, available from April through November. Additionally, the division operates the Loveland Recycling Center, where residents and visitors can recycle over 27 different materials through convenient drop-off services. Services are funded through the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. Enterprise funds are dedicated funds supported by user fees in their monthly utility bill. Similar to a business, user fees fund the operation, maintenance, administration and capital improvement projects required to provide the service.