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South Metro waste plan recommends organics, recycling drop‑offs and hauler rules for Littleton
Summary
A South Metro regional waste plan presented to the Littleton Environmental Stewardship Board recommends recycling drop‑off centers, expanded organics processing and hauler licensing or organized collection to raise Littleton’s diversion from landfills.
Board members heard a presentation of the South Metro regional waste‑diversion plan and a set of Littleton‑specific strategies that the consultant and regional partners recommend to increase recycling and organics diversion.
The presenter said the region currently has a diversion rate of about 15 percent and that the study’s waste composition analysis found approximately 78 percent of material in the surveyed waste stream is recoverable or potentially recoverable with different interventions. The consultant’s modelling projects a business‑as‑usual increase of roughly 260,000 tons of waste across the region between now and 2035.
The regional recommendations include establishing recycling drop‑off centers (the consultants recommended roughly four additional centers for the region), improving access to organics processing and supporting large‑scale facilities that accept food scraps, and targeted programs to increase commercial and multifamily recycling.
The presenter told the board Littleton could pursue several municipal strategies: yard‑debris curbside pickup for single‑family homes, a third curbside bin for organics, a multi‑family and commercial outreach program, hauler licensing with required tonnage reporting, an “equal‑space” code that requires developments to plan adequate recovery space, construction and demolition material recovery standards, and consideration of organized collection (single‑hauler) or districtized single‑hauler contracts as a path to lower costs and higher diversion.
On the finding that a large share of Littleton’s local‑government inventory comes from South Platte Renew, the presenter recommended treating that facility as a special case when prioritizing Littleton’s direct operational interventions because its sustainability work already reduces some emissions at scale.
Board members and residents raised questions about costs, service changes and political acceptance. The presenter said that Sheridan’s pay‑as‑you‑throw program averages $11–$20 per month for residents while Littleton’s average is $21–$30, and said organized collection has reduced truck traffic and costs in other municipalities cited in the plan (Boulder, Fort Collins, Denver and Broomfield). She also noted that Colorado’s extended producer responsibility program and related state funding could reduce local costs for recycling programs once the statewide program is implemented.
The plan recommends Littleton pursue public engagement and phased approaches: begin community education and pilot programs (including trials for multi‑family recycling), pursue funding opportunities through the Colorado Circular Action Alliance and CDPHE, and prepare ordinance language if the council elects to pursue licensing or organized collection.
The presenter asked the board to consider a letter of support for the plan when it goes to City Council; the consultant will present the plan to council at a study session and then seek formal adoption on Aug. 19, with hopeful implementation beginning in January 2026 if council and budgets allow.
