The Longmont City Council passed the Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 11, in support of the City’s goal of diverting 75% of waste from the landfill by 2030 and 95% by 2050. The Ordinance focuses on a phased implementation for recycling and organics diversion for commercial and multifamily properties.
Recycling requirements go into effect in 2024 and organics requirements go into effect in 2025.The requirements include the following:
- 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
*This timeline may be adjusted as we continue to monitor changes to composting policies
The City wants to work alongside the commercial and multifamily sectors to implement the Universal Recycling Ordinance. The City will provide numerous resources to support implementation, including digital signage, training and education materials to ensure proper sorting, and other assistance. Qualifying conditions such as properties that produce less than 95 gallons of trash per week, self-haul, share bins, experience economic hardship, implement innovative waste diversion methods, donation of food scraps and composting onsite are eligible for an exemption. For more information on the URO requirements, timeline, and exemption process please visit the City’s URO FAQ website.