A Zero Waste Community
In 2025, the Front Range region’s waste diversion rate stagnated at 16%, far short of the targets adopted by Colorado’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission to divert 26% of waste from landfills by 2026 and 51% by 2036. Lakewood will become a better partner in this regional effort by estimating the city’s community-wide waste diversion rate and implementing proven tactics outlined in the strategies to advance the vision of becoming a Zero Waste community. Adopting foundational Zero Waste and Circular Economy principles to guide the city’s work throughout the community will have immense social, environmental, and economic benefits which are well studied and documented by credible sources such as the US EPA, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Kinsey Institute, and UN Environment Programme. Lakewood’s transition to a Zero Waste community will enhance the quality of life for current and future residents, protect and preserve the interconnected natural systems upon which we rely, and support ethical, circular business models which positively contribute to Lakewood’s vision.
Goal 24 Strategies: A Zero Waste Community
This goal creates a Zero Waste vision for the City of Lakewood and enables us to adopt targeted strategies to move us closer to that vision. Strategies include programs, incentives, regulations, and initiatives designed to increase awareness, understanding, and participation in waste reduction and diversion activities across the city, and to strengthen Lakewood’s regional engagement with Colorado’s circular economy.
Primary Strategies
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Expand and maintain comprehensive waste-related educational resources for the community with the goal of increasing participation in and proper usage of available waste diversion programs.
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Improve Lakewood’s residential recycling services in preparation for the provision of free recycling through Colorado’s Extended Producer Responsibility Program via a suite of potential tools like enhanced hauler licensing requirements, hauler contracting, universal recycling ordinances, zero waste design guidelines, and targeted education.
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Promote building longevity through use of high-quality durable materials, multifunctional and flexible design, adaptive reuse and retrofitting programs, sustainable design, and deconstructability.
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Develop collaborative waste reduction and diversion programs targeting the largest and highest need waste generators in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors in Lakewood.
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Strengthen Lakewood’s Municipal Zero Waste Program (encompassing facility operations, meetings, and events) through enhanced employee resources, training tools, standard operating procedures, adopting reusable dishware, comprehensive waste stream collection services, and a circular procurement policy.
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Prioritize the development of policies, programs, services, incentives, and infrastructure to support the reduction and diversion of Lakewood’s highest volume and most environmentally impactful waste streams, starting with construction and demolition debris and organic waste.
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Actively participate in efforts to strengthen Colorado’s circular economy through meaningful involvement with regional nonprofit organizations and state agencies, and by attracting new and supporting existing ventures focused on reduction, reuse, refill, rental, repair, and refurbishment, recycling, composting, and energy recovery.
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Continue efforts to prevent environmental contamination by providing a community recycling collection center and hazardous waste recycling collection center for residents and businesses, organizing collection events for hard to recycle items, facilitating litter clean ups, and responding to illegal dumping. Keep these services low-cost, accessible, and expand or enhance them in response to community need and diversion goals.