Cities: Denver, Colorado

by Rebecca Cummins-Lanter

Denver is ranked 11^th on top U.S. sustainable cities.

Successes

Knowledge/Communications: 4^th

·     Whether the city has an overall plan for sustainability

·     Whether it has a sustainability or environmental department that manages and tracks sustainability efforts across the city

·     Whether the city is working in collaboration with a major federal research laboratory or research university

·     Whether the city is working with a non-governmental organization across the city, rather than in only a single neighborhood

Energy and Climate Change: 6^th

By the end of 2008, the city will have increased its renewable energy portfolio by nearly 1000 percent since 2005

Natural Disaster Risk: 13^th

SustainLane examined the 50 largest US cities, assessing natural disaster risk. This ranking was devised with SustainLane primary research as well as with information from Risk Management Solutions. We looked at hurricanes, major flooding, catastrophic hail, tornado super-outbreaks, and earthquakes, taking into consideration potential frequency of disaster as well as the extent of damage.

Planning and Land Use: 8^th

For this ranking, the data analyzed included park percentage per total city land area (from the Trust for Public Land) as well as a sprawl ranking developed by Smart Growth America in a 2002 study of US cities. SustainLane primary research of cities' pedestrian and bicycle access and planning, transit-oriented development and regional planning efforts rounded out the final rankings

Events:

-In 2008, Denver hosted a “green convention” with a bike share program that logged over 25,000 miles.  That was so successful that Denver is now implementing a bike share program in the city permanently.

Obstacles:

Water Supply: 43rd

Took a hit because they depend a lot on mountain snow supply, and with temperature increases much of the stored snow will be converted to water faster and decrease fresh water supply.

Solid waste dispersion: 40^th

The top cities were all in California where there is a required minimum on waste dispersion.  Participation is not very high in Denver; only 60% as compared to San Francisco’s 72%.  One reason for this may be that California is one of the states with returns on plastic water bottles, a billion dollar a year industry.

Solutions: 

Recycling system is self sustaining and saves city money so city is supporting it heavily.  Participation has grown to 100,000.  City pays $15 per ton of trash, makes $33 per ton of recycling collected.  The city collected 29,116 tons of recycling compared to 221,797 tons of trash last year. The city only offers its recycling program to single family houses and multi-unit dwellings that have seven or less occupants. 

The composting collection pilot program will is a fee based service program--$30 per quarter.  Pickup is weekly.  They compost grass clippings, soiled paper products like popcorn bags and greasy pizza boxes, and all foods from eggshells to meat to pizza.  People in America generate about ¾ of a ton of waste per year.  Denver schools are composting as well as international airport.  Compost goes to A1 Organics, which then sells it.  Classes are available on Master Composting, worm composting, and mulch/compost giveaways. 

Grasscycling-lawnmowers that don’t bag grass clippings.  Less waste = healthier lawn.  Up to 37% of what Denver residents put in the trash during the growing season is yard waste which is predominantly grass clippings. You can significantly reduce your spring and summer waste just by Grasscycling. Grass clippings left on your lawn will shade grass roots and help keep the soil cool. And because grass clippings are made up of more than 80% water, they recycle water.