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What's Happening with the Boulder County Recycling and Composting Authority?
by Mark Ruzzin
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Authority Board Votes to Dissolve
What do you do when it's almost time to ride off into the sunset? Prudent folks get prepared,
and that's exactly what the Boulder County Recycling and Composting Authority (BCRCA) began
doing when they gathered on November 6, 1999 for their annual goals retreat. With the 1994
Recycling Tax scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2001, the BCRCA is busy discussing both its
future and the future of recycling and composting in Boulder County.
The fundamental question being asked of and by the Board was: With its funding source soon
to expire, is there a need for the BCRCA to continue to exist? This question was answered
with a consensus: no. Although recycling and composting infrastructure and programs will
continue to operate post-tax, the board felt that dissolution of the BCRCA and the transfer
of its assets to the Boulder County Commissioners would be the most prudent way for the
County to move into the future. The Authority and the County Commissioners have begun
developing a transition plan to address such issues as the administration of the new
County Recyclables Processing Center, management of ongoing BCRCA programs, and fiscal
oversight over the remaining tax funds.
Waste Reduction Vision in the Works
In its remaining months, the BCRCA board will be focusing on developing a long-term waste
reduction vision and business plan for Boulder County. To assist with this project, the
Board has enlisted the help of its Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), a group of approximately
20 citizens that has been meeting regularly since last fall. The CAC's policy subcommittee,
with the assistance of Eco-Cycle's Executive Director Eric Lombardi and BCRCA
Director Jeff Callahan, has been developing a "waste reduction plan for every town" approach,
which will aid the Authority board in making determinations about which
programs and infrastructure to fund between now and the end of 2001. Implementation of
these options will be critical as the County looks to meet its 50% waste diversion goal.
Dirt is Flying
On November 15, 1999, ground was broken for the largest work item the Authority faced -
construction of the new Boulder County Recyclables Processing Center (RPC). Over half
the money raised by the recycling tax, some $13 million, will be spent on the design and
construction of the new facility. By the time this article goes to press, final permitting
should be complete, and construction of the RPC should be underway. Site grading will be
completed first, followed by actual construction of the facility. Scheduled for completion
in July 2001, it won't be long before the Eco-Cycle processing team will be in its new home,
and a big piece of the waste reduction vision for Boulder County will begin to become reality.
That said, the decisions that the Board will be making between now and the end of 2001 will
be critical to the long-term success of recycling, composting and waste reduction in
Boulder County. We urge everyone to get involved and let the Authority know your ideas
about how best to move into our reduce, reuse, recycle future.
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