Expanding Composting

March 5, 2025

Compost Colorado bin at Northridge Elementary

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with the principal of my daughter's elementary school and talk to her about composting. I asked if she would host a Compost Colorado drop-off bin at the school as a benefit to the community here in eastern Highlands Ranch.

Luckily, the Douglas County School District (DCSD) already supports composting and has a relationship with Compost Colorado. I showed her pictures of the Compost Colorado bin at another DCSD elementary school and told her about the main benefits of composting: reducing methane emissions from landfills and creating healthy soil for gardens and landscapes. The response was good news: she said, "Yes!"

Once the school announces the bin and begins communicating about their support for composting, I'll update this post to share the school's name and address. The school is planning activities and materials to educate students and neighbors about composting while promoting their new composting bin to the community.

As a result of this achievement and my commitment to composting, I have been invited to be a Compost Colorado Ambassador! The orientation was last Saturday at their facility in Denver, where I had the opportunity to meet other passionate composters and tour the company's operation. I look forward to continuing to expand composting in Highlands Ranch.

Starbucks Now Offers "For Here" Drinkware

February 18, 2025

The Starbucks disposable cup has become ubiquitous in our community as a cultural icon and representation of an experience. Sadly, it also becomes waste as soon as the beverage has been consumed. But now, customers who plan to stay and drink their coffee or other specialty beverage at a company-owned Starbucks can get it in a "for here" coffee mug, glass, or the customer's own clean cup from home. My daughter and I tried these "for here" glasses recently at the Starbucks on County Line Rd. and Quebec, just north of Highlands Ranch.

This initiative supports Starbucks' sustainability goal of 100% compostable, recyclable, or reusable cups by 2030. While the "for here" cups only became available on January 27th, the company estimates that "since introducing the option for customers to use a personal cup for every visit in the U.S., Starbucks has helped eliminate on average two million cups per month from waste streams." By providing "for here" cups and glasses now, imagine how many disposable cups Starbucks is helping its customers avoid!

Kudos, Starbucks, for this impactful step toward greater sustainability in our community and across the country.

Drinks & Composting

February 8, 2025

On Monday, February 10th, 6pm-7pm, Compost Colorado will be joining Denver Audubon at Max Taps Co. on County Line in Highlands Ranch. They will discuss "the easiest and most impactful climate solution at our fingertips." If you want to learn more about composting, have a drink on Monday night with Compost Colorado at Max Taps!