Walter A. Serfoss,
Sustainability Coordinator |
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News Spotlight:
Sustainability Journey - Presentation
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Financing Opportunites Worksession
- Presentation from 6/23/09 Public Information Worksession
Check it out and learn how you can become part of the solution, instead of part of the pollution!
Upcoming Events and Programs:
- Household Hazardous Waste Collection is held annually at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Avenue. This year it will be held on Saturday, October 3rd from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- The requested donation amount per vehicle is $15.00
- Collection History (.pdf)
- Computer and Electronics Recycling Event - This event will be held on Friday November 13th and Saturday November 14th.
- Free Yard Waste Drop-Off and/or Pickup of Wood Mulch
- Battery Recycling – Approximately three billion batteries are sold in the United States each year. Batteries may contain cadmium, mercury, nickel metal hydride, manganese, lithium, copper, zinc, and lead acid to convert chemical energy to electric energy. These metals may create a hazard when disposed of incorrectly. In landfills, pollutants from batteries have the potential to leach into soil, groundwater, or surface water. La Plata County and the City of Durango have joined together to offer household (alkaline) battery recycling opportunities around the county. For more information and drop-off locations call (970) 375-4831 or visit the batteries recycling link.
Energy Savings and Resource Conservation Initiatives:
- Adopted a County Facilities Recycling Policy requiring county employees to recycle cardboard, paper, aluminum and metal cans, plastic bottles, clear, brown and green glass and single use alkaline batteries at all county owned buildings.
- Launched a Pilot Rural Recycling Program to serve the Marvel, Red Mesa and Kline communities that are located in the western area of La Plata County.
- In 2008, successfully partnered with City of Durango, 4CORE and La Plata Electric Association to hold the first ever Scrap Metal Recycling Event in our community that included old refrigerators and freezers. Consideration is being given to hold this event again in the fall of 2009.
- Adopted an Engine Idling Policy that limits the amount of time vehicle engines are allowed to idle after start up or after the vehicle arrives at its destination. By idling vehicle engines less, La Plata County employees can play an important role in improving air quality, reducing fuel consumption and the County’s overall carbon footprint.
- Adopted a Green Purchasing Policy to encourage and increase the use of environmentally preferable products and services in La Plata County
- A technical energy audit (TEA) was performed on county facilities to determine where energy saving efficiency improvements should be made in order to reduce carbon emission levels. According to the TEA report, La Plata County facilities inventoried produced an estimated 3,987 tons of CO2. Energy efficiency improvements made to county facilities should reduce this amount by 864 tons of CO2 which equates to a 21.67% reduction.
- Completed a County-wide Carbon Emissions Inventory Study. Currently we are in the process of developing a Climate and Energy Action Plan that Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency is orchestrating.
- Financial contribution member of the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency that serves as a clearing house and resource that provides education, programs and incentives to increase regional adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
- Matrix Initiatives (.pdf)
For more information and to offer your suggestions with respect to La Plata County’s sustainability initiatives, please contact Walt Serfoss, Sustainability Coordinator, at (970) 382-6417 or by email at serfosswa@co.laplata.co.us.
Free Yard Waste Program:
La Plata County offers residents a free yard waste collection site located at the Bayfield Convenience Center at 4496 CR 223. This location is on CR 223 approximately 2.5 miles from where it intersects with US Highway 160. The program is scheduled to open on May 1st each year; however, in 2009 opening is tentatively set for Saturday, May 16th do to lack of storage space. Contract mulching of the stockpile is scheduled to begin on May 4th, 2009. Official opening of the program will be made by issuing a press release. For more information, call (970) 382-6200.