Study finds recycling barriers at Superior apartments; none offers compost
A consultant found access, signage and contamination problems at all three communities. Town materials put residential-contract diversion at 30.3% so far in 2026, below the 65% goal for 2030.
Published at
An Aug. 13 study of Superior’s three apartment communities found that all offer recycling, but residents face obstacles locating collection, understanding sorting rules and keeping bins free of trash. None offers compost collection, Inclusive Design Group’s report says.
The problems vary by property. At the largest community, some residents said recycling drop-off locations were inconvenient or hard to reach; residents and site assessors also reported full or contaminated bins and confusing signs. At a second community, space and access constraints across its 14 buildings complicate adding compost collection. The third community was still under construction, but its finalized design did not include space for organics collection and could require a retrofit, the study says.
The consultant recommends improving recycling access and signs, providing ongoing resident education, and pursuing compost collection where it can be convenient and supported day to day. It also recommends considering a code change requiring space for compost collection in new apartment developments. The recommendations are options, not commitments. Materials prepared for the Town Council’s Oct. 12 update list the presentation as informational, not a policy vote, the town’s staff memo says.
A small, self-selected survey found that 22 of 27 respondents who answered the compost-interest question said they would like service if offered. The study cautions that the sample is too small to represent residents across the communities.
The town’s materials put residential-contract diversion at 30.3% so far in 2026, below the town’s 65% waste-diversion goal for 2030. The memo defines diversion as compost and recycling kept from landfill among customers on Superior’s residential waste contract.
The study was part of a Colorado Circular Communities technical-assistance grant. At a July 9 advisory committee meeting, town staff said consultants were contacting haulers and property managers to assess multifamily recycling and composting barriers, the meeting recording shows.