A RESOLUTION DECLARING BOULDER A ZERO WASTE  COMMUNITY.   

WHEREAS, an estimated 156,773 tons of waste is generated in the city of Boulder each year by  residents, businesses and institutions and approximately 70% of this amount is sent for landfill disposal; 

WHEREAS, though the city of Boulder has reached an overall recycling rate of more than 30%, more  can be done, especially in “closing the loop” by purchasing products made with recycled content; 

WHEREAS, the placement of materials in waste disposal facilities, such as landfills and incinerators  wastes natural resources, transfers liabilities to future generations and has the potential to cause damage  to human health;  

WHEREAS, avoiding the creation of waste or discards in the first place is the most economically  efficient and environmentally sustainable resource management strategy;  

WHEREAS, a resource recovery-based economy will create and sustain more productive and  meaningful jobs than a disposal-based economy; 

WHEREAS, with the appropriate economic incentives, manufacturers can and will produce and  businesses will sell products that are durable and repairable and that can be safely recycled back into the  marketplace or nature; 

WHEREAS, government can be ultimately responsible for establishing criteria needed to eliminate  waste, for creating the economic and regulatory environment in which to achieve it, and for leading by  example, and 

WHEREAS,  the city of Boulder has positioned itself as an environmental leader among local  governments by adopting environmental initiatives, programs and policies including the broad  community vision contained in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, City Council’s Environmental  Sustainability Goal, city recycling and environmental purchasing policies, and the city Master Plan for  Waste Reduction, 

WHEREAS, the guiding principles of zero waste are: managing resources instead of waste, conserving  natural resources through waste prevention and recycling, turning discarded resources into jobs and new  products instead of trash, promoting products and materials that are durable and recyclable, and  discouraging products and materials that can only become trash after their use.   

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF  BOULDER, COLORADO  The city of Boulder hereby encourages the pursuit of Zero Waste as a long-term goal in order to  eliminate waste and pollution in the manufacture, use, storage, and recycling of materials. This goal  must be addressed through the choices Council will make in the context of the city’s Business Plan and  annual budget processes, by initiating action plans and measures that significantly reduce waste and  pollution. These measures will include encouraging residents, businesses and agencies through  incentives and legislation to judiciously use, reuse, and recycle materials, as well as to motivate  businesses to manufacture and market less toxic and more durable, repairable, reusable, recycled, and  recyclable products.  In all cases, the guiding principles of the city’s Master Plan for Waste Reduction  will be followed.  Mandatory programs will be employed only if the infrastructure exists and if  convenient, voluntary programs prove not to be successful.   

The city of Boulder will also review its own policies, contracts, and standard operating procedures to  incorporate zero waste provisions and actions into all aspects of its organizational culture to encourage  the use of materials and products that are durable, repairable, and reusable, have a minimum of  packaging, toxic content or chemical hazard potential, are resource and energy efficient in their  manufacture, use and disposal, and in their use or disposal minimize or eliminate the city's potential  environmental liability.     

ADOPTED this 2 nd day of May, 2006          ___________________________________        Mark Ruzzin, Mayor    ATTEST:    _________________________________  City Clerk on behalf of the   Director of Finance and Record