Top Composting & Food Waste in Boulder, Colorado Ranked

For restaurants and food service businesses in Boulder, managing organic waste is not just an environmental choice-it's a legal requirement. The city's Universal Zero Waste Ordinance mandates that all businesses, including restaurants, provide separate collection for compost, recycling, and trash. This framework is designed to divert valuable organic material from landfills, turning food scraps into nutrient-rich compost. However, recent rule changes have significantly shifted how front-of-house waste is handled, making it crucial for business owners to stay updated. Successfully navigating these regulations involves partnering with a private hauler, implementing thorough staff training, and understanding exactly what materials belong in each stream. This guide provides a clear roadmap for compliance, helping Boulder's culinary scene contribute to the city's ambitious sustainability goals.

Wompost

11881 E 33rd Ave D, Aurora, CO 80010

Wompost is a compost collection and delivery service based in Aurora, Colorado, serving Denver and surrounding areas. They specialize in food waste and yard waste composting for homes and businesses, offering weekly pickup and convenient drop-off options. Wompost collects biodegradable waste and returns finished compost soil to customers, helping to recycle organic materials and reduce landfill waste. The company supports carbon farming projects in Colorado and promotes sustainable composting practices within the community. Wompost is women-owned and focuses on making composting accessible and straightforward for its customers.

5.0

132 Reviews

A1 Organics

9109 Monaco St, Henderson, CO 80640

A1 Organics is a family-owned business based in Aurora, CO, specializing in organic recycling and composting services. Since 1974, they have provided commercial landscapers, municipalities, and institutions with certified compost, premium mulches, and organic soil blends. The company operates multiple facilities along the Front Range, including Eaton, Keenesburg, Commerce City, and Englewood, and diverts over 525,000 tons of waste annually from Colorado landfills. A1 Organics also collects used cooking oil and liquid food residuals, recycling 34 million gallons each year. Their certified compost products are STA Certified® and OMRI® Listed, supporting sustainable landscaping and agriculture in the region.

3.5

46 Reviews

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Understanding Boulder's Universal Zero Waste Ordinance

Boulder's commitment to waste diversion is formalized through the Universal Zero Waste Ordinance (UZWO). This law requires all commercial entities, including every restaurant, café, and grocery store, to provide and manage three separate waste streams: compost, recycling, and landfill trash ¹. The ordinance is comprehensive, extending beyond just providing bins to include mandatory employee training and periodic reporting to the city to demonstrate compliance ². The goal is to achieve a high community-wide diversion rate, recognizing that food waste and organic materials constitute a significant portion of the commercial waste stream. For restaurant owners, this means integrating waste sorting into daily operations is a non-negotiable aspect of running your business in Boulder.

Key Components of Compliance for Restaurants

Compliance hinges on several specific actions. First, you must have the correct infrastructure. This means obtaining dedicated containers for compost, recycling, and trash, typically through a licensed private hauler. These bins must be clearly labeled with signs in both English and Spanish to minimize confusion ¹. Second, and equally important, is training. The ordinance mandates that all staff, from kitchen porters to servers, receive training on proper sorting procedures ¹. The City of Boulder provides resources like training videos and quizzes to assist with this. Finally, businesses must keep records and submit compliance reports as required by the city, detailing their waste diversion efforts ².

What Goes Where: Navigating the New Compost Rules

One of the most critical-and recently changed-aspects for restaurants is knowing what materials are accepted. Contamination (placing the wrong item in a stream) is a major issue that can lead to entire loads being rejected by processing facilities.

• Back-of-House Compost (Required): In your kitchen and employee areas, compost bins are for food scraps only. This includes fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and plate scrapings ^{3 4}.
• Front-of-House Compost (No Longer Required): Due to persistently high contamination rates, the city has removed the requirement for customer-facing compost bins ^{5 6}. This is a major shift from previous rules.
• Compostable Serviceware: This is a crucial rule change. Items like compostable plates, bowls, cups, and utensils must now go in the trash, not the compost bin ^{3 7}. Despite being labeled "compostable," these items often do not break down in local industrial facilities and have been a primary source of contamination.
• Other Common Items: Napkins, paper towels, and non-compostable serviceware also belong in the trash. Plastic bags, gloves, and glass are never allowed in the compost stream ^{6 4}.

In short, if it's not an actual food scrap, it likely does not belong in your compost cart. When in doubt, throw it out (into the trash) to protect the integrity of the compost stream.

Setting Up Your Service: Working with Haulers

The City of Boulder does not provide direct commercial waste collection. Instead, restaurants must contract with a licensed private hauler for compost, recycling, and trash services. This means you have choices, and it's advisable to get quotes from multiple providers to find a service plan and price that fits your operation.

• Service Providers: Companies like GEME, Bruin Waste, and affiliates of Eco-Cycle offer commercial organic waste collection in Boulder ^{8 9}.
• Containers and Schedules: Your hauler will provide the appropriate containers, which can range from 32-gallon wheeled carts to larger dumpsters, depending on your volume ⁵. Collection frequency is customized-a high-volume restaurant may need daily compost pickup, while a smaller café might manage with weekly service ⁵.
• The Hauler's Role: Your service provider is a key partner. They can advise on bin placement, provide signage, and often offer guidance on reducing contamination.

The Financial Picture: Costs and Potential Savings

There is no fixed, city-mandated rate for compost service. Costs are determined entirely by your chosen hauler based on factors like container size, pickup frequency, and location. It is essential to request detailed quotes.

An important financial consideration is the potential for cost savings. Landfill trash disposal is typically the most expensive service. By diligently separating compostables, many restaurants can significantly reduce the volume (and therefore the cost) of their trash service. Industry analyses and case studies in Boulder have suggested that adding compost collection can be cost-neutral or even lead to net savings, sometimes estimated in the range of $15-$30 or more per month, by allowing for a smaller or less frequent trash dumpster ^{5 10}. When evaluating quotes, ask haulers to show you scenarios that compare your current trash-only cost with a bundled package for trash, recycling, and compost.

A Step-by-Step Action Plan for Restaurants

1. Contact Licensed Haulers: Reach out to at least two or three providers for quotes on a bundled service that includes trash, recycling, and food-scrap-only compost collection.
2. Train Your Team: Before the new bins arrive, conduct training for all employees. Use the City of Boulder's online resources to ensure everyone understands the new rules, especially that compostable serviceware now goes in the trash ¹.
3. Set Up Your Stations: Place clearly labeled and color-coded bins in all key areas. Ensure back-of-house has compost, recycling, and trash. Front-of-house should have recycling and trash only.
4. Monitor and Maintain: Designate a staff member to periodically check bins for contamination. Clear signage and ongoing reminders are key to long-term success.
5. Complete Reporting: Fulfill the city's reporting requirements by tracking your waste diversion data and submitting compliance reports on time ².

By following these steps, Boulder restaurants can not only meet their legal obligations but also operate more sustainably and potentially reduce their operational waste costs.

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