In an effort to ramp up the Denver Composts program, firefighters from 20 fire stations in the city of Denver are teaching local residents about the benefits of composting. Several of these fire stations have seen their recycling rates increase as much as 8 to 80 percent since they’ve implemented the program.

Through this program, and other waste reduction efforts, the city of Denver hopes to increase its recycling and composting rate from 22 percent to 34 percent by 2020.

KUSA has more information:

Denver firefighters are taking on a new role in the community by serving as “zero heroes” to work toward achieving “zero waste” in the city through composting.

Denver Public Works and the Denver Fire Department are expanding its partnership to promote the benefits of the Denver Composts program.

“We’ve all become really good recyclers. We know our cans and our bottles are recyclable, but we don’t really think about our food waste or yard debris because it can be yucky sometimes, but it really isn’t, it’s hugely valuable,” said Charlotte Pitt, a manager at Denver Recycles.

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