Denver is expanding its composting program in 2016 thanks to an expanded budget with the hope of easing the burden on the city's landfills.
The city's Solid Waste Management department will add one route in the coming weeks and two more this summer. The new routes will increase composting eligibility by about 7,500 homes. By year's end the city will be able to service about 17,500 homes.
The program will expand to various areas throughout the city — mostly bordering already existing routes — with a good portion coming in the southeast and southwest areas of the city. The summer routes have not yet been determined, but according to manager of Denver Recycles/Solid Waste Management Charlotte Pitt, the city will likely break into the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood near Denver International Airport.
Each route costs about $400,000 to start, which includes a new truck. The program's budget for 2016 is $660,000; the new trucks were purchased in 2015.