In addition to processing the community's recyclables, Eco-Cycle hosts this innovative re-use store for building materials. It even supplies shopping carts for its customers, many of whom visit regularly to see what is new. ReSource "shoppers" can find trash to treasure ranging from tools in the Tool Library, plywood, lamps, toilets, school desks, and even a retired lunchroom table!

ReSource and "CHaRM," their Center for Hard to Recycle Materials, are co-located along with operations for composting yard waste and disposing of hazardous materials to provide a "Recycle Row" convenient to residents. According to Kara Mertz, City of Boulder Environmental Action Project Manager, the city wanted to make "'Recycle Row' a place where all Zero Waste facilities were as close to each other as possible to make it convenient for residents and businesses to take care of all their recycling and reuse needs in one place...It's an important part of our Zero Waste Master Plan, and we are excited to continue to partner with Eco-Cycle to reach our community Zero Waste goal of diverting 85% or more of our waste from the landfill."

My brief tour left me inspired about what communities are doing to address their waste management issues. See more of the photos I took while touring Eco-Cycle on our facebook page in the Eco-Cycle Tour album.