Superior Sustainability Newsletter: December - January

Town of Superior sent this bulletin at 12/20/2023 09:00 AM MST

December 2023 - January 2024

As we fly through the holiday season, we hope you can take a moment to consider sustainable options for gift-giving, event hosting and more! You can plan your live Christmas tree recycling, seek out alternative gift-wrapping options, or even consider starting the new year with more affordable solar through the Boulder County solar co-op. There are so many options to live more sustainably, so we hope you join us in celebrating the end of a wonderful year by making green choices! As always, thanks for being a part of making Superior a sustainable, resilient and vibrant community.

- Town of Superior Sustainability Team

Superior Sustainability boasts busy 2023

With our growing team and committed residents, we were able to accomplish more than we ever have before. Some highlights include:

The Town’s first Beneficial Electrification Plan was completed, which will guide our community toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its energy, building, and transportation sectors.
The Green Star Schools zero waste program was implemented at Superior Elementary and Eldorado PK-8, along with distributing the first-ever reusable kits for classroom parties.
Eight pond islands were installed in Bowes and Riverbend ponds as part of a water quality improvement pilot project.
We improved sustainability offerings at our Town events, including offering edible utensils and reusable cups at Chili Fest, gathering over 200 costumes from Superior residents for our Halloween swap at Ecotoberfest and collecting 12,264 pounds of materials that would have otherwise gone to the landfill at our Hard to Recycle event.
Many other actions from the Sustainability Action Plan were completed or started this year. Stay tuned in 2024 for a Sustainability Dashboard showcasing our data and plan progress.

Floating island installed in pond by the Sustainability and PROS teams.

Floating Islands pilot program at Riverbend Pond

Celebrate sustainably with helpful holiday tips

With gift-giving holidays right around the corner, keep some of these sustainability tips in mind as you plan gifts and events for your loved ones:

Most wrapping paper from the store isn't recyclable, so use sustainable gift wrap made of things you might already have at home! You can create unique and reusable wrappings with things like newspaper comics, decorated paper shopping bags, or pretty, clean fabrics.
Looking for some last-minute holiday gift ideas? Think electric with this electric gift guide from Rewiring America.
To reduce food waste, use this Guestimator tool to estimate how much food you will need for your holiday event.
Make sure you know the best way to recycle holiday waste. Here's a handy guide:

Click on image for ADA accessible PDF

Have additional questions on where facilities are located or where to take holiday waste items? Check out the Eco-Cycle Holiday Guide.
Get even more sustainability-focused ideas, including sourcing local and using up food scraps from this article.

Residents have two options for Christmas Tree recycling

After the holidays, don’t throw your Christmas Tree in the trash. Live trees are biodegradable, which means they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch, compost and other purposes. Here are two recycling options:

1. Let the Scouts do the heavy lifting
For the 25th year, your local Scouting troop (joint troop 69/278/575) is recycling Christmas Trees. Please have trees out (all decorations removed) by 8 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Scouts and their families volunteer their time to help with this activity. A $15 to $20 donation is greatly appreciated. See the registration page to schedule a pickup and make a donation.

2. Recycle your Christmas Tree at Superior's Yard Waste Site
If you miss the Scouts' collection event or want to recycle your tree earlier, you can bring your tree (free of ornaments, tinsel, and decorations) to the Superior Yard Waste Site (2125 Honey Creek Lane). It will be open every day from Dec. 26 through Jan. 31 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for Superior residents, and the collected trees will be made into mulch or compost.

Boulder County Solar Co-op breaks records and extends enrollment through Dec. 31

Solar panel installed on a red tile roof

You may have heard about the Boulder County Solar Co-op, a partnership between Boulder County and the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors (SUN), but did you know that they are enrolling even more participants through the end of December? This co-op is so popular it has broken SUN’s previous co-op records! For a limited time, Superior residents can still take advantage of this opportunity to learn about solar energy and get competitive pricing on a quality solar installation. Note that the co-op is free to join and members are not obligated to buy solar panels.

Want to learn more? Get all the details and sign up by the Dec. 31 deadline by visiting SUN’s webpage.

Coming in 2024: No plastic bags at large retailers and no Styrofoam™ at restaurants

2024 is just around the corner, and so is the second phase of the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (PPRA) with new disposable bag and Styrofoam container requirements. You are probably familiar with the 10-cent fee on disposable bags at large retailers, but beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, the PPRA will require:

A ban on Styrofoam™ containers and cups from all retail food establishments
A ban on single-use plastic bags at large retail establishments
The 10-cent fee on single-use paper bags will continue to be in effect

Be sure to bring your reusable bags with you when you shop, and consider bringing your own reusable containers when you eat out to take your leftovers home.

Read more about upcoming changes and find resources on the Town website.

Make your home cozy and efficient with a free Home Energy Squad Plus visit

Whether you rent or own, a Home Energy Squad visit can lower your energy bills and help you enjoy a more comfortable and efficient home. The Town of Superior partnered with Xcel Energy to offer a limited quantity of FREE Home Energy Squad Plus visits (regularly $150) to qualifying residents. All installation, labor, and materials are covered - a $600 value!

Use Promo Code: SUPERIOR2023 at xcelenergy.com/HomeEnergySquad to register for your free visit.

Garden In A Box seeks your feedback

Did you or someone you know receive and use a Garden In A Box? Resource Central is currently seeking feedback on landscape preferences and overall experiences with its Garden In A Box Program. This five-minute survey offers a valuable opportunity for you to share your thoughts regardless of whether you've planted a Garden In A Box. Your time and feedback contribute significantly to shaping the future of Garden In A Box. We appreciate your participation and look forward to hearing your thoughts! Take the survey here.

Let's stay connected!

Are you enjoying the Sustainability newsletter? Did you know the Town also sends a Historical Commission, Parks & Recreation, and Superior Sentinel newsletter? You can also subscribe to receive Superior Community Center updates, Town Board information, Marshall Fire news and more. For more information and to view your preferences, visit the Town's email subscription page.