The Town implemented a new zero waste collection strategy at this year’s 4th of July celebration, and it was a great success! The event had a 76% diversion rate, including 75 pounds of compost collected, using our partners at SCRAPS to help residents sort at the bins. The event diversion rate, which includes quantifying all the items kept out of the landfill from recycling, compost, and reuse, will be even higher when staff can account for all the reusable plate and cups that replaced disposables this year as well. Thank you to our Superior community for your support as we reduce waste at Town events!

Did you know you can take a bus from Superior to Estes Park or Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)? While a park pass for RMNP is required, Bustang to Estes riders can avoid needing a timed entry pass. Enjoy free WiFi, power outlets, a restroom, bike racks, and plenty of storage space as you sit back, relax, and let them do the driving.

Looking for adventures a little closer to home? If you take the Eldo Shuttle into Eldorado Canyon State Park, you get to bypass the weekend reservation system and have guaranteed entrance to the park that day!

Learn more about these and other car free adventures on Commuting Solutions Ditch the Car: Exceptional Summer Adventures Await blog post.

You may notice that as the summer temperatures creep up, smog also seems to get thicker. This is because ground-level ozone pollution, created by air pollutants like those from vehicle fumes, industrial operations and motorized lawn equipment, tends to increase during the hot months of July and August. In addition to supporting more measures to reduce ozone pollution, you can play a role in decreasing air pollution and stay healthy:

• Carpool, bike, or use public transportation instead of driving by yourself
• Combine trips by picking one day to run your errands
• Exercise early or late in the day
• Electrify your lawn and garden equipment (and take advantage of the 30% discount on electric lawn equipment – see a list of participating retailers from COPIRG)
• Use a HEPA or equivalent quality air purifier indoors to reduce many air pollutants that cause breathing difficulties when ozone is higher

Keep track of air quality in Superior by checking our Purple Air Sensor Map. You can also see local ozone and air quality information by visiting CDPHE's daily air quality monitoring dashboard, get alerts for poor air quality days by texting “BETTERAIRCO” to 21000 or signing up for e-mail alerts.

Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, natural spaces, and communities. The truth is, we’re up against a massive system: over 430 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year, and most of it is designed to be used once and tossed. In the US, we only recycle about 5% of the plastic we use, either due to a lack of recycling access or because that plastic wasn’t designed to be recycled in the first place.

Our community partner Eco Cycle has made a great list of resources to help reduce dependence on plastics and decode which plastics are safer to use (and more likely to be recycled).

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