Fort Collins Launches Composting Pilot Program to Cut Landfill Waste

Fort Collins has partnered with local business Compost Queen for a one-year pilot program aimed at diverting food scraps from the landfill and advancing the city's ambitious zero waste goals, with officials expecting to redirect up to 165 tons of organic waste during the 12-month initiative.

The partnership, funded through revenue from the city's Disposable Bag Ordinance, offers discounted composting services to residents and businesses while gathering data to inform future citywide composting strategies. The pilot launched September 25 and runs through 2026.

"We are excited to be working with an experienced local company to expand composting in our community while building our understanding of the barriers that exist to greater adoption," said Jacob Castillo, City of Fort Collins chief sustainability officer.

The initiative addresses a significant waste stream challenge facing the city. Organic materials, including yard trimmings and food scraps, currently comprise more than 40% of what Fort Collins residents send to landfills, according to city officials.

Funding Through Bag Fee Revenue

The program operates using revenue generated by Fort Collins' Disposable Bag Ordinance, which imposes a 10-cent fee on paper bags provided at large grocery stores. The ordinance generated $199,284 in revenue for Fort Collins in 2024, with the city receiving 60% of collected fees while retailers keep 40%, according to Fort Collins budget documents.

The bag ordinance, implemented alongside Colorado's Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, banned plastic bags at large retailers beginning January 1, 2024. The city uses its portion of bag fee revenue for program administration and to support plastic pollution, waste reduction, and composting initiatives.

Residents participating in income-qualified assistance programs including SNAP, WIC, TANF, Medicaid, Get:FoCo, or Colorado Cash Assistance are exempt from bag fees when proof of eligibility is provided.

Addressing Climate and Zero Waste Goals

The composting pilot supports Fort Collins' aggressive environmental targets, including achieving zero waste by 2030 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by that same year compared to 2005 levels.

Fort Collins defines zero waste as diverting nearly 100% of material from landfills through reuse, recycling, and composting. The city aims for 90% waste diversion by 2025 and reducing landfilled material to 2.8 pounds per person per day, according to city sustainability documents.

The city achieved a 51.1% diversion rate in 2016, the most recent publicly available figure, indicating significant progress is needed to meet the upcoming targets.

When organic waste decomposes in landfills, it generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By capturing food scraps and yard trimmings for composting instead, the material transforms into valuable compost and soil amendments that support local agriculture while reducing harmful emissions.

Partnership with State-Compliant Facility

Compost Queen operates what the city describes as the only state-compliant food recycling facilities in Larimer County, ensuring food waste processing meets all Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment standards.

The Fort Collins-based, woman-owned business provides both drop-off and curbside composting services, with optional compost shares for members twice annually. Compost Queen previously won the United States Composting Council Small Compost Manufacture of the Year award and received recognition from Larimer County as an Environmental Steward.

The company's compliance status means it holds the necessary Colorado permits to legally process food waste for composting, including solid waste facility composting permits and local approvals required under state regulations. Colorado requires composting facilities handling food scraps to demonstrate control over runoff, odor, pests, and contamination while meeting strict pathogen reduction and process monitoring standards.

Data Collection for Future Planning

Officials expect the pilot program will provide valuable insights into operational needs and community adoption patterns that could inform potential citywide composting options. The 12-month timeline allows for data collection across different seasons and varying participation levels.

"Organic materials, including yard trimmings and food scraps, currently make up more than 40% of what goes into the landfill," Castillo said. "We are hoping through this effort and future activities to chip away at that number."

The program aims to make food scrap composting more accessible for Fort Collins residents and local businesses while identifying barriers that currently prevent greater adoption of composting services.

Interested residents and business owners can sign up for the pilot program at compostqueenfc.com/fort-collins-pilot-program.

For more information about the pilot partnership, contact Cassie Archuleta, Environmental Sustainability Manager, at 970-416-2648 or [email protected], or Max Poling, Compost Queen Hand of the Queen, at 970-797-2042 or [email protected].