Larimer County climate update highlights bike commuting, employee trainings and home e-waste drive

Larimer County is expanding employee-focused climate programs aimed at changing day-to-day habits, including bike commuting, secure bicycle parking, sustainability trainings and a home e-waste collection drive. During a Monday work session on the county’s Internal Climate Action, Resilience, and Education plan, Sustainability Coordinator Abby Stapleton said the county has reset its employee commute goal to increase the share of workers using an alternative mode of transportation at least two days a week to 15% by 2030, up from a current 13%.

Stapleton said the new target is based on a large employee commute survey conducted last fall, replacing an earlier measure based on estimated vehicle miles traveled between employees’ homes and workplaces. She said the county is also offering bicycle education to employees through a three-part series with the City of Fort Collins. The first session covered how to fix a flat tire, with upcoming classes focused on wayfinding, rules of the road and drivetrain maintenance.

The county is also adding secure bike parking after survey responses showed roughly 90 employees said they would consider biking to work more often if parking felt more secure and weatherproof. Stapleton said a secure bike shelter at the Blue Spruce campus was expected to be installed within two to three weeks. A separate solution for the county’s 200 W. Oak St. building is still being evaluated, she said, with staff weighing cost and how many bikes the shelter should hold.

Beyond commuting, Stapleton told commissioners the county is trying to build employee participation through education and incentives. She highlighted a July Clean Commute Challenge, recycling and landfill trainings, six "Eco Edition" employee newsletters and an employee sustainability series that runs through Sept. 30. In that program, employees who complete five of 13 activities can win 100 Nectar points.

Stapleton also said a 2025 employee e-waste drive collected 1,300 pounds of electronics and 78 pounds of household batteries. After Chair Jody Shadduck-McNally asked whether the drive was for county equipment or personal items, Stapleton said it was only for items from employees’ homes because the county already has its own internal electronics recycling program.

Commissioners praised the effort as a way for county government to model the behavior it asks of the broader community. Commissioner John Kefalas said he was "really heartened" by the update and asked whether the county could document long-term cost savings from the investments. Commissioner Kristin Stephens said she was "really happy that we're setting the example for the community" and added that the work depends not only on staff organizing programs but also on employees choosing options such as biking or taking the MAX to work.