117: Overcoming Obstacles to Recycling
Peak Environment
Learn about a great resource in the Pikes Peak Region to help you recycle many items you can’t just toss into curbside recycling. This conversation also explores some opportunities for how we might improve Colorado Springs poor recycling performance – we divert only 15% of our waste from the landfill into recycling. Loveland diverts 60%, Boulder 51%. Mike Mazzola shares why he founded Galvanize Recycling and how this young business can solve many of our recycling challenge – whether you’re a family, a business, a neighborhood group or a city. We also learn about a great opportunity for...
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118: Transition Towns - Community, Resilience, Independence, and Permaculture
Peak Environment
The Transition Town grassroots movement is a way you can impact your own neighborhood. Learn more about this as Peak Environment co-host Ally Richardson explores Transition Towns with Becky Elder and Brian Fritz from Pikes Peak Permaculture. If you would like to find out more about public forums, lectures, and community green movies, or if you would like to host such an event, please send Pikes Peak Permaculture an inquiry at Pikes Peak Permaculture is a Southern Colorado 501c3 nonprofit that educates adults and the youth on the wide world of nature and permaculture. Our upcoming class…....
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117 City of Fountain Sustainability Update
Peak Environment
Katie Helm, Conservation and Sustainability Program Manager for the City of Fountain, provides an update on the city's sustainability efforts. This episode includes an extensive impromptu discussion of recycling challenges and solutions across El Paso County. Katie Helm is the Conservation and Sustainability Program Manager for the City of Fountain, where she manages energy and water programs. In previous roles she has worked as a Water Conservation Specialist for the City of Aurora, a Park Ranger for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and as a sawyer through Americorps. She earned her Bachelor of...
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116: Colorado Springs Sustainability Update
Peak Environment
Learn about City of Colorado Springs sustainability efforts – from both a strategic and an operational perspective. Ryan Trujillo, Deputy Chief of Staff – Operations, updates us and answers questions. Topics include decentralization of the city’s sustainability efforts, status of the yet to be launched Sustainability Advisory Board, a waste characterization study to determine rates we’re diverting waste from landfills, micromobility, and the 2050 Regional Transit Plan (see link to sign up for updates). MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 2050 Regional Transit Plan This episode was...
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115: Plastic Bags Update & Moving Toward Zero Waste: Policy Wins, Advice and Resources
Peak Environment
What’s the law on plastic bags and polystyrene cups and take-out containers? What other legislation is in effect or potentially coming soon to move the state toward zero waste? How can you receive funding to support your organizational efforts? How can we all take part in moving to reduce this kind of waste? Find out in this update from Rachel Setzke of Eco-Cycle. In Colorado, restaurants have experienced as much as a 90% reduction in use (and costs) of single use items like straws, ketchup packets, etc. when they don’t automatically provide them, but first ask if a customer wants them....
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114: In and Outs of a Permaculture Design Certification
Peak Environment
Why might you want to attend a permaculture design certification course offered in our region? Ally Richardson, a permaculture educator and Peak Environment podcast co-producer, discusses this with other members of Pikes Peak Permaculture: Becky Elder, Brian Fritz, and Jayme Domejka. Mentioned in this episode: Pikes Peak Permaculture’s 2024 Permaculture Design Certification Since the early 1980s, permaculture has been taught through hands-on courses – PDCs – with experienced mentors handing down their knowledge to passionate students. We are beginning March 8th and will finish September...
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113: Poor Richard's Rubbish Roundup
Peak Environment
Richard Skorman shares an environmental vision and a unique community building opportunity that can help with the restoration efforts of our local watershed - creating natural landscapes that everyone can enjoy: Poor Richard's Rubbish Roundup! Join the weekly trash roundup team and help keep our community clean. Or, better yet, reach out to Richard for support in starting your own volunteer group near your local waters. The episode is hosted by Ally Richardson, a permaculture educator and Peak Environment co-producer. Richard Skorman served thirteen years on Colorado Springs City Council,...
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112: Have Yourself a Low Impact Holiday
Peak Environment
Do you approach the holidays mindful of the environmental impact of shopping, gifts and food? This episode explores sustainable options for this holiday season. Konrad Schlarbaum, sustainability director for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, shares low-impact practices for gifts, food, decorations, and transportation. Konrad Schlarbaum is the Director of Sustainability at the University of Colorado–Colorado Springs (UCCS). He also serves on the Board of Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future, the Sustainability Committee at Thomas MacLaren School, and the Planning Committee for...
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111: Colorado Clean Energy Legislation
Peak Environment
Current and upcoming legislation that will impact greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, zero emission vehicles and consumer energy costs. Chris Piper, Director of Legislative Affairs at the Colorado Energy Office shares this and much more, in a very engaging presentation and discussion. Colorado Energy Office This episode was recorded at the Sustainability in Progress (SIP) virtual event on October 18, 2023. Sustainability in Progress is a monthly program of the Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future. Join us (free) the third Wednesday of every month. Register for the...
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110: Permaculture Principles - Part 2 of 2
Peak Environment
Continue your deep dive into permaculture principles in the second part of a series hosted by Pikes Peak Permaculture. Acknowledging and practicing permaculture principles can lead to wonderful experiences - which will guide you to understanding how natural systems work in our environment and our climate. Pikes Peak Permaculture is a Southern Colorado 501c3 nonprofit that educates adults and the youth on the wide world of nature and permaculture. Thank you to our supporters and community members who came out to Ranch Foods Direct and helped make our September 16th fundraising event possible!...
info_outlineYour local library may not be the first thing you think of when you consider sustainable practices in your community, but sustainability is a core value of librarianship. You might be surprised at all the ways your library contributes to sound environmental stewardship. The American Library Association Council passed a resolution in 2015 on the importance of sustainable libraries. The resolution notes that libraries play an important and unique role in wider community communications about resiliency, climate change and a sustainable future. This resolution was adopted as the ALA’s 12th core value of Librarianship in January of 2019.
John Spears, Chief Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of the Pikes Peak Library District and Jenny Pierce, Director of Collection Management, join Co-Chair Debbie Vitulli and Bill Thomas of the library district’s Green Team to discuss sustainable library practices in the Pikes Peak region.
This episode of Peak Environment is courtesy of the Pikes Peak Library District Green Team. Our purpose is to recommend strategies to PPLD to become an organization that embraces and implements sustainable practices. Sustainable practices are those that provide for the long term viability of economic, human and environmental resources. This is accomplished through reduction, reuse and recycling of consumable goods. We promote a culture of sustainability throughout the library district, and model environmental stewardship in the Colorado Springs Community.
PPLD Green Team hopes you will SEEK sustainable practices, ENGAGE in earth-wise living, and TRANSFORM the world to be an even better place for our children and generations to come! Check us out at PPLD.org or our Facebook page.
Links:
Pikes Peak Library District Green Team
American Library Association
Sustainable Library Certification Program
Core Values of Librarianship
Resolution on Importance of Sustainable Libraries
American Library Association Statement on Global Climate Change and a Call for Support for Libraries and Librarians
Sustainable Libraries Initiative
UPCOMING ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS:
Sustainability in Progress
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
7:30 to 9:00 am
Ivywild School - Wildcat Room
Free
Coffee and pastries provided
The following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region.
Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future
Pikes Peak Environmental Forum
Pikes Peak Library District Green Team
Pikes Peak Group of Sierra Club
Keep up with all the organizations and events making our area a better place to live. Subscribe (free) on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode:
