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Two years later, City of Denver still working to implement voter-approved recycling ordinance

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Two years later, City of Denver still working to implement voter-approved recycling ordinance


DENVER — In November 2022, 70% of Denver voters approved the Waste No More ballot initiative to require city apartment buildings, businesses and large events to provide recycling and composting services. It would also establish new recycling and composting requirements for large events and construction and demolition sites.

Two years later, enforcement is still on hold as the city works on how to put the ordinance into action.

Earlier this month, Denver7 spoke with city leaders about that process.

“Those big systems changes also come with complications,” said Jonathan Wachtel, deputy executive director for the Denver Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency. They come with costs.”

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“You can have a climate-friendly city and a business-friendly city at the same time, and we’ve been very thoughtful about how we’ve approached it,” said Tim Hoffman, director of policy for Mayor Mike Johnston’s office.

Hoffman added that he “completely” understands the frustration some have with the ordinance not being implemented more than two years after passing.

City of Denver

Brian Loma, an environmental advocate and one of the original proponents of the ordinance, is feeling that frustration. He said Denver is “lagging behind” other Colorado cities that are implementing their own Zero Waste policies.

“The intent was for Denver to be the leader, the largest city in the state of Colorado doing the hard work to show everybody else it can be done,” he said Wednesday. “It’s a matter of civic pride.”

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After discussions with advocates and the business community, the city is now proposing exceptions to the ordinance.

“Making sure that we weren’t putting undue burdens on small businesses, small restaurants, small events,” said Hoffman.

For example, restaurants with 25 or fewer employees who made $2 million or less in revenue the previous year would be exempt from the composting requirement. Loma said that should not be an excuse.

“My business doesn’t do $100,000 a year, and I compost and recycle as much as humanly possible,” he said. “It’s not about how much business you do. It’s about how much waste you produce.”

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City of Denver working to expand recycling and composting

In their own waste management ordinances, cities like Boulder and Longmont have exemptions for businesses facing “economic hardship” situations. Longmont specifically spells out an exemption for businesses whose losses from the prior fiscal year were more than 10 percent of gross sales.

But Loma said an exemption solely based on profits and employee count would be unique and unnecessary.

“The point of Waste No More was to get people to talk about their waste plans,” he said. “Create a plan on how to divert and then look at what the costs are and determine if that would be a hardship or not, not to carve out and just say a whole bunch of people are exempt before you even come up with a plan.”

That being said, Loma clarified that he and the other originators of the ballot measure want to discuss and meet somewhere in the middle with city leaders.

On Wednesday, Denver City Council’s business committee pushed the next conversation to July, but with a sense of urgency.

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“There’s been so much work done and I don’t want the policy to flounder or to take more time when we need to get this implemented in, because stuff is going into the landfill as we speak,” Denver City Councilmember Stacie Gilmore said during Wednesday’s committee meeting.

Ordinance enforcement is slated to begin in April 2026, but city leaders suggested during the meeting that further delays in finalizing exemptions would put that timeline in jeopardy.

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Denver, CO

Things To Do In And Around Denver This Weekend – 12/11-12/14 – 303 Magazine

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Things To Do In And Around Denver This Weekend – 12/11-12/14 – 303 Magazine


When: Dec 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Fight Club – 1959 16th St Mall Denver
Cost: Price varies
The Lowdown: 

Guests have the option of $39 bottomless flatbreads, which includes the price of their oche reservation for Social Darts®. The bottomless flatbread menu features Smoked Salmon Flatbread, Four Cheese Flatbread, Breakfast Flatbread, or Garden Vegetable Flatbread. Guests can also order off the á la carte menu, which includes a fresh-cut fruit plate, breakfast sliders,, avocado toast, and Flight Club’s famous churros.





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Louisiana child rape suspect arrested in Denver

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Louisiana child rape suspect arrested in Denver


DENVER (KKTV) – A man out of Louisiana suspected of child rape is now in custody in Colorado.

The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force said they arrested 43-year-old James Connolly Tuesday morning in Denver.

The U.S. Marshals Service said Connolly was wanted by West Baton Rouge Parish deputies for first-degree rape of a child under 13 years old.

According to the U.S. Marshals, a full-scale investigation into the allegation was launched, and probable cause was found to file charges.

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After an arrest warrant was issued on August 12, they said Connolly was likely aware of the warrant and had fled the state.

On Monday, officials reportedly received information that he could be in Denver. The next day, the U.S. Marshals Service said the Colorado Violent Offender Task Force found Connolly working maintenance for a company near I-270 and York Street in Denver under the name “Alli” with a changed physical appearance.

Officials said Connolly was then positively identified and taken into custody.

“The success of this arrest represents a culmination of extensive cooperative investigative efforts between the U.S. Marshals in Baton Rouge, U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force – Denver, West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Englewood Police Department, and Colorado Department of Corrections,” the U.S. Marshals Service said in a release.

He’s currently in the Adams County Jail pending extradition back to Louisiana.

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Pat Surtain II Delivers Brutally Honest Take on Broncos’ Final Opponents

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Pat Surtain II Delivers Brutally Honest Take on Broncos’ Final Opponents


If the 11-2 Denver Broncos are going to obtain Super Bowl glory, they can’t be satisfied with their 10-game winning streak. Next up, the 9-3 Green Bay Packers come to Denver for a fixture that will kick off a run of four tricky games to finish out a season that now promises so much more. 

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When it comes to the Broncos facing adversity, Patrick Surtain II believes the Broncos have their opponents set up right where they want them. 

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“That’s what the NFL is all about. Each and every week, a new opponent comes,” Surtain said via 9NEWS‘ Scotty Gange. “Obviously, we’ve got some great opponents coming up for the rest of the year. So if we want to be that team we talk about, these are the games that matter and count.” 

Green Bay’s Micah Parsons and Jordan Love will present a much more pressing challenge than the hemorrhaging Las Vegas Raiders did this past Sunday. Regardless of the challenges ahead, within the Broncos’ competitive DNA lies a unique blend of wanting to prove even more while also enjoying the fruits of their labor along the way. 

Locker room celebrations have centered around the feel-good vibes of the aptly named “Club Dub,” so keeping the ball rolling certainly has its fringe benefits. Ultimately, Surtain revels more in how this team has stuck together through all the challenges, which makes living in this particular moment a whole lot sweeter. 

“Yeah, it feels good finally watching the tide change,” Surtain told Gange. “You know, we stuck with it. There’s a bunch of guys that stuck through the process for a couple of years now. And to finally fulfill this moment, this opportunity—11 wins on the season is not easy to do in this league. So, that was something to be very pleased and happy about.” 

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Nov 30, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) tackles Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (86) in the first quarter of the game at Northwest Stadium. | Peter Casey-Imagn Images

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Double-digit winning streaks don’t happen by accident. The finer details matter, especially as the gruelling 17-game campaign rolls on. 

The Broncos’ offense mounted its three longest drives of the season in Sin City, statement moves down the field that dramatically tipped the scales in terms of time of possession. Surtain appreciated the in-game breather it gave him and his unit.

“The offense did a heck of a job with their time of possession,” Surtain said via Gange. “Yes, it was saving our legs a little bit. I don’t even know how many plays we had—pretty sure it was pretty low. But shout out to the offense for that. And defensively, we picked it up.” 

While the Kansas City Chiefs have been vanquished from the AFC West picture, the Los Angeles Chargers caught a major break on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, keeping them still in the divisional hunt. 

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Moving forward, the smaller issues and stumbles on the defensive side might require Bo Nix and the offense to continue playing the kind of ball that keeps the lights on in the Broncos’ pop-up Club Dub.

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Even so, Surtain and his teammates still have everything laid out in front of them

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