The city of Longmont in partnership with Boulder County is taking steps toward sustainability, as they consider a proposal for a new compost facility. The Longmont City Council is set to discuss a land swap at their meeting on January 14, which includes plans for the compost facility aimed at addressing the city's waste management and environmental priorities.

A presentation on Tuesday before the Longmont City Council highlighted the potential of a regional composting facility and a proposal for a land swap to bring it to fruition. Boulder County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann expressed her support for the project, "We think this is a great partnership opportunity and we are committed to supporting this should the Council move this forward in the development," she noted, as per Boulder County, in response to the community's call for a more comprehensive composting solution that could process an expanded variety of materials.

Currently, feasibility studies are underway with anticipation for completion in the second quarter of 2025. The proposed facility would be located on property east of Longmont, necessitating a reclassification for one of the parcels to facilitate the compost operations, a topic that will potentially be referred to the Longmont Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for further consideration.

To reduce waste and emissions, representatives from Boulder County and the City of Longmont recently visited existing compost facilities in California to learn best practices. Impressed by their operations, Longmont’s Director of Water & Waste Services Bob Allen shared, "It was impressive to see how simple, clean and effective these facilities were." Stolzmann also highlighted the potential for local impact, stating, "Our community is eager to reduce waste and emissions, and to do that, we need local solutions for composting," as obtained by Boulder County.

The Longmont community is encouraged to participate in the conversation during the City Council Meeting on January 14 at 7 p.m. at the Longmont Civic Center Council Chambers. Public comments are welcome, and residents are urged to either sign up for the Public Invited to Be Heard segment before the meeting or email their perspectives directly to the City Council.