The Key to Better Recycling? It May Not Be What You Think.

In early June, our team attended Recycle Colorado's annual Summit for Recycling conference, and we came back energized. Over three days, we caught up on the latest news in recycling and composting across Colorado and connected with hundreds of waste reduction enthusiasts from across the state and beyond.

According to Alexandra, Diversion Designers' Zero Waste Specialist, "Attending my first Summit for Recycling was more amazing than any vacation I've ever been on. To be in a room full of passionate and innovative people working toward the same goal is incomparable."

In addition to seasoned professionals, this year's event welcomed more than 20 young and emerging professionals to the waste and diversion industry. Their enthusiasm for the future of recycling, composting, and circular economies was evident throughout the conference.

Amber, Diversion Designers' CEO, noted, "This year's Summit for Recycling left me energized. Over my five years attending, I've watched the organization and the summit grow and this year, that growth was especially clear in the young professionals who are passionate and eager to jump into this work. It was a reminder that the future of our field is in good hands. The Awards Gala was a highlight, with recognition that was well deserved across the board, and a special callout to our friend Avery for outstanding volunteer work with the organization."

Throughout the three days, conversations buzzed around how Colorado can continue moving forward through both individual efforts and collective action. Brandy Moe, Recycle Colorado's Executive Director, captured the spirit of the conference in one simple but powerful word:

COLLABORATION

This is the key to creating better diversion results. Real progress requires all of us working together. No single solution, organization, or company can transform our waste systems alone. Meaningful change happens through collaboration, relationship-building, and community. 

This work is not meant to be done in silos.

Colorado is at an exciting moment in its journey toward smarter material management, with new policies beginning to reshape how materials are handled across the state. That's why it's inspiring to see hundreds of dedicated professionals gathered in one room, discussing how to navigate these changes together.

Collaboration and community are values we hold close at Diversion Designers. They guide how we partner with municipalities, organizations, businesses, and event producers every day.

In addition, this year's conference theme focused on the idea that resilient people and resilient systems go hand in hand. As waste diversion professionals, we spend our days helping people recycle and compost more effectively, strengthening communities, and protecting the environment, often without stopping to consider what it takes to sustain ourselves and the work we do.

That theme resonated deeply when we thought about the clients we work alongside every day.

This work can be challenging. Building new systems, changing behaviors, educating stakeholders, and meeting sustainability goals takes time, persistence, and patience. Progress isn't always immediate, and success is often measured through countless small decisions made behind the scenes. Yet our clients continue to show up because they care deeply about their communities, their organizations, and the impact they leave behind. Their commitment keeps this work moving forward, even when the path isn't easy, and we're proud to support them on that journey.

One session that stuck with us went beyond recycling entirely. After attending a talk on lumber reuse, Amber shared one of her favorite takeaways:

"My favorite fun fact that I haven't stopped thinking about is that old-growth lumber has become a hard-to-find commodity. Because so much timber is harvested young, it's full of knots where branches once grew, which weakens the wood. That's what makes deconstructing and reusing old-growth lumber so critical. There isn't much of it left, and at its strongest, it can be as strong as steel."

In many ways, that lesson reflects how we feel about the Summit for Recycling itself. Strong, resilient systems are built over time through experience, collaboration, and care. Like old-growth lumber, the relationships we build across this industry grow stronger and more valuable with time. Conferences like the Summit provide the opportunity to learn from one another, share challenges, celebrate successes, and strengthen the network of people working toward a common goal.

Those connections help create the resilient communities and systems needed to move Colorado's sustainability efforts forward for years to come.

We left the Summit inspired, energized, and grateful to be part of a community pushing for meaningful change. We're grateful to do this work alongside you and look forward to what we'll accomplish together this year and beyond.

About Recycle Colorado:

Recycle Colorado is a 501(c) 3, statewide nonprofit advancing circular economies & improving recycling across the state of Colorado. Their members share a vision to transform Colorado into a national leader in waste reduction, recovery, and diversion. The Summit for Recycling annual conference is the biggest statewide networking and educational event focused on capturing the value in our waste streams. Learn more at RecycleColorado.org.