The president of Apex Waste Solutions said work is progressing on the company’s 90-day integration plan that will answer common customer questions, such as is the trash pick-up day changing or will residential recycling be picked up every week.

“We are still in the integration model trying to bring the two companies together,” Apex President Scott Lukach said. “Our focus is really on the people and the integration.”

In early July, Apex acquired the trash and recycling services for some 8,000 customers across Routt and Moffat counties previously provided by Waste Management and Twin Enviro Services forming a new company called Apex-Twin Enviro Steamboat.

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Although Apex services in Routt and Moffat are remaining status quo for now, changes are on the way. The company, which has its headquarters in Parker, plans to expand and upgrade the existing, small-materials recovery facility at the Milner Landfill to accommodate the combined higher volume of recycling, Lukach said. Apex-Twin Enviro offers recycling services in all areas of Routt County but currently does not offer curbside recycling in Moffat County, said Lacie Coupe, general manager at Apex-Twin Enviro.

The MURF processing accepts single-stream recyclables that are sorted into marketable categories and baled. Coupe said the recycling streams are processed through the services of a recycling broker at such locations as Momentum Recycling in Broomfield for glass; Master Fiber in El Paso, Texas, for cardboard; and Mountain Fiber in Hyrum, Utah, for paper.

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Lukach said his company has acquired multiple new service territories since January 2023 and has grown from 20 employees to more than 300 providing service for over 100,000 customers. The company employs some 65-70 employees in the Yampa Valley, and customer service for valley customers is handled through the Milner Landfill office.

Some services will stay the same including the Milner Mall reuse and resource center at the entrance to the landfill that is open Tuesday-Saturday from June-October.

Both the Milner and Downhill Drive facilities are open to the public to drop off recyclables, starting at a base rate of free for Apex customers depending on the items. At Downhill Drive the drop-off facility is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday with a minimum starting rate of $15 for non-customers of Apex.

Lukach said his company aims to keep pricing similar to previous rates, and he encouraged community feedback by calling 970-879-6985 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays.

“The invoices should not have changed over the previous month,” Lukach said. “We plan to be much more consistent and thoughtful as it relates to pricing.”

As for the question about changes in pick-up days, Lukach said the combined routes are still being determined. While commercial trash and recycling pick-up frequency is determined by rate plans, Twin Enviro curbside residential recycling service has been every other week and Waste Management every week.

“We are looking at efficiencies and better service, so we have not fully decided,” Coupe said.

Coupe said bear-resistant trash containers are provided within the city limits of Steamboat as part of the service pricing, but customers outside of Steamboat must opt for a bear-resistant trash container at an additional cost of $10 per month.

The company president said his team has been meeting with area stakeholders such as municipal employees, Routt County Environmental Health and Yampa Valley Sustainability Council. One of the topics being discussed is a larger public drop-off recycling center.

Routt County and Steamboat Springs commissioned a drop site feasibility study in April 2023 that considered a multi-material facility to augment waste diversion in four areas: traditional recyclables, organics or food and yard waste, hard-to-recycle materials and household hazardous waste. No specific location or funding have been determined yet, according to Scott Cowman, Routt County environmental health director.

“We’ll continue to work with local businesses and stakeholders to try to find the best solution,” Cowman said.

“We are open to the conversation for sure,” Lukach said. “We are learning the needs of the community.”

Recycling contamination rates continue to be a concern in Routt County that can impact the economic viability of recycling streams, Lukach noted. Customers continue to throw trash into recycling bins in error, put unrinsed or food-contaminated recyclables in recycling bins or place plastics labeled No. 3 through 7 in the recycling bins, which are limited in this area to No. 1 and No. 2 labeled plastics.

During the tourist-heavy ski season, recycling contamination rates tend to increase in Steamboat when visitors who come from places with no or different recycling collections do not always follow local recycling guidelines.

“Anywhere that relies on tourism, in high season that’s where you see a spike in contamination,” Lukach said.    

Coupe said the Milner facility recycling contamination rates range from as low as 19% during the second and third quarters of the year to up to 30% during the first and fourth quarters.

Lukach encouraged interested volunteers to help by becoming a neighborhood Recycling Ambassador through Steamboat’s Spur Change program to help educate to increase recycling rates and decrease contamination.