Great Divide Brewing Launches RiNo Community Recycling Program

From Great Divide:

Great Divide Brewing Launches RiNo Community Recycling Program on August 6

Denver brewery has achieved 99% diversion of its waste since installing balers in April

DENVER – August 2, 2018 – Great Divide Brewing Company will launch its community recycling program with a zero-waste community outreach meeting on Monday, August 6 from 3-6 p.m. at their RiNo private event space (3403 Brighton Blvd. Denver, CO 80216). This informational meeting will include a walking tour of the facility and the recycling process. Guests must RSVP online to attend.

The brewery, who was previously awarded a $16,000 state sponsored competitive grant through the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity (RREO), purchased two baling machines and a pallet scale to launch a pilot recycling program with neighbors Bierstadt Lagerhaus and Black Shirt Brewing in April. This month Great Divide will establish themselves as a community recycling center for small manufacturing businesses in the RiNo neighborhood.

“Since implementing the balers in April, we have baled and diverted almost 11,500 lbs — 5.75 tons —of waste,” said Erin Cox, sustainability coordinator and QA/QC manager at Great Divide. “This places our community recycling program in the top 1 percent for waste diversion in the craft beer industry.”

The community recycling program will fill a gap in current recycling practices by targeting hard-to-recycle waste streams such as polypropylene grain bags and shrink wrap, which complicate the sorting process at recycling facilities, causing these items to go directly to landfills. Great Divide’s balers compact these waste streams into blocks that can be stacked and easily transported to be processed at a recycler. The pallet scale will weigh recyclable materials and help participating local businesses such as Bierstadt Lagerhaus, Black Shirt Brewing, Block Distilling, Comrade Brewing and Denver Beer Company understand their diversion rates and impact. Participation in the recycling program is free, and Great Divide will provide participants with individualized data. Breweries and small businesses that are interested in being involved with Great Divide’s recycling program are encouraged to email [email protected].

“There is currently no other resource like this for small breweries and manufacturers,” said Cox. “We’re thrilled to be launching this program with our neighbors and doing our part to minimize our negative impact on the environment.”

Because of Great Divide’s sustainability efforts, the brewery was recently awarded the 2018 National Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award by the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program/Small Business Ombudsman (SBEAP/SBO) and National Steering Committee (NSC). For more information about Great Divide’s commitment to sustainability, visit https://greatdivide.com/about/#sustainability.

About Great Divide Brewing Company

Founded in 1994, Great Divide Brewing Company is one of the most decorated breweries in America, recognized for brewing some of the globe’s most balanced yet assertive and flavorful beers. These beers have landed an impressive amount of acclaim, earning 18 Great American Beer Festival Medals, five World Beer Cup Awards and 14 spots on Beer Advocate’s "Top Rated Beers: Colorado" (2015). Here at Great Divide, Bold Character isn’t just a catchphrase. It’s the philosophy behind what we brew, how we think and what we believe. For more information visit www.greatdivide.com.