C4 and Landfill Collaborate on Waste Issues
By Finn McNally for the Leadville Herald Democrat
July 25, 2025
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Cloud City Conservation Center (C4) and the Lake County Landfill are partnering to improve the county’s waste systems.
Isabel Lisle, C4’s Sustainability Manager and Robin Moody, Lake County Landfill forewoman, are working together through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Sustainable Communities and Action Network (SCAN). Through collaboration and SCAN’s resources, Lisle and Moody hope to find solutions to Lake County’s waste management issues.
In a July 8 press release C4 stated, “Lake County faces distinct waste diversion challenges due to its remote location, limited infrastructure, and tight budgets. Unlike well-funded urban areas with access to large-scale waste systems, county staff must hand-sort all recyclables, and there is no facility for composting or hazardous waste disposal. Illegal dumping and contamination at public drop sites are persistent issues: when improperly sorted materials are hauled to Denver, the county can incur costs nearing $1,200 per load.”
In addition to those challenges, the Lake County Landfill is expected to reach capacity two years before its previous projection. Lisle said this is likely due to population growth and increases in tourism. The Board of County Commissioners approved an expansion of the landfill in 2023.
In their press release, C4 stated that the Lake County Landfill is currently working on a five-year plan to upgrade its facilities. The first step of this plan, pending funding, would be to install a weigh station.
Lisle said that the landfill currently operates on an honor system for people dumping waste and likely loses out on a significant amount of revenue. She said that additional revenue could help the landfill self-fund further improvements to its recycling capabilities.
In addition to facility upgrades, Lisle and Moody are also focused on community outreach. On Earth Day, April 22, Lisle hosted a workshop on local environmental issues and sustainability while Moody led a tour of the landfill’s recycling center.
Lisle said that in addition to environmental benefits, improving waste management in Lake County is also beneficial from an economic standpoint. She said that reducing the amount of waste directed to the landfill by having more of it recycled or composted saves tax payer dollars as well as Lake County land by not requiring as much space.
“The more waste we can divert from the landfill the better,” Lisle said. “We need long-term, systemic solutions that protect our environment and conserve public funds.”
With Lake County’s current free recycling capabilities, Lisle said that residents can bring any paper, cardboard, aluminum, steel and glass to be recycled. She also recommended that people bring their recycling directly to the landfill’s recycling center as the roll-off dumpsters near Community Field are often misused and difficult to sort through.