STEPS
Summaries

Public Projects

Towns, cities, counties, unincorporated areas, tribes, and public K-12 school districts are eligible to apply to the Strategic Technical Expertise for the Public Sector (STEPS) program. STEPS projects cover a broad range of projects, with various timelines. 

There are two types of technical assistance: Light-touch and In-depth. Light-touch Technical Assistance is short-term technical assistance for smaller projects taking only one to six months to complete and requiring 50 or fewer hours of consulting support. In-depth Technical Assistance is comprehensive technical support for complex, large-scale projects taking up to 18 months to complete and requiring more than 50 hours of consulting.

All of the summaries are for In-Depth projects. It is not a comprehensive list, and some of these projects may be completed and others are still in-process.

In-depth STEPS

City of Brighton

  • Project Title: Brighton Hauler Licensing Ordinance

  • Date Awarded: 11/13/2025

  • Category: Hauler Licensing Ordinance 

  • Amount Awarded: $62,326

  • Timeframe: 8 months 

  • Region: Adams and Weld counties

The City of Brighton previously completed a feasibility study that recommended implementing city-contracted waste services, pay as you throw (PAYT) pricing, a hauler licensing ordinance, and expanded recycling education. Building on this work, the City Council is exploring a municipal hauler licensing ordinance for both residential and commercial customers. The ordinance would include PAYT, recycling and composting service requirements, and improved data reporting. STEPS will support this effort by researching regional policies, engaging haulers, presenting findings to City Council, and drafting a recommended ordinance. The project’s purpose is to help Brighton adopt a tailored, effective licensing system that increases diversion and ensures equitable, cost-efficient waste services.

City of Durango 

  • Project Title: Durango Organic Waste Ordinance Analysis

  • Date Awarded: 9/11/2025

  • Category: Composting

  • Amount Awarded: $79,428

  • Timeframe: 13 months

  • Region: La Plata County 

This project will assist the the City of Durango in exploring options for an organic waste management ordinance to expand composting and reduce landfill waste. Building on its partnership with Table to Farm Compost, the city seeks to evaluate potential models such as municipal compost collection, hauler licensing, mandatory service fees, or an organic waste ban. STEPS will assist by researching regional organics programs, engaging with residents, haulers, and processors, and developing policy recommendations tailored to Durango’s needs. The project will culminate in a final report summarizing findings, community input, and recommended next steps for implementing a residential curbside organics recycling program.

Summit County 

  • Project Title: C&D Policy Cost Analysis

  • Date Awarded: 9/11/2025

  • Category: Construction & Demolition

  • Amount Awarded: $52,640

  • Timeframe: 13 months

  • Region: Summit County 

This project will assist Summit County in developing a Construction and Demolition (C&D) diversion policy to increase recycling and waste reduction, targeting adoption in late 2026. The policy will apply to new construction, remodels/additions, and demolitions, requiring recycling of cardboard, wood, scrap metal, and concrete, along with a Construction Materials Management Plan for building permits. The cost analysis will estimate the financial impacts of the proposed ordinance — covering labor, logistics, recycling, and disposal — to help decision-makers understand the cost implications and guide the development of an effective, countywide C&D policy.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools 

  • Project Title: Waste Diversion Action Plan

  • Date Awarded: 1/09/2025

  • Category: Composting 

  • Amount Awarded: $79,594

  • Timeframe: 6 months

  • Region: Adams County

This project will support Adams 12 Five Star Schools to assess and provide recommendations for improving the district’s solid waste management system. Activities will include conducting a baseline assessment of the current system, interviewing district staff and external stakeholders, and performing a feasibility analysis of implementing an in-vessel composting system at the new centralized kitchen location. Based on these findings, the STEPS team will develop a condensed and focused Waste Diversion Action Plan, which will serve as the foundation for the waste diversion chapter of the forthcoming update to the district’s Sustainability Management Plan.