The Four Corners Recycling Initiative (FCRI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Cortez, Colorado.  We are governed by a board of directors and receive our operating funds through a combination of commodity revenue, donations, and grants.

Our Mission:

To promote sustainable living through waste diversion and recycling, education and outreach, and economic opportunities without increasing the tax burden on those we serve.

Our Goals:

1. To increase diversion from the Montezuma County Landfill
2. To educate households and businesses on recycling opportunities available in the area and the positive impact recycling has on our standard of living
3. To achieve economic sustainability in support of the mission
4. To foster new and innovative uses of waste through strategic partnerships
5. To partner with other recycling entities in the region

Our Objectives:

1. To divert, on average, 50 tons per month of material from the Montezuma County Landfill by the end of 2012 through our collection points
2. To keep contamination of total material tonnage collected well below the national average, even as collection averages grow
3. To perform 50 hours of public education and outreach per year through 2012
4. To persue at least 1 fundraising opportunity per year

Our History

The story of the 4 Corners Recycling Initiative is the story of a grass-roots campaign of a few dedicated community members who came together and the right time to seize the right opportunity to begin any-scale recycling in Montezuma and Dolores Counties outside of the city limits of Cortez, Colorado.

January/February 2008:  Over a few beers at the DRB the question of "why don't we have any recycling facilities available to us?" was thrown around to ponder.  A few in attendance decided that they needed to answer that question.  By us, they meant the community of Dolores, Colorado, and by available they meant a little more convenient than at the recycling center operated by the City of Cortez located at the corner of Empire & Mildred Streets.

March 2008:  After a flurry of meetings with some key players, The Four Corners Recycling Initiative was born via a Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity Grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).  The CDPHE had just been given the authority in the Colorado Constitution via bill to collect a small surcharge on each ton of municipal solid waste delivered to Colorado landfills and redistribute the money via a competitive grant program across the state.

Greater Dolores Action was the fiscal agent for the initial grant of just over $91,000.  The initial grant paid for the purchase of recycling roll-off containers and other recycling-related materials for institutional use in Montezuma County.

September 2008:  The first roll-off bin was put into service at the Dolores School Complex and the Dolores Public Lands Office

May 2009:  Over 100 total tons of material diverted from burial in the Montezuma County Landfill

September 2009:  FCRI incorporated as a 501(c)3 non profit organization

January 2010:  Over 200 total tons of material diverted from burial in the Montezuma County Landfill

June 2010:  Largest single month of diversion tonnage to date:  19.65 tons

August 2010:  Over 300 total tons of material diverted from burial in the Montezuma County Landfill

May 2011:  Over 400 total tons of material diverted from burial in the Montezuma County Landfill

January 2012:  Over 500 total tons of material diverted from burial in the Montezuma County Landfill

Contact Us:
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