Green Greeley
The City of Greeley is involved in many programs that work towards improving the environment. Below are just some ways that Greeley City Government is working toward that goal.
City Facility Green Initiatives
- There is recycling at all City of Greeley facilities. The City collects and recycles materials (paper, aluminum, plastic, cardboard, etc. ).
- Lighting in City buildings and new buildings are being constructed with energy conservation in mind.
- Outdoor non residential style street lights owned by Xcel Energy have been retrofitted with LED fixtures.
- The City of Greeley is moving towards paperless record-keeping and encourages all employees to be as paper-free as possible.
- Greeley's vehicle maintenance shop recycles oils and metals.
- Many plumbing fixtures and appliances at City facilities have already been replaced with water conserving models and all new fixtures meet the latest standards for efficiency.
Water Conservation
Greeley boasts one of the largest water conservation programs in the State of Colorado. Between 1990 and 2007, conservation programs dropped water demand by more than 20 percent in Greeley. The Conservation Plan estimates an additional eight percent reduction in water use over the next 20 years. Greeley has had proactive water conservation measures in place since 1907 primarily for outdoor water use (lawn watering). Learn more about our customer incentive programs and community events.
Greeley Bikes
There are approximately 85 miles of in-town bike lanes, and that's just a small part of our entire Greeley bikeway system. Since 2013, Greeley has been designated nationally as a bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community.
Greeley-Evans Transit (GET)
GET provides both local and regional bus service for Greeley and Evans area with service to Windsor and Fort Collins through the Poudre Express. Since the summer of 2016, 19 CNG buses have joined Greeley's fleet with CNG (compressed natural gas) buses being cleaner than diesel buses.. Six more will be added in the spring of 2022 completing the transition of all bigger buses from diesel to CNG.
Recycling
Since the City of Greeley does not have a trash utility, individual trash and recycling companies offer curbside recycling services.
The Greeley Organic Waste Center is available for use by Greeley and Weld County residents to recycle green waste such as grass clippings, leaves, and branches.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Site – Weld County Government’s free Household Hazardous Waste site in Greeley accepts everything from paint to batteries to pesticides.
Solar Energy in Greeley
Greeley currently has solar arrays at four City facilities: Bellvue Water Treatment Plant, Boyd Lake Water Treatment Plant, the Greeley Water Pollution Control Facility, and the Family FunPlex. Greeley is also a partner in 4 solar arrays on the eastern plains that provide 2.87 Megawatts of power for several city buildings that helps offset the City’s electrical cost and carbon footprint. These solar arrays benefit both the environment and Greeley residents by providing clean energy and helping with the City's electricity needs.
Water Pollution Prevention
Stormwater pollution occurs when rain or snow-melt flows over streets and down gutters picking up trash, oil, dirt, and other pollutants as it travels. These pollutants are then carried to the storm drainage system, which drains directly into our local lakes, streams and rivers, untreated. Greeley has a program to help prevent stormwater pollution.
Greeley Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility treats wastewater to meet or exceed EPA and Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment requirements. Our goal is to maintain or improve the water quality of the Cache la Poudre River. The staff also treats organics (biodegradable material) that enters the plant and converts them to biosolids that are used to improve soil composition and increase crop production for local farmers.
Natural Areas & Trails
Did you know Greeley has more than 1,000 acres of natural areas and over 30 miles of trails waiting for you to explore? Greeley’s natural areas are places where visitors can connect to nature in an up close and personal way. Spend the day on a bike touring the Poudre trail. Watch birds and deer along the river. Stroll through a quiet cottonwood forest with your best two or four-legged friends.
The city’s natural areas are not just a great place for residents to exercise and unwind. Natural areas provide important habitat for local wildlife, assist in improving water quality, and increased resilience to floods. These “ecosystem services” make natural areas a community asset we can all value.
Enjoy Greeley’s natural areas & trails today – they are always in season. Natural Areas & Trails has completed the first five-year strategic plan for the division.
Forestry
Greeley loves trees. In fact, we have been a nationally recognized Tree City USA, since 1980. Learn more about Greeley’s Forestry Program. The City of Greeley has now implemented a Residential Ash Treatment Program to provide residents with ash trees a treatment option at substantial cost savings. The Share the Shade Program This program helps residents of Greeley purchase and plant trees on their property with an annual goal to plant a minimum of 100 trees throughout the community. Residential property owners can apply to purchase up to two trees per year, with each tree costing $50.
Energy Action Plan
City Council adopted the Energy Action Plan in 2019 as a part of Greeley’s comprehensive plan — Imagine Greeley. City staff worked through Xcel Energy's Partners in Energy offering to assemble an Energy Action Team of community stakeholders to draft goals and strategies for residences, businesses, institutions, and the City of Greeley. The Energy Action Team created the framework for the Energy Action Plan and identified three priorities for the community:
- Create an affordable and reliable energy future.
- Increase residential, commercial, and industrial energy efficiency and alternative energy opportunities.
- Improve economic health and stimulate growth.
The Energy Action Plan identifies four focus areas: residential, business, educational institution, and municipal. Each focus area has identified goals and specific strategies to help Greeley reach the goals. The City of Greeley adopted the plan, and Xcel Energy committed to support.
Drinking Water Quality
Each year, Greeley publishes a detailed drinking water quality report to let the public know that the City meets and exceeds local, state, and federal water quality standards. Greeley has high quality drinking water. In 2017, at the American Water Works Association’s 13th annual “Best of the Best” Water Taste Test held in Philadelphia, a sample of Greeley’s tap water was not only named the best-tasting in all of North America, it also won the People’s Choice award. It was the first time a city claimed both titles in a single year.
Regardless of the source of water, the city is committed to providing safe, clean, great tasting water for our customers. We do that with our top-notch water treatment facilities and our planned treatment program at Terry Ranch.