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| As part of responsible environmental management, Colorado Springs Utilities is committed to responsible, cost-effective waste management and operates various programs to support pollution prevention, recycling and responsible waste disposal. These programs allow Colorado Springs Utilities to minimize waste in our gas, electric, water and wastewater operations, as well as in our offices. Pollution Prevention
Colorado Springs Utilities has incorporated many pollution prevention best practices within its normal day-to-day activities. This effort has not only reduced the amount of regulated solid and hazardous wastes that Colorado Springs Utilities must manage, but has also reduced the number and amount of compounds in our community that may be harmful to the environment. Some of Colorado Springs Utilities’ pollution prevention activities include: - Eliminating flammable, petroleum-based solvent parts washers, thereby providing greater employee safety and preventing the generation of a hazardous waste
- Eliminating chlorinated solvents, which contain ozone-depleting compounds that are harmful to the environment
- Ongoing sampling and phase-out of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and replacing PCB-containing oils with mineral oil (non-PCB) in nearly all electric trans-formers throughout our service territory
Recycling
Colorado Springs Utilities has recycled a significant quantity of fly ash, which is the waste product generated by burning coal in our power plants. Fly ash is commonly used as a low cost ingredient in concrete. However, as various types of coal are tested for improved air quality, the recycling opportunities for fly ash can be adversely impacted. For example, a coal type that minimizes emissions of sulfur dioxide may contain too much carbon in the fly ash for making good concrete. As a result, new recycling technologies are tested to maximize the opportunities for using fly ash. Other materials that Colorado Springs Utilities recycles include tree trimming waste and leaves, cable insulation and wiring, scrap metal, electric transformers, fluorescent (mercury-containing) lamps, solvents, used oil, lead-acid and nickel-cadmium batteries, antifreeze, aluminum, paper and print cartridges. Solid Waste Management
Colorado Springs Utilities owns and operates three permitted landfills for the disposal of fly ash (from power plants), biosolids (from wastewater treatment plants) and construction debris (from system construction and repair). These landfills are located at our Clear Spring Ranch south of Colorado Springs and allow Colorado Springs Utilities to responsibly manage our wastes, minimize disposal costs and reduce potential environmental liability. |
