Here at Chico Velo we strongly believe in helping protect the environment in order to enjoy it today and tomorrow. With over 3,000 riders participating in the Wildflower every year, a lot of waste could be generated if we are not conscious of our choices. Our goal is to limit that waste and divert as much as possible from our landfill by restricting the types of containers used during our event, composting, to recycling as much as possible. What does Zero Waste Mean? Zero Waste means nothing from our event would end up in the landfill, but rather everything would be recycled or composted.

Historical Numbers for our Zero Waste Efforts

Year	Recycle	Organics	Compost	Landfill	Total	Diversion
2018	1380 lbs/ 41.86%	1000 lbs/ 30.33%	27 lbs / .82%	890 lbs / 26.99%	3297 lbs	73.01%
2017	896 lbs	724 lbs	Not Available at Event	85.4 lbs	1705.4 lbs	95%
2016	2515 lbs	1540 lbs	Not Available at Event	280.5 lbs	4335.5 lbs	93.53%
2015	2243 lbs	1640 lbs	Not Available at Event	304 lbs	4,187 lbs	92.74%
2014	1400 lbs / 48.2%	1280 lbs / 44.2%	Not Available at Event	220 lbs / 7.6%	2900 lbs	92%
2013	2530 lbs	2580 lbs	Not Available at Event	1260 lbs	6370 lbs	80%
2012	3300 lbs	1540 lbs	Not Available at Event	1080 lbs	5920 lbs	82%

About the Numbers

Note: Chico Velo's goal is to always achieve 95% diversion from the landfill at the Wildflower Century and we take steps both upstream and downstream to get there.  Our focus is on waste reduction and minimization throughout every aspect of the event and then require all recyclable or compostable materials from our vendors.  Chico velo works to educate staff, volunteers, and participants on the importance of zero waste and to help us achieve our goal of 95% diversion. 

Difference between Recycle, Organics, and Compost:

• Recycle: Cans, bottles, paper, cardboard, and shrink wrap
• Organics: All Food Waste and food soiled paper (plates, napkins, boats, etc)
• Compost: Wooden Utensils used at the Post Ride Meal.  Compost Option only recently available with new facilities to handle the items and us switching to those items.  Not all facilities can handle wooden utensils for composting and that is why they are placed in a different bin at our event from the organics. 
• Landfill: Everything else that isn't recyclable or compostable (food packaging like chip bags, wrappers, juice boxes, etc)
  
• Total: Total pounds of all the waste generated at the event that would have ended up in the landfill had it not been diverted
  

Why the decline in 2018?  We had a bunch of new faces in 2018 and unfortunately our efforts for diversion took a hit.  We are hoping to come back swinging in 2019 and make some record numbers for diversion!

Diversion Rate: percentage of the total waste generated that was diverted from the landfill.  For example, the diversion rate for 2018 was 73% which meant that only 27% of all the waste generated at the Wildflower Century went to the landfill while 73% was diverted through recycling and in this case anaerobic digestion for all the organics at Northstate Rendering. 

With your help and participation our ultimate goal is to have our event be ZERO WASTE. By participating in the Wildflower you are helping support our efforts!  Thank you!