Working Toward Zero Waste

Chico Velo strongly believes in helping protect the environment so all can enjoy it today and tomorrow. With over 3,000 riders participating in the Wildflower every year, we are conscious of our choices. Our goal is to limit event waste and divert as much as possible from our landfill by restricting the types of containers used during our event, composting, and recycling as much as possible.

2022 Wildflower Zero Waste efforts are Sponsored by Wast Management North Valley!

Historical Zero Waste Efforts

Year	Recycle	Organics	Compost	Landfill	Total	Diversion
2019	920 lbs	340 lbs	980 lbs	940 lbs	3,180 lbs	70%
2018	1,380 lbs	1,000 lbs	27 lbs	890 lbs	3,297 lbs	73%
​2017	​896 lbs	​724 lbs	N/A	86 lbs	​1,705 lbs	​95%
2016	​2,515 lbs	1,540 lbs	N/A	281 lbs	​4,336 lbs	93.5%
2015	2,243 lbs	​1,640 lbs	N/A	​304 lbs	4,187 lbs	92.7%
2014	1,400 lbs	1,280 lbs	N/A	​220 lbs	2,900 lbs	92%
​2013	2,530 lbs	2,580 lbs	N/A	1,260 lbs	6,370 lbs	​80%
2012	​3,300 lbs	​1,540 lbs	N/A	​1,080 lbs	​5,920 lbs	​82%

About the Numbers

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

​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!