Left Hand Laurel Michael Springer

Anybody who has been to a Rock & Rails concert is well aware of the hard work that goes into making sure as much waste as possible is recycled or composted, and the park is kept neat and tidy. And with a goal of zero waste, the Rock & Rails organizing committee, administered by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) and the Niwot Business Association (NBA), is utilizing help behind the scenes to make this goal a reality in every aspect of the event.

As the Rock & Rails zero waste coordinator for compostable and difficult to recycle materials, Michael Springer has just wrapped up this volunteer position for the second year in a row. The job came about in early 2023 when the composting company used by the concert series stopped taking many of the items used each Thursday in the summer, including pizza boxes, leaf bags, compostable cups, and single-use utensils.

That's when Springer jumped into action. "I realized that with these changes, Rock & Rails would no longer be zero waste," he said. Springer then set about calling compost and trash processors, trying to determine what they could and couldn't take and where to take it. He then went about getting bids and took his ideas to the Rock & Rails committee. "I told them what I had figured out," he said, "and they told me I was 'hired.' I wanted to help make Rock & Rails the preeminent zero waste event in Boulder County."

Springer put the committee in touch with Wompost, a woman-owned composting company in Aurora, Colorado, that would take the event's compostable items, including cups and utensils used by all of the food trucks and for the alcohol sold at the Depot building.

Springer's duties on concert nights are very hands-on. Springer peels the metal bibs off of the wine bottles, separates the wine caps and pries out the plastic caps, and even cuts and collects the steel clips from the ice bags. The bags are cut open and hung to dry so they can be more easily recyclable. Springer works closely with volunteer Molly Briggs, who makes sure all of the recycled items get the right place in the processing center. He also coordinates with the Wompost drivers who pick up compostable items.

Springer said that even though the actual recycling and compost rules changed, with his work and the Gargoyles (young recycling volunteers) already in place, "the process was seamless to concertgoers and volunteers." Springer volunteers every concert evening, entailing three- or four-hour shifts for all 13 or 14 concerts each summer.

Although he has never worked in the sustainability field, Springer has a degree in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado. "I've always been an ardent supporter and active volunteer for the cause (composting and recycling) for decades," he said. In fact, Springer was the first person to get an Eco-Cycle Oscar Award, named fittingly after Oscar the Grouch, the trash-can residing favorite from Sesame Street.

The award came after Springer organized the recycling efforts for a multi-family dwelling in Boulder where he lived, moving from one dumpster to numerous recycling and compost bins. Springer even went so far as to transport the recycling material to Eco-Cycle each week. Additionally, Springer is currently serving a three-year term as a member of the Boulder County Commissioners Resource Conservation Advisory Board (RCAB) and is on the composting sub-committee.

A 16-year Gunbarrel resident, Springer considers Niwot his hometown because of all of the activities Niwot offers. Aside from feeling good about helping Mother Earth, Springer enjoys the camaraderie with the other volunteer staff. A self-described "passionate drummer," he also loves the music scene, occasionally filling in on drums for the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band. "I'm doing something that's making a small difference and am really proud of the fact that we're doing it better than most," he said.

Springer said that the results of the group's efforts aren't necessarily felt in the amount of materials composted or recycled, but in the idea of it. "People are blown away that Niwot has been doing this for years," he stated. "The Niwot concert series should be really proud they implemented this initiative several years ago and are sticking to it." And he feels Rock & Rails does it right. "We are head and shoulders above the other events. They could learn from us."

Springer said, "If you care enough and try hard enough, you can make a difference in the world even if it's a small step." He feels it's important, however, to point out that the series' sustainability efforts aren't limited to just the materials they deal with. "We're setting an example for others that may serve as an inspiration for the next step," he said.

He hopes people think, "If Niwot can do this, maybe they can too." Springer loves the fact that a younger generation of volunteers are getting into the act and learning more about sustainability. "The Gargoyles are learning that composting and recycling is normal stuff," he said. And at the end of the day, small efforts may mean a lot. "We might have a bigger impact than we imagine," he said. "And that makes it all worthwhile."