High Country Conservation Center

What High Country Conservation Center does

High Country Conservation Center (HC3) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 by Tim McClure (originally as the Summit Recycling Project) and headquartered in Frisco, Colorado. With 17 staff, it serves as the primary community conservation organization for Summit County, delivering programs across four pillars: recycling and waste reduction (Food Scrap Program with 3,000+ residents and 2M+ pounds diverted since 2018; Restaurant Composting with ~25 participants; Construction and Demolition Recycling); energy and climate (Home Energy Assessments, Solarize Summit with 340+ households and businesses since 2019, Electric Vehicles education, Summit Electrified workshops, Mountain Energy Project delivery with Xcel Energy); water (conservation education, irrigation audits, watering schedules, Water in the West series); and local food (Grow to Share community gardening, Summit CSA, Community Gardens). The organization's underlying operational asset is local windrow composting at the Summit County Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP), where food scraps, pine-beetle slash, and biosolids are processed over 13 weeks into High Country Compost certified under the US Composting Council's Seal of Testing Assurance.

The business model is a hybrid of grant administration, modest product sales, and donations. HC3 administers Strong Future mill-levy grants (Large Grants of $25K-$75K requiring a 25% applicant match, Mid-Level grants of $1K-$24,999, and town-specific grants up to $10K from Breckenridge and Frisco) on behalf of Summit County Government. High Country Compost generates limited retail and bulk revenue ($5-$8 per bag, $19-$29 per cubic yard), and the organization accepts individual and organizational donations to support programming. All core resident-facing services are free, funded by the voter-approved mill levy and partnerships with Xcel Energy and local municipalities. Distribution is direct-to-resident and direct-to-business via field delivery (food scrap collection at three recycling centers, home energy assessments), community events (Stump the Recycling Experts, Earth Day Fair, Electrify Summit Fair), and educational content (Ask Eartha blog, monthly e-newsletter). HC3 held its 50th anniversary in 2026, marking five decades of continuous operation.

Name

High Country Conservation Center

Legal name

High Country Conservation Center

Website

https://highcountryconservation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

High Country Conservation Center (HC3) is a Summit County, Colorado nonprofit founded in 1976 that delivers community conservation programs in recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and local food, serving county residents, restaurants, HOAs, and local nonprofits through grants, education, and direct services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Waste Collection (56211)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Curbside Organics Programs (Municipal/Franchise) (BPALAEAF), Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

Keywords

• Community conservation programs
• Waste reduction services
• Residential composting programs
• Home energy assessments
• Recycling education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Frisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Strong Future Mill Levy Funding: Summit County Government allocates portions of 2018 voter-approved Strong Future mill levy specifically for waste reduction projects. Local organizations can apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $75,000.
2. Compost Sales: High Country Compost sold at SCRAP facility. Half-inch mulch: $5/bag or $19/cubic yard. Quarter-inch topdressing: $8/bag or $29/cubic yard. Revenue supports local composting operations.
3. Donations: Nonprofit accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support conservation programs and climate action initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

High Country Conservation Center is a Summit County, Colorado nonprofit that operates community conservation programs including free residential food scrap collection, large-scale local composting, home energy assessments, community solar program administration, water conservation education, and local food programs. The organization also administers voter-approved Strong Future mill levy grants to local nonprofits, businesses, and HOAs for waste reduction projects, and sells EPA-certified High Country Compost produced at the SCRAP facility.

Product overview

High Country Conservation Center (HC3) is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community conservation programs and educational services focused on waste reduction, resource conservation, and climate action in Summit County, Colorado. Rather than a unified software product, the organization provides an integrated suite of programs including recycling services (Food Scrap Program, Restaurant Composting, Construction and Demolition Recycling), energy efficiency programs (Home Energy Assessments, Solarize Summit, Summit Electrified workshops), water conservation initiatives, local food programs (Grow to Share, Summit CSA), and grant funding (Strong Future Grants). These programs work together to address the community's environmental challenges, with services like home energy audits connecting to electrification incentives, food scrap collection supporting local composting, and educational workshops (Ask Eartha Blog, Stump the Recycling Experts) providing ongoing community engagement. The organization was founded in 1976 as the Summit Recycling Project and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Scrap Program Free residential food composting program for Summit County residents with on-site collection at three local recycling centers. Over 3,000 participants have collectively diverted more than 2 million pounds of food waste from landfill since the program's 2018 launch.
• Restaurant Composting Commercial food scrap composting program serving about 25 Summit County restaurants with free site visits, signage, bins, bilingual training, and financial assistance to help businesses reduce waste and trash disposal costs.
• Home Energy Assessments Free in-home energy audits for Summit County residents that identify efficiency improvements and electrification opportunities. Connects homeowners to Xcel Energy Mountain Energy Project incentives. 100 audits completed in 2024.
• Solarize Summit Community solar program launched in 2019 connecting Summit County households and businesses with streamlined solar panel and battery storage installation. Over 340 participating households and businesses with no-pressure sales approach.
• Strong Future Grants Waste reduction grant program funded by the 2018 voter-approved Strong Future mill levy, offering Large Grants ($25,000-$75,000 with 25% match), Mid-Level grants ($1,000-$24,999), and town-specific grants up to $10,000 from Town of Breckenridge and Town of Frisco for local businesses, HOAs, and nonprofits.
• High Country Compost Locally-produced compost made at Summit County Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP) from slash, food scraps, and biosolids through a 13-week windrow process. EPA highest-grade certified through US Composting Council's Seal of Testing Assurance. Sold as half-inch mulch ($5/bag, $19/cubic yard) and quarter-inch topdressing ($8/bag, $29/cubic yard).
• Water Conservation Program Water conservation education and resources including local watering schedules, water-wise landscaping guidance, and irrigation audit information for Summit County residents and HOAs.
• Resource Wise Business Program helping Summit County businesses reduce waste and improve resource efficiency through consulting and technical assistance.
• Grow to Share Community gardening program supporting local food production in Summit County through community gardens and shared growing resources.
• Summit CSA Community Supported Agriculture program connecting Summit County residents with local produce through farm-share subscriptions.
• Pay As You Throw / Universal Recycling Waste reduction program helping Summit County residents and businesses meet Universal Recycling requirements through trash reduction strategies and trash container right-sizing.
• Electric Vehicles Program Educational program providing information and myth-busting resources about electric vehicles for Summit County residents considering EV adoption.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 million+ pounds of food waste diverted from landfill since 2018
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Xcel EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Xcel Energy partnered with HC3 on Mountain Energy Project, a non-pipeline alternative program to reduce natural gas demand in Summit County. HC3 helps residents access Xcel incentives for energy efficiency and electrification upgrades including heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. Combined incentives can exceed $20,000 for qualifying projects.
• Go Electric ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in Summit Electrified homeowner workshops covering heat pumps, water heaters, induction stoves, and available rebates. Workshops held in Silverthorne, Frisco, and Breckenridge locations.
• Town of SilverthornecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in Summit Electrified workshops and local climate action initiatives. Co-hosting community events for home electrification education.
• Town of FriscocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in Summit Electrified workshops and water conservation programs. Host venue for Highside Brewing events and Water in the West series.
• Town of BreckenridgecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in Summit Electrified workshops and provides Materials Management Grant up to $10,000 for local businesses and HOAs. Co-hosting community events.
• Friends of the Dillon Ranger DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-hosting annual Water in the West series highlighting water issues facing Summit County and Colorado.
• Blue River Watershed GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-hosting annual Water in the West series highlighting water issues facing Summit County and Colorado.
• Summit County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Long-standing partnership administering Strong Future mill levy funds for waste reduction projects. HC3 helps distribute grants to local organizations. Summit County operates SCRAP facility where HC3 programs run.
• Summit County Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026HC3 food scrap program diverts material to SCRAP where it becomes High Country Compost. SCRAP produces EPA highest-grade compost certified through US Composting Council's Seal of Testing Assurance. SCRAP Convenience Center opened 2026 for expanded recycling access.
• CAFE Food RescueminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20262025 Strong Future grant recipient. Diverted 208,085 pounds of food from landfill by donating edible food to local food pantries and community meals.
• Breck CreateminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20262025 Strong Future grant recipient. Precious Plastics Studio recycled 96% of collected plastic into creative art projects.
• SustainableBreckminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Referral partner for Breckenridge Materials Management Grant. Helps direct local businesses to waste reduction funding.
• Summit County RotaryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20262024-2025 Strong Future grant recipient. Used funding to purchase van expanding plastic film collection by 67%.
• Colorado Mountain CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Earth Day Fair and Electrify Summit Fair events at CMC Breckenridge location.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: Boulder, Colorado-based environmental nonprofit focused on outdoor ethics education. Thematically related environmental education nonprofit but not directly competitive; useful as a Colorado-based environmental nonprofit peer for benchmarking.
• High Country News: Independent media organization covering the Western United States including environmental and conservation issues. Thematically related as a 'High Country' branded entity serving similar Western/mountain-community audiences, though operating in journalism rather than direct conservation services.

Direct peers

• Resource Central: Boulder, Colorado-based nonprofit (formerly Center for Resource Conservation) providing water and energy conservation programs, including garden in a box and conservation coaching. Direct peer in community-based resource conservation program delivery.
• Eco-Cycle: Boulder, Colorado-based nonprofit focused on recycling, composting, and zero-waste programs. Direct peer in waste reduction and community composting, though operating at much larger scale in a different Colorado geography.
• ReSource Central: Burlington, Vermont-based nonprofit operating a reuse center and sustainability programs. Comparable nonprofit model in waste reduction and community reuse/diversion programs, though operating in a Northeast US market.
• Center for EcoTechnology: Northampton, Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing waste reduction, energy efficiency, and climate action services to residents and businesses. Direct peer in nonprofit community-based climate and waste program delivery, though serving a different region.
• Walking Mountains Science Center: Avon, Colorado-based nonprofit serving Eagle County mountain communities with environmental education, waste reduction, and sustainability programs. Closely comparable to HC3 in mission, mountain-community focus, program portfolio (recycling, energy, water), and small-staff nonprofit structure.
• CORE (Community Office for Resource Efficiency): Pitkin County/Aspen, Colorado-based nonprofit promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy, and waste reduction. Highly comparable to HC3 as a mountain-community conservation nonprofit with similar program focus areas and mill levy support.

Regional players

• Yampa Valley Sustainability Council: Steamboat Springs/Routt County, Colorado-based nonprofit focused on sustainability and climate action in a similar mountain community context. Comparable in mission and rural mountain nonprofit model, but serving a neighboring Colorado region.
• Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability: Eagle County, Colorado-based sustainability nonprofit serving the Vail Valley region. Comparable in Colorado mountain-community conservation focus, though a regional peer rather than direct Summit County competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/high-country-conservation-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about High Country Conservation Center