Top 20 Sustainability Practices Adopted by Communities under 25,000 Looking at City of Cody

Top Sustainability Policies in Small Places

Based on a 2015 ICMA survey (https://icma.org/articles/article/sustainability-small-places), the following were the top 20 sustainability policies adopted by communities smaller than 25,000 in population. After each sustainability practice, the percentage of small cities who engage this practice is found in parenthesis. If the top 20 are color coded by green, this happens in Cody already, yellow, this happens sometimes in Cody, and red, this does not happen in Cody. Reflections on local Cody practice follow each sustainability practice listed for small towns: 

1. Community-wide recycling for residents (75%)

   1. Residents can recycle paper, cardboard, aluminum, tin, and #1/#2 plastics at the Recycling Center, 531 15th Street, Cody, WY

   2. For more information on recycling - https://www.codywy.gov/205/Recycling-Center

   3. Powell Recycling accepts glass at 946 Rd 10, Powell, WY 82435 https://www.powellrecycling.com/

2. Government office recycling (67%)

   1. City of Cody offices recycle plain and colored paper, newspaper, aluminum cans

   2. Encourages electronic bill pay.

3. Biking and walking trails (57%)

   1. City of Cody maintains nine miles of walking trails https://www.codywy.gov/143/Parks-and-Pathways

   2. That Other Project advocates for a bikeable/walkable town https://www.thatotherproject.org/

4. Energy audits of government buildings (55%)

   1. Park County Citizens for Sustainability's BEST team is a committee working with the city on energy audits of government buildings. PCCS financed an energy audit of the Senior Center and BEST is working with city officials to implement the recommendations.

   2. If you would like to donate to provide an energy audit of a city building please reach out to parkcountysustainability@gmail.com

5. Requiring sidewalks in new developments (52%)

   1. City of Cody Planning and Zoning ordinances require sidewalks, curb, and gutter in new developments.

   2. Park County does not require sidewalks in developments outside the city limits.

6. Supporting a local farmers’ market (51%)

   1. To our knowledge the Cody Farmer's Market receives no city funding.

   2. The community and its farmers support a robust weekly farmers market at the VFW in the winter and outside diagonally across from the Cody Auditorium in the summer. https://codyfarmersmarket.com/

7. Recycling household hazardous waste (48%)

   1. Periodically, the City of Cody, City of Powell, Park County Landfill, and Park County Weed and Pest work together to sponsor a Household Hazardous Waste Day. When these are scheduled, they will be posted on the city website and advertised in the newspaper.

   2. Household hazardous wastes cannot be disposed of in the landfill or at the Recycling Center.

8. High-efficiency lighting in government facilities (47%)

   1. Cody Schools are transitioning to LED lighting.

   2. We do not know what city buildings use efficient lighting.

   3. The County Courthouse lighting is on a need to know basis;)

9. Recycling of household electronic waste (45%)

   1. E-waste is collected in the green cabinets located to the north of the Cody Recycling Center building.

   2. These items are then sent to OmegaYellow Computing to determine the value of the parts. Since most common electronics are largely made of metal, they can usually be partially recycled. Items such as televisions, monitors, computers, tablets, smartphones, cameras, printers, microwaves, and toasters are also generally recyclable.

10. Community-wide recycling for businesses (44%)

    1. City provides corrugated cardboard dumpster at strategic sites around town to assist businesses in recycling cardboard.

    2. Cody Recycling Center sponsors aluminum can drives with the schools.

11. Tree preservation and planting program (42%)

    1. The Cody Lion's hosted a tree giveaway every year on Arbor Day in the past.

    2. In 2025 the Center of the West hosted a tree giveaway on Arbor Day.

    3. The Conservation District sells low cost tree bundles each spring https://www.codyconservationdistrict.com/seedling-tree-program

    4. Check out Tree City Powell's tree program https://www.powelltribune.com/stories/homesteader-roots-tree-program-reaches-milestone,168169

       https://www.powelltribune.com/stories/homesteader-roots-looks-for-more-yards-to-plant-trees,167718

12. Heating and cooling upgrades in government facilities (38%)

    1. The PCCS BEST team is partnering with the City for upgrades on the Senior Center for energy efficiency.

    2. PCCS supports energy efficiency for any remodeling in City Buildings

13. Water pricing to encourage conservation (38%)

    1. The City of Cody water, wastewater, and raw water billing skews heavily toward relying on a monthly base fee for each, metered use fees are low.

    2. The City of Cody electricity also skews heavily toward the monthly base fee for electric with metered use fees generally low. Commercial customers also pay a demand fee for the time in the month with greatest demand.

14. Purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles (33%)

    1. We have no knowledge if the city considers fuel efficiency when purchasing new vehicles. We have reached out to the public works director and city administrator with no response to date.

15. Community-wide collection of compost material (33%)

    1. City provides no compost collection opportunity.

    2. Cody Rotary encourages residents to drop off their Christmas trees. Rotary members then reduce the trees to mulch for City use.

16. Zoning codes to encourage more mixed-use projects (32%)

    1. Generally, yes.

    2. Council is open to update zoning as needed for community growth

17. Actions to protect quality of aquifers (32%)

    1. Cody's drinking water from the Shoshone Municipal Pipeline (SMP) Water Treatment Plant. This plant treats water sourced from the Buffalo Bill Reservoir, which is fed by the North and South Forks of the Shoshone River. The water is then treated using conventional processes and distributed to the city.

    2. Though the water comes from snow melt in the Absarokas rather than an aquifer, the Forest Service and the State Park are responsible for protecting the lands through which Cody's water flows.

18. Installation of high-efficiency traffic lights (30%)

    1. Cody street lights were updated with LED lighting a number of years ago.

    2. Park 6 has updated its lights to LED, including new lights on the Vanoy Field

19. Setting limits on impervious surfaces on private property (30%)

    1. There are no limits on impervious surfaces on private property.

    2. The City works to raise awareness in neighborhoods about where run off goes by installing storm sewer medallions that remind people that storm sewers drain directly into the Shoshone River.

20. Co-locating recycling with trash containers in public spaces (30%)

    1. Cody parks do not have recycling containers.

    2. Cody recycling requires residents to bring their recycling to the recycling center.