Westin Riverfront Earns Gold Green Certification for 96% Waste Diversion

Aspen —What does it cost to keep a mountain resort green, and who actually gets to enjoy the clean air?

That’s the question hanging over the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa in Avon as it accepts its Gold Level Certification from the Colorado Green Business Network. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment recognized the Vail Valley resort not just for throwing out more recycling bins, but for fundamentally changing how it disposes of its waste. It’s a specific kind of pride for a place that has to manage the sheer volume of tourists who descend on the valley every winter.

The numbers are impressive. An audit by Eagle County’s Walking Mountains Science Center found the resort achieved a 96% recycling and composting diversion rate. That isn’t just a figure on a page; it means nearly all the food scraps from the dining outlets and the paper waste from the Athletic Club and Spa Anjali are being pulled from the landfill stream. The Silver LEED-certified property launched an extensive resort-wide composting program over the past year, tackling the messy reality of feeding thousands of guests.

But sustainability in hospitality isn’t just about what you throw away. It’s about what you drive to get there. The Westin added two all-electric 2025 Kia EV9 SUVs to its guest shuttle fleet. They’re swapping gas guzzlers for electric ones, a move that reduces noise and emissions in a valley already tight on space. Inside, the changes are quieter but no less intentional. The Spa Anjali installed Net Effect carpet tiles made from 100% recycled yarn, including discarded commercial fishing nets. It’s a detail most guests won’t notice while they’re soaking in the heat, but it’s part of the operational best practices that earned the Gold Level distinction.

“The Westin Riverfront is dedicated to finding new ways to embrace sustainability across every touchpoint of the guest experience,” Veronica Moretti, the resort’s General Manager, told the Vail Daily. “We have long been recognized as a forward-thinking hospitality leader and are very pleased to have achieved this honor from the Colorado Green Business Network.”

Moretti’s statement is standard corporate pride, but the execution suggests a shift in how the Westin manages its overhead. Composting all food waste is expensive. It requires labor, space, and a different supply chain than hauling trash to the dump. Yet, with a 96% diversion rate, the resort is proving that high-end hospitality and rigorous environmental management can coexist without bankrupting the bottom line.

While the Westin is polishing its green credentials, Gypsum is picking up the pieces from a fire. The Creekside Clubhouse & Grill at the Gypsum Creek Golf Course reopened recently after sitting dark since an electrical fire in October 2025. The town manages the course and its facilities, including the restaurant, so the closure was a blow to a local gathering spot. Now, the smell of steak is back in the air. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday, offering a place for locals and golfers to reconnect after a round of 18. It’s a simpler kind of recovery — fix the roof, turn on the lights, serve the food.

Further up the valley, the board of directors for YouthBuild Global is seeing a familiar face return. Kathy Witsil, a retired financial services executive who splits her time between Phoenix and Vail, has rejoined the organization’s board. She’s not a newcomer to the role; she’s continuing a decade-long relationship with the nonprofit that serves young people around the world. Witsil brings more than 25 years of leadership experience from JPMorgan Chase, where she led operations and strategic information initiatives. Her return signals continuity for an organization that relies on seasoned guidance to navigate its global mission.

These three stories — green luxury, local recovery, and nonprofit leadership, might seem disconnected, but they all revolve around the same community infrastructure. The Westin is managing its resources. Gypsum is restoring its social hub. YouthBuild is maintaining its leadership. They are all working within the same valley, dealing with the same constraints, and serving the same neighbors.

Stand there long enough at the Westin’s shuttle stop, watching an electric SUV pull away from the curb, and you realize the work is never really done. The compost piles turn, the fires get fixed, and the boards get re-elected. The valley keeps moving, one small, managed step at a time.