This tour is FULL. We are unable to offer waitlists.

A1 Organics Rattler Ridge Composting Facility is a 430-acre site that was permitted in 2000. We make 4 compost products and have some other composting projects on the site:

• BioComp Class 1 Compost, STA Certified
• EcoGro (consumer food waste based) Class 1 Compost, STA Certified
• EcoGro (industrial food waste based) Class 1 Compost, STA Certified 
• Command  Class 1 Bio-Engineered Compost for turf management

Schedule:
8:50 am: Gather in Hilton Denver City Center lobby for departure
9:00 am: Bus departs to A1 Organics
10:00 am: Start of Tour
11:00 am: Departure back to event venue
12:00 pm: Approximate arrival back to Hilton Denver City Center

Please Note: The following dress code is required. 

• Sturdy closed-toe shoes, boots are best.
• Eye protection (sunglasses) due to blowing dust and debris if the wind is up.
• Hat
• Weather appropriate clothing

Tickets: $30 each

This tour is FULL. We are unable to offer waitlists.

Visit the AMP Robotics site to see a demo of the robotic recycling technology and a brief talk showing the capabilities of the AMP vision system, including identification of brand-specific material.

Schedule:
9:45 am: Gather in Hilton Denver City Center lobby for departure
9:55 am: Departure for tour
10:30 am: Arrival at AMP Robotics and start of tour
11:30 am: Tour finalizes, head back to the event venue
12:00 pm: Approximate arrival back to Hilton Denver City Center

Tickets: $30 each

This tour is FULL. We are unable to offer waitlists.

Alpine Waste & Recycling is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ontario, Canada-based GFL Environmental Inc., We are Colorado’s only fully integrated waste hauling services company. We have a fleet of over 125 collection trucks in the Denver Metro area. Our Altogether Recycling facility (MRF) processes 14,000 tons of material per month. We process, bale and take to market over 20 different material types. We were the first facility in the region to include cartons and polystyrene foam into our recycling program.

Our Altogether Recycling facility is the most technologically advanced facility in the region. Our recent system expansion project increased our processing capacity by 33%. It included upgrading to some of the most advanced recycling equipment available in the market. The facility also has the region’s first robot that utilizes A.I. to sort cartons and other different materials from the stream.

Your tour will include introductions and a short overview of the company and equipment followed by a walkthrough of the facility while we are running and processing material. Afterwards, we’ll reconvene for a short Q & A session. 

Schedule:
8:30 am: Gather in Hilton Denver City Center lobby to depart
8:40 am: Departure to Alpine
9:00 am: Arrival and start of Tour
10:00 am: End of Tour and departure back
10:20 am: Approximate arrival back to Hilton Denver City Center

Please Note: Closed-toe shoes are required. 

Tickets: $30 each

This tour is FULL. We are unable to offer waitlists.

The tour starts at the Boulder County Recycling Center, a single-stream MRF processing nearly 55,000 tons per year. The facility is an example of a public-private partnership, owned by Boulder County and operated by non-profit Eco-Cycle, and has an industry reputation for producing clean, high-quality materials with low contamination and residue rates. The tour will then continue across the street to Eco-Cycle’s Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM). The CHaRM is a model drop-off center for how to collect materials that aren’t compatible with curbside collections, materials like electronics, plastic bags, small appliances, block foam, and more. Co-located with CHaRM is ReSource Central, a used building material resale outlet. Together these sites are part of “Recycle Row,” a vision of the City of Boulder to group together key pieces of resource recovery infrastructure to help the city meet its zero waste goals.

Schedule:
8:00 am: Gather in Hilton Denver City Center lobby for departure
8:15 am: Departure for Boulder County Recycling Center at 1901 63rd St. in Boulder, CO
9:00 am: Tour Starts
10:30 am: Tour Ends and Departure back to event venue
11:15 am:  Approximate arrival back to Hilton Denver City Center

Please Note: Closed-toe shoes are required. 

Tickets: $30 each

This tour is FULL. We are unable to offer waitlists.

Your visit will include a welcome and NREL introduction by Gregg Beckham, Senior Research Fellow-Chemical Engineering, Bioenergy Science and Technology Department, and tours of the Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility (IBRF) and Field Test Laboratory Building (FTLB). The Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility enables researchers and industry partners to develop, test, evaluate, and demonstrate processes and technologies for the production of bio-based products and fuels. The Field Test Laboratory does a wide range of research activities to help U.S. industry use renewable resources and waste productively and develop new and more efficient industrial practices.  Please wear comfortable, closed toed/heel walking shoes (no sandals or flip-flops) and long pants.

Tours are described as vigorous, outdoor walking tours, therefore guests are encouraged to dress for the weather and notify us of any injuries or disabilities in advance.

Learn more here:

NREL Missions and Programs

Bioenergy News

Work with Us

Schedule:
7:45 am: Gather in Hilton Denver City Center lobby for departure
7:55 am: Departure for tour
8:30 am-11:00 am: Tour
11:00 am: Departure back to the event venue
11:30 am: Approximate arrival back to Hilton Denver City Center

Security Measures: 

• The deadline has passed for security clearance approval for non-US Citizens and therefore only US Citizens are permitted on this tour.
  • U.S. citizens are required to show a government-issued photo ID (typically a driver’s license, passport, or military ID).

Tickets: $30 each

This tour is FULL. We are unable to offer waitlists.

Enjoy a private tour of New Belgium Brewing Company hosted by the company’s sustainability & policy specialist. Come sip some award-winning craft beer and learn about New Belgium’s experiences and lessons learned in their efforts to be a force for good within and beyond their industry. New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, is recognized as one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work, one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses and tops Bicycling Magazine’s Best Companies for Cyclists. The 100% employee-owned brewery is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, one of World Blu’s most democratic U.S. businesses, and a Certified B Corp. Attendees will have time to purchase lunch from the Food Truck following the tour.

Schedule:
8:20 am: Gather in Hilton Denver City Center lobby for departure
8:30 am: Departure for tour
9:50 am: Approximate arrival to New Belgium Brewing
10:00 am: Start of Tour
11:30 am: Tour ends and lunch (attendees will buy lunch from the Food Truck at New Belgium Brewing)
12:00 pm: Departure back to the event venue
12:50 pm: Approximate arrival back to Hilton Denver City Center

Tickets: $30 each

A guided walking tour through downtown Denver, Colorado’s historic LODO (lower downtown) and Ballpark Neighborhood districts. The tour will explore the history of beer, how it is made, what the different types are and how they differ, why Denver has been dubbed the “Napa Valley of Beer,” as well the history of Denver and how it became the city it is today.

During the stops on our tour, you will go behind the scenes to learn brewing process, visit a brewpub that began a nationwide franchise, drink in the brewery founded by the governor, and hang out in the best craft beer bar in Denver. Appetizers, dinner, and dessert are included.

Schedule:
5:50 pm: Gather in Hilton Denver City Center lobby for departure
6:00 pm: Tour Departs
9:00 pm: Tour concludes at Hilton Denver City Center

Tickets: $90 each

Join us for happy hour at YFYJupiter followed by a pub crawl in RiNo District! Sponsored by YFYJupiter.

Schedule:
5:30 pm- 6:30 pm: Happy Hour
6:30 pm onwards: Pub Crawl in RiNo District

Sponsored by The American Chemistry Council

Join us for a mixer at The Woods! Enjoy outdoor seating with views of the stunning Denver skyline and Rocky Mountains at The Woods restaurant, bar and beer garden. Located in the RiNo district of Denver, the city’s most innovative culinary neighborhood, The Woods at The Source Hotel features dishes collaboratively paired with New Belgium Brewing craft beers.

Join us for a mixer at Woods Boss Brewing Company! Sponsored by UPM Raflatac

Woods Boss Brewing Company transformed an early 1900 brick building into a beautiful brewery and tap room, opening their doors on August 11, 2017 with the intention of creating a community brewery where people could enjoy delicious craft beers that consistently rotate. Ranging from smooth, crisp lagers to barrel aged funky Belgian Quads, they have 20 taps all brewed in house with the goal of having something for everyone to enjoy regardless of your palette.

Schedule:
6:00 pm- 7:30 pm: Mixer