After moving to Lafayette and eager to make a difference in her new neighborhood, Julie Piller came across a posting in the Lafayette News for an Eco Cycle training session. Over thirteen years later and countless hours of dedicated work for Eco Cycle, Piller has made a tremendous impact on her community.

While volunteering with Eco Cycle as a Block Leader, Piller motivated her fellow neighbors about the importance of recycling and Zero Waste. "There is a misconception that a lot of waste cannot be recycled," says Piller. "I have a family of five and the majority of our waste is recycled and our trash can is always the least full on pick-up days."

A few years ago Piller became a Region Leader in her neighborhood. In addition to distributing the Eco Cycle Times, Piller helped change the way Boulder County recycles. In 2005, Lafayette was considering moving toward a single hauler recycling system. After an intensive grassroots campaign led by Piller and other residents, Lafayette became the first town in Boulder County to have single stream recycling service. "I am proud to volunteer with Eco Cycle, they stick to their mission and I am inspired by other volunteers," says Piller. "I like being connected to people that have similar values and understand the importance of community."

In addition to Eco Cycle and working as the Special Projects Coordinator at the Sister Carmen Community Center in Lafayette, Piller volunteers at Pioneer Elementary, The Latino Advisory Board, Seventh-day Adventist Church in Boulder, and is on the Board of Directors at Project YES (Youth Envisioning Social Change). "People think of volunteering as a way to give, but I get endless benefits for myself from volunteering," says Piller.

For information about volunteering with Eco Cycle or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.