Residential Recycling What You Can Do

The paper you are reading right now may be part of one of the nation’s most outstanding recycling success stories. It has been recycled and will probably be recycled in the future – and that’s good news for both the economy and the environment.

Recycling is an easy, effective way for people to help preserve the earth’s natural resources, which help bring stability back to the environment. Check out to see what you can do in your home and your community and see for yourself why recycling is so important and how contributing just a little bit of effort can make a world of difference.

Denver Recycles provides recycling service at no charge to residents who live in single-family homes with seven or fewer units. The city provides a recycling container to each household free of charge with a bi-weekly pick-up date.

The following items are accepted (with no sorting required): corrugated cardboard, mixed office paper, junk mail, magazines and catalogs, paperboard (cereal boxes, tissue boxes, etc.), phone books, brown paper bags, newspapers (including inserts and ads), plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, aluminum foil and pie tins, and empty aerosol cans.

There are also numerous drop-off locations around the city for specific hard-to-recycle materials such as CDs, videocassettes, cell phones, athletic shoes, eyeglasses, greeting cards and more. To further assist Denver residents, the city has implemented a once-per-year, door-to-door collection program for the disposal of hazardous waste and cleaning materials directly from Denver homes.

Suburban drop off points and recycle services

Outlying suburbs that do not have a public trash collection system do not offer curbside recycling services. However, most of the private companies that are registered to collect trash in these cities also provide their customers curbside recycling services. Programs vary. Be sure to check with your hauler to see what services are offered.
Further, there are numerous free drop-off points for dedicated items as well as catch-all recycling centers located throughout the metro area. Contact your local city government for information. Or, visit these web sites:
• Denver and statewide recycling info:
www.denvergov.org
• www.colorado-recycles.org
• www.ecocycle.org