Materials
A-Z Recycling Guide -- Milk Cartons/Drink Boxes/Aseptic Containers
Residents and businesses with single-stream recycling can recycle milk cartons and drink boxes (aka aseptic containers) through their curbside recycling. Learn more about single-stream recycling.
- Juice and soy milk cartons okay.
- Please rinse all cartons.
- Remove and throw away straws and plastic caps (plastic spouts okay).
- NO drink "pouches."
The following drop-off centers accept milk cartons and aseptic containers for recycling. Click on the site for the location and hours:
Eco-Cycle's Zero Waste Services (businesses only)
Phone: (303) 444-6634
Email: businessrecycling@ecocycle.org
Website: www.ecocycle.org/businesses
Services provided: Collection for all traditional recyclables (mixed paper including bagged shredded paper, cardboard, glass and plastic bottles, aluminum and tin cans, scrap metal), hard-to-recycle materials (computers, fax and copier machines, other electronics, plastic bags with a #2 or #4, stretch wrap, #6 white block foam, wooden pallets, textiles, books and paired shoes) and compostables (all food and landscaping waste, uncoated paper products and compostable food service products made from plant materials). Dumpsters, wheeled carts, roll-off boxes, compactors and other collection equipment available. Visit website, call or e-mail for more information. Businesses only.
University of Colorado Boulder
CU Recyling
207 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309
Phone: (303) 492-8307
Webite: www.colorado.edu/ecenter/recycling
Accepted materials: Milk cartons and aseptic containers for recycling. Check website or call for locations. Service for CU community only.
Western Disposal
5880 Butte Mill Road
Boulder, CO 80301
Phone: (303) 444-2037
Website: www.WesternDisposal.com
Hours: Check website for open hours.
Service provided: Western Disposal’s Trash and Recycle Center provides a one-stop shop for your recycling and composting needs. Fees may apply. Call for rates.
Accepted materials: Construction materials. Large appliances including air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, water heaters, and dishwashers. In addition, we also accept pallets, scrap metal, single-stream recyclables, yard waste, wood waste, and food waste.
Not Accepted: Electronics, hazardous waste.
A-Z Recycling Guide -- Microwaves
Microwaves can be recycled with scrap metal at the following locations. Find other businesses that accept microwaves for recycling under "Scrap Metal."
Eco-Cycle CHaRM (Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials)
6400 Arapahoe Rd. (co-located with ReSource)
Boulder, CO 80303
Phone: (303) 444-6634
Email: recycle@ecocycle.org
Website: ecocycle.org/charm
Accepted materials: Any items consisting of 50-percent or more metal, including microwaves, can be deposited in the scrap metal receptacles at CHaRM, free of charge (please follow guidelines outlined above).
Please visit the CHaRM website for the full list of accepted materials, fees, current hours and more details.
Eco-Cycle's Zero Waste Services (businesses only)
Phone: (303) 444-6634
Email: businessrecycling@ecocycle.org
Website: www.ecocycle.org/businesses
Services provided: Collection for all traditional recyclables (mixed paper including bagged shredded paper, cardboard, glass and plastic bottles, aluminum and tin cans, scrap metal), hard-to-recycle materials (computers, fax and copier machines, other electronics, plastic bags with a #2 or #4, stretch wrap, #6 white block foam, wooden pallets, textiles, books and paired shoes) and compostables (all food and landscaping waste, uncoated paper products and compostable food service products made from plant materials). Dumpsters, wheeled carts, roll-off boxes, compactors and other collection equipment available. Visit website, call or e-mail for more information. Businesses only.
Longmont Waste Diversion Center
(Scrap Metal Bin)
140 Martin St.
Longmont, CO 80501
Phone: (303) 772-7300
Website: https://www.longmontcolorado.gov/departments/departments-n-z/trash-and-recycling/special-services-events/hard-to-recycle-items
Accepted materials: Scrap metal for recycling during business hours only. When utilizing the Waste Diversion Center, please be sure to bring a current City of Longmont utility bill and identification to show that you are a city resident paying for trash/recycling services.
Boulder County Waste Transfer Station and Recycling Center
286 Ridge Rd. (E. of Peak to Peak Hwy.)
Nederland, CO 80466
Phone: (303) 258-7878
Website: www.ecocycle.org/yourcommunity/nederland
Accepted materials: Scrap metal for recycling during staffed hours only. Appliances are accepted for a fee. Call for more information.
A-Z Recycling Guide -- Medications
Check with your local hospitals and pharmacies to see if they have take-back programs. Boulder County hospitals offer take-back programs several times per year. Find out what medications they are able to take. If you aren't able to find a take-back program:
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Take unused, unneeded, or expired medications out of their original containers
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Mix the medications with an undesirable substance, like used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and put them in impermeable, non-descript containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags, further ensuring that the drugs are not diverted or accidentally ingested by children or pets
See the City of Longmont's SMARxT Pharmaceutical Disposal website for more information on year-round drop-off and annual take-back programs.
Medical wastes and medicines require special handling and disposal. Do not recycle them or their containers. Call Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Solid Waste Section, (303) 692-3437 or (303) 692-3320, refer to their website at www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/colorado-medication-take-back-program for a list of Colorado drop-off locations. You may also contact Boulder County Public Health at (303) 441-1100.
For how to properly dispose of needles and syringes, please visit our "Sharps" listing.
Boulder County Sheriff's Office
5600 Flatiron Pkwy
Boulder, CO 80301
Phone: (303) 441-3600
Serivce Provided: Takes pills. No liquids. Drop in bin by entrance door. Prescription bottles with caps attached can be recycled with single-stream recycling.
Kaiser Permanente
Westminster Pharmacy
11245 Huron St.
Westminster, CO 80234
Phone: (303) 338-4545
Longmont Pharmacy
2345 Bent Way
Longmont, CO 80503
Phone: (303)338-4545
Rock Creek Pharmacy
280 Exempla Circle
Lafayette, CO 80026
Phone: (303)338-4545
Wheat Ridge Pharmacy
4803 Ward Road
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Phone: (303) 338-4545
Service Provided: Many Kasier Permanente locations throughout the U.S. have medication disposal programs. Check your local pharmacy for more information.
A-Z Recycling Guide -- Medical Equipment and Supplies
For information about disposing of pharmaceuticals, both prescription and over-the-counter medications, please go to the "Medications" section of this guide. Contact your local hospital or pharmacy to find out about take-back programs for medications.
Improper disposal of medical sharps poses a threat to recycling and trash workers as well as to our environment. Sharps are NOT recyclable and should never be placed in a recycling bin. Please see our section on "Sharps" for information on proper disposal.
For information on medical wastes, contact Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at (303) 692-3320 or Boulder County Public Health at (303) 441-1100.
The organizations listed below match good reusable medical equipment with those in need.
Project V.E.T.S.
1630 A 30th Street, #256
Boulder, CO 80301
303-819-2501
info@projectvets.org
www.projectvets.org
Accepted Materials: See full list and guidelines at www.projectvets.org/donate-equipment.
City of Boulder West Senior Center
909 Arapahoe Ave.
Boulder, CO 80020
Phone: (303) 441-3148
Accepted materials: Medical equipment such as crutches, walkers, canes, toilet seats, wheelchairs for loan closet. Only items in good, working condition are accepted. Items are loaned to anyone who needs them. Also takes eyeglasses for refurbishment and redistribution via the Lions Club.
Broomfield Senior Center
280 Lamar St.
Broomfield, CO 80038
Phone: (303) 464-5526
Website: www.broomfield.org/senior
Accepted materials: Working cell phones for senior citizen emergency use. Eyeglasses for Lions Club redistribution program. Medical equipment (walkers, canes, crutches, etc) for loan closet.
Sister Carmen Thrift Store
701 W. Baseline Rd.
Lafayette, CO 80026
Phone: (303) 665-4342
Email: info@sistercarmen.org
Donation Hours: Sun. - Sat., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Visit website for any closures.
Website: www.sistercarmen.org
Accepted materials: Gently used clothing and household items; clean, undamaged and functioning appliances; used car tires in good condition; clean, undamaged and complete (i.e., both skis) ski/snowboard equipment (in-season); medical equipment such as glucose testers, IV poles, and wheel chairs, but nothing larger due to spatial limitations.
More info: Please visit Sister Carmen’s updated list of accepted materials here: http://sistercarmen.org/thrift-store/items-we-accept/
American Legion
Boulder, Post #10
4760 28th St.
Boulder, CO 80301
Phone: (303) 442-9551
Website: www.boulderlegion.org
Walter Rhoades, Post #111
1150 Pine St.
Louisville, CO 80027
Phone: (303) 666-6314
John Harold Buckley, Post #32
315 S Bowen St.
Longmont, CO 80501
Phone: (303) 776-2034
Website: www.post32.net
Accepted materials: Walkers, wheelchairs, bedside toilets, eyeglasses and other assistive equipment. Will not take personal items such as inhalers or respiratory equipment. Please call before donating to confirm current needs and drop-off locations. Click here to find a post in your area.
Elks Lodge - Longmont
Longmont, CO No. 1055
306 Coffman St.
Longmont, CO 80501-5406
Phone: (303) 776-1055
Accepted materials: Walkers, wheelchairs, bedside toilets, eyeglasses and other assistive equipment. Please call for needs and drop-off locations.
Salud Clinic
231 E. 9th Ave.
Longmont, CO 80501
Phone: (303) 892-0241, ext. 210
Accepted materials: Medical supplies for reuse, such as examining tables, braces, slings, crutches, and medical lights. Call for further information.
Metech Recycling
500 W. 53rd Pl.
Denver, CO 80216
Phone: (720) 377-7700
Toll free: (866) 479-4920
Website: www.metechrecycling.com
Accepted materials: May take electronic medical equipment. Please call first to determine acceptability and fee.
Crutches 4 Africa
284 S. Franklin St.
Denver, CO 80209
Phone: (303) 877-2803
Email: c4a@crutches4africa.net
Website: www.crutches4africa.org
Service provided: Collects crutches that are no longer being use and ships them to Africa to be given away for free to those in need.
Project C.U.R.E.
Service provided: Project C.U.R.E. accepts medical and laboratory equipment for medical relief around the world. Project C.U.R.E.'s website describes their mission and items needed.
VOSH International
Website: https://vosh.org/donate/donate-or-request-optometric-equipment/
Service provided: Accepts donations of eyeglasses for international eye health programs.
