Recycling in Longmont

Recycling at the Curb

How Do I Get Service Started?

Curbside recycling in Longmont is provided by the City. Longmont residents are automatically on the recycling schedule. Simply call the City at 303-651-8416 to get your cart delivered and to determine your pickup schedule. Then just follow the guidelines and set your cart out on the appropriate day by 7 a.m.

When is My Pick-up?

Recycling collection is twice monthly on alternate weeks, same day as trash. (There is NO recycling collection on the 5th week of the month.) Set bins out by 7 a.m. Call 303-651-8416 for schedule information.

What Can I Recycle at the Curb?

The blue and gray recycling cart is divided in two sections.

PAPER SIDE (blue)
On this side you may recycle:

• Newspapers and their inserts (NO BAGS)
• Magazines
• Catalogs
• Office Paper/Opened Mail (Please open your mail to remove any promotional stickers, credit cards, membership cards, or other non-paper items.)

MIXED RECYCLABLES SIDE (gray)
On this side you may recycle:

• Glass bottles and jars of any color (Please avoid breaking glass. Remove and recycle metal lids.)
• Aluminum cans (Do not crush or flatten cans.)
• Aluminum pie pans and aluminum foil (Ball all aluminum foil together into one large ball 2" or larger, or flatten pieces. No small, balled-up foil please.)
• Steel (tin) cans
• Metal jar lids (Please remove from glass containers.)
• Metal bottle caps
• Empty aerosol cans (no caps)
• Paper milk cartons/drink boxes/juice cartons
• Plastic bottles and jugs with a #1, #2, or #5 on the bottom (Throw away lids. Please step on gallon jugs and on bottles 1 liter or larger.)

Tips for curbside recycling:

1. Be sure to put your materials out on the right day and time.
2. Please prepare materials correctly and only include items accepted through your program. Including additional materials jeopardizes recycling markets and makes processing more costly.
3. Many items not collected at the curb, such as corrugated cardboard and cereal boxes, may be taken to the Drop-off Center located at 140 Martin St. Please call 303-772-7300 for a full list of items accepted at the Drop-off Center.
4. Step on it! Please flatten plastic gallon jugs and plastic bottles 1 liter or larger. This increases truck capacity, and helps prevent glass breakage.
5. Please avoid breaking glass! Glass shards are difficult to sort by color, and even more difficult to market.

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Recycling at the Drop-off Center

Drop-off Center Information

Location: 140 Martin St. View a Map.

Open: 24 hours

Phone: 303-772-7300

The Following Materials are Accepted at the Drop-off Center:

 

Containers: all mixed together

Commingled Containers

• Glass bottles and jars of any color (please avoid breaking glass)
• Aluminum cans (Do not crush or flatten cans.)
• Aluminum pie pans and aluminum foil (Ball all aluminum foil together into one large ball 2" or larger, or flatten pieces. No small, balled-up foil please.)
• Steel (tin) cans
• Metal jar lids
• Metal bottle caps
• Empty aerosol cans (no caps)
• Paper milk cartons/drink boxes/juice cartons
• Plastic bottles and jugs with a #1, #2, and #5 on the bottom (please step on gallon jugs and bottles 1 liter or larger.)
• Plastic screw-top jars with a #1 on the bottom
• Plastic tubs & cups with a #2 or #5 on the bottom. (No lids.)

Paper Materials: all mixed together

Magazines/Catalogs

NO phone books

Office Paper/Opened Mail

Blueprints, brochures, computer printouts, file folders, fax paper, greeting cards, letterhead, pamphlets, pastel colored legal pad paper, slick/glossy ads & brochures, stationery letters, white ream wrappers, white & pastel-colored paper, white & pastel-colored envelopes (windows envelopes OK)

NO shredded paper

Newspaper and newspaper inserts

NO bags or string

 

Corrugated Cardboard and Brown Paper Bags

Boxes must be flattened to fit in the new compactor. If you have a truckload full of boxes, please call 303-772-7300 for information or drive up to the window between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., 7 days a week.

 

Phone Books

Please keep separate from office paper and magazine/catalog categories.

 

Paperboard Boxes/Low-grade Paper Products

Single-layer boxes, such as: cereal boxes (throw away inside bag), gift/shirt boxes, shoe boxes, 6-pack & 12-pack cartons/boxes.

Low-grade paper items such as: cracker boxes (throw away inside bag), hanging file folders, paper egg cartons, soap boxes and facial tissue boxes, paper shopping bags (brown bags go with corrugated cardboard), paper tubes (e.g., paper towel tubes, toilet paper tubes, etc.)

Shredded paper.

NO Kraft (orange/brownish) envelopes; Neon, fluorescent or dark-colored paper; Paper towels; Paper cups, photographs; Frozen food, ice cream & frozen juice containers; Photographs; Pet food bags.

 

Scrap Metal

Scrap metals of all types are accepted.

NO refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners or any other appliances containing freon are accepted.
NO oil
NO batteries
NO tires
NO pressurized containers such as propane or helium canisters
NO wire fencing
NO computers, TVs, or other electronic equipment. Click here for electronics recycling.

Large scrap metal items should be taken through the drive-up window to be dropped in the back area. This service is available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 7 days a week. Small scrap metal items are accepted 24 hours a day in the scrap metal bin.

For information on recycling freon-containing appliances, see the Guide to Hard-to-Recycle Materials.

 

Additional Information

For more detailed information on what can be recycled in any of these categories, please refer to the guidelines of the latest Eco-Cycle Times. You can print the center pull-out section for a convenient guide to recycling in all of Boulder and Broomfield Counties.

You can also visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website or call our Longmont office at 303-772-7300.

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• Location: 140 Martin St. View a Map
• Hours: 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed major holidays)
• More information: 303-772-7300

The Eco-Cycle Longmont Drop-off Center and the City of Longmont Tree Limb Diversion Center are now co-located at 140 Martin St. Tree limbs, shrubs, bushes, and unbagged leaves are accepted. No sod, dirt, rock or split rail fence material will be accepted. Limbs are ground into mulch at the Center, available to residents free of charge.

There is no charge for residents who present a driver's license and a recent utility bill that includes a "waste management fee." Non-residents and contractors will be charged a fee to use the facility.

During 2007, the facility is scheduled to close for grinding on March 5-7, June 4-6, September 4-5, and December 3-5.

The Center is closed on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

For more information, call Eco-Cycle Longmont at 303-772-7300.

 

Hard-to-Recycle Roundup

Eco-Cycle and the city of Longmont are pleased to offer quarterly collection events at the Eco-Cycle Longmont Drop-off Center for hard-to-recycle materials that are normally accepted only in Boulder.

Our next collection for 2008 will be on Saturday, June 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

We will accept most of the items typically accepted at the CHaRM facility in Boulder. This includes electronics such as computers, TVs, and stereo equipment. There is a fee for electronic items. We will also accept fire extinguishers for a fee. Find a full list of materials accepted>>

Items collected at no charge include #6 white block foam, cell phones, printer and inkjet cartridges, single or paired athletic shoes, computer keyboards, mice, cables, books and manuals, plastic bags, textiles and big durable #2 plastics. We will not accept cooking oil at this event.

Call 303-772-7300 for more information.

Third Thursday Summer Workshop Series at the Longmont/Eco-Cycle Drop-off Center

Bring a lawn chair and come by the recycling center to sit in the cooler summer evening, drink iced tea and lemonade and learn more about recycling and Zero Waste. Please call 303-772-7300 or e-mail Kary to R.S.V.P. If you don’t have a lawn chair, we’ll have a few extras.

Saturday, June 14, 9:30 a.m. -11 a.m.

Make time to join us for this fun workshop! Artist Carol Baum will show you how to make a working clock from reused computer parts in this unique class. The $15 materials fee (payable by check or cash at the workshop) includes all materials for one clock. While the workshop is designed for all ages, children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. You must RSVP to ensure we have space and materials for you! Please call 303-772-7300 or e-mail Kary to R.S.V.P.

Thursday, June 19, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m

Recycling 101
Ever wonder why you can recycle certain plastics and not others? What happens to your recyclables after they leave the curb and the drop-off center? Does it really make sense to recycle glass? Learn the answers to all these burning questions and more at this informative workshop. Also, learn some tips for sorting and preparing your recycling and hear about the many environmental benefits of recycling. Please call 303-772-7300 or e-mail Kary to R.S.V.P.

Thursday, July 17, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Stop the Junk Mail Monster
What saves energy, time, resources and space in your mail box? Getting rid of junk mail, of course! The average person in the United States receives approximately 40 pounds of junk mail a year. This workshop will give you plenty of tips for removing your name and address from mailing lists and keeping your name off those lists in the future. Please call 303-772-7300 or e-mail Kary to R.S.V.P.

Friday, July 11, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday, July 12, 6:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Rhythm on the River
Join Eco-Cycle for Longmont’s Rhythm on the River, our largest Zero Waste event. Come for music, an arts section for children, community booths and displays and plenty of food and fun for the entire family. If you are interested in volunteering to make this event a Zero Waste event, please contact Kary. For more information about the event, visit www.ci.longmont.co.us/rotr.

Thursday, Aug. 21, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Introduction to Zero Waste
What exactly is Zero Waste? This workshop will highlight Zero Waste efforts happening locally and internationally. Learn more about Eco-Cycle’s efforts and how you can get involved! Please call 303-772-7300 or e-mail Kary to R.S.V.P.

Other upcoming events

Friday, July 18 and Friday, Sept. 19

ArtWalk
Come to downtown Longmont for an evening of art and fun! ArtWalk is a free evening of art exhibitions, music, live theatre, dance and children’s activities. A collaborative effort between businesses and arts organizations, ArtWalk transforms downtown Longmont businesses into galleries and promotes cultural arts for three fabulous evenings each year (the first was in May). Come by Eco-Cycle’s table to make an eco-friendly craft from reused and recycled materials!

Monday, Aug. 4, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. location TBA

Electronics in a Zero Waste World
Zero Waste is a new way of looking at our waste stream, where discards are seen as valuable resources rather than trash, and toxic substances are eliminated or handled properly. Our electronics contain lead and a host of other toxic substances such as cadmium, mercury and arsenic which could contaminate groundwater when thrown in a landfill. Even if they do get recycled, 80% of the world’s electronic or computer waste collected for recycling is exported to underdeveloped countries where they are broken down in primitive operations that jeopardize both workers and the environment. Learn how you can ensure your electronic waste is being recycled responsibly and about local efforts to institute a Zero Waste system for electronics that includes manufacturers taking responsibility for their products. Please call 303-772-7300 or e-mail Kary to R.S.V.P.

Monday, Sept. 15, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Wonderful, Working Worms
What has 5 hearts, can eat its weight in a day and is an important part of Zero Waste at home? Compost worms, of course! Join Eco-Cycle staffer and long-time worm lover Kary to learn all about this indoor alternative to the backyard compost pile. Composting with worms, also known as vermiculture, is an easy, fun way to turn food scraps into a nutrient rich addition for your houseplants. There will be plenty of time to ask questions and look at a couple working worm bins. This workshop is for those who are ready to commit to composting with worms or those who just want to learn more. All ages are welcome. Please call 303-772-7300 or e-mail Kary to R.S.V.P.

 

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For more detailed information on what can be recycled in Longmont or through other programs, please refer to the guidelines of the latest Eco-Cycle Times. You can print the center pull-out section for a convenient guide to recycling in all of Boulder and Broomfield Counties.

Do you have an unusual item you don't want to toss in the garbage? Check out our Guide to Hard-to-Recycle Materials for information on where to take non-traditional recyclables.

You can also visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website or call the Eco-Cycle/Longmont office at 303-772-7300.