Recycle, Compost & Reuse
Looking for recycling and composting guidelines?
Check out the green sidebar! ➡ ➡ ➡
If every business, school, community event and home recycled, composted, reused and used the full Zero Waste services available to us in Boulder County, our community could potentially divert 80% or more of our waste from the landfill!
Here are the services, guidelines, maps, tools—everything you need to reach your own 80% goal (or better!) to help keep materials in the production loop instead of having to deplete more of our natural resources to make new products.
RECYCLE
WATCH the new optical sorter in action at the Boulder County Recycling Center!
The Boulder County Recycling Center, owned by the county and operated by Eco-Cycle, recently completed state-of-the-art upgrades, allowing more plastics to be recycled than ever before. Some new recyclables, accepted in all curbside single-stream recycling bins, include plastic "clamshell" containers (like berry containers) and take-out containers, rigid plastics like 5-gallon buckets (handles are OK) and plastic lawn toys (remove metal axles; materials MUST fit inside your bin), and plastic dairy and hummus tub lids.
>> Learn more about the upgrades
>> View and print new recycling guideline posters
Guidelines and More for Boulder County
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About Single-Stream Curbside Recycling
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Dirty Dozen: The Top 12 Items to Keep Out of Your Recycling bin
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Recycling Unusual Materials: What’s accepted at the CHaRM Facility?
In your home:
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A-Z Recycling Guide: Where to recycle everything from Appliances to Zippers
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How to recycle or compost in your apartment or condo complex
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Dirty Dozen: Top Recycling Contaminants to Keep Out of the Bin
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Curbside recycling and drop-off collection programs in your community
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Recycle electronics, plastic bags and other unusual, hard-to-recycle materials
At your business:
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Eco-Cycle Business Services: Compost collection and training and much more.
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Green Star Business Program: a network-based program designed to offer sustainability consulting and training services with a focus on resource conservation
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Single-Stream Business Recycling Guidelines for Boulder County
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Dirty Dozen: Top Recycling Contaminants to Keep Out of the Bin
At school:
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Boulder County School Recycling and Environmental Education Programs
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Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools Program: These Boulder County schools are the first in the nation to reduce waste in every aspect of school life.
At your party or event:
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From parties to weddings to community events, we’ll help you recycle, compost, purchase eco-friendly products and go Zero Waste.
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Dirty Dozen: Top Recycling Contaminants to Keep Out of the Bin
Recycling Electronics and more Unusual Materials at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM in Boulder (Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials)
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Recycle electronics, white block foam, plastic bags, books, fire extinguishers, bicycles, textiles, cooking oil, reusable shoes, yoga mats and more! Find directions, fees and more details.
Recycling Tips & Facts
Maps and locations of facilities in Boulder County
How-to videos
Household and Business Hazardous Waste
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Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF) accepts paint, CFLs, automotive fluids, pesticides, cleaners and other toxic substances
Annual Holiday Guides (available in Nov-Dec)
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Holiday Recycling Guide: How to recycle old holiday lights, batteries, electronics, tissue paper, gift bags, white block foam (Styrofoam) and much more
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Tree Recycling in Your Community
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Top 10 Ways to Reduce Waste this Holiday Season
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Holiday Waste by the Numbers
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Meaningful Gifts that are Easy on the Planet
More
COMPOST
How to compost
Guidelines
Curbside Compost in your home
Compost drop-off centers
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CHaRM in Boulder (Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials)
Eco-Cycle's Microbe Brew Compost Tea: Worm Casting Tea for Your Lawn and Garden
At your business
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Eco-Cycle Services for Businesses: Pick-ups for Composting, Recycling, Electronics and other unusual materials, eco-friendly business consulting, compost and recycling trainings and more
At your school
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Boulder County School Recycling and Environmental Education Program
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Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Program: These Boulder County schools are the first in the nation to reduce waste in every aspect of school life.
At your event
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From parties to weddings to community events, we’ll help you recycle, compost, purchase eco-friendly products and go Zero Waste.
Maps and locations
REUSE
Our Reuse Resource
Shop second-hand with Eco-Cycle's Tour de Thrift Maps
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Maps to Boulder and Longmont’s dozens of thrift stores for used books, clothing, furniture and more. (updated guides are coming soon)
A-Z Recycling Guide
Reuse Programs in Boulder County
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CHaRM: Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials – many items are collected for reuse, including bicycles, computers, bike tires, shoes and more
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ReSource Yard: collects and sells quality used building materials
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ReSource Tool Library: rent tools instead of buying
Eco-Cycle's Book Reuse Program
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Bring your books to CHaRM and we’ll donate them back into the community!