Commissioners: “We will continue to value, respect, and support all individuals as we serve the people of Boulder County.” Read full message.

Immigrant Resources, including a Know Your Rights Booklet, available on the Immigration Resources webpage.

Recyclable Materials

Recyclable Materials

These items are all recyclable at local recycling drop-off centers including the Boulder County Recycling Center and through curbside recycling collection programs. Scrap metal is not accepted for drop-off at the Boulder County Recycling Center.
Single Stream Recycling Guidelines

Recycling poster showing what is recyclable. List follows.

Please keep paper products post-card sized or bigger

  • Brown paper bags
  • Magazines
  • Catalogs
  • Newspaper
  • Phone books
  • Paperback books (no hardcover books)
  • Notepads/spiral-bound notebooks (remove hard plastic covers)
  • Loose-leaf paper

Please flatten all paperboard items

  • Cardboard boxes
  • Cereal/cracker boxes
  • Gift/shoe boxes
  • Hanging file folders
  • Paper egg cartons
  • Paper tubes
    • Toilet paper tubes
    • Paper towel tubes
  • Six-pack and 12-pack cartons/boxes
  • Soap/facial tissue boxes

Please keep paper products post-card sized or bigger

  • Blueprints
  • Brochures/pamphlets
  • Computer printouts
  • Fax paper
  • File folders
    • Manila or pastel-colored only
  • Greeting cards
  • Index cards
  • Letterhead
  • Memos and sticky notes
    • pastel-colored, NO fluorescent or neon colors
  • Legal pad paper
    • pastel-colored
  • Slick/glossy ads and brochures
  • Stationery and letters
  • White and pastel-colored paper and envelopes
    • No need to remove window from envelopes

Containers must be emptied and rinsed before recycling

  • Aluminum cans
    • Do not crush or flatten
  • Aluminum foil
    • Shape foil into balls 2 inches or larger
  • Aluminum food trays
  • Glass bottles & jars
    • Labels are okay
    • Remove and recycle metal lids/caps
    • Avoid breaking glass.
  • Mason jars
  • Steel/tin cans
    • Labels are okay
    • Pinch the open end of cans slightly
    • Do not crush or flatten
  • Empty aerosol cans
  • Paper-based food and beverage cartons
    • Do not flatten
  • Paper-based drink boxes
    • Do not flatten

Containers must be emptied and rinsed before recycling

NO plastic bags

  • #1PETE, #2 HDPE, #5 PP bottles, tubs, jugs and jars
  • #5 sturdy souvenir cups
  • Water/soda bottles
    • Attach plastic screw-top caps
  • Laundry detergent bottles
  • Shampoo bottles
  • Soap bottles
  • Vitamin bottles
  • Medication bottles
    • Must be larger than 2 inches in diameter
  • Milk jugs
  • Yogurt tubs
  • Berry containers
    • Remove liner
  • #1PETE, #2 HDPE, #5 PP Clamshell containers
  • Plastic tub lids
  • Plastic flowerpots
  • Hard plastic four and six-pack holders
  • Plastic lawn toys
    • Remove metal axels
    • All materials MUST fit in curbside bin
  • Plastic crates
  • Buckets
    • Metal handles are okay

Items That Are Not Recyclable in Single Stream Recycling Bins

Boulder County does not accept the materials listed below for recycling.

Guidelines Poster: Recycling Contaminants (Recycling’s Dirty Dozen)

Poster that show which items cannot be recycled. List follows.

If these items are not reusable, please place them in the trash.

  • Plastic-coated paper products
  • Hard cover books (recycle at Eco-Cycle CHaRM facility)
  • Thermal fax paper
  • Receipts
  • Wrapping paper containing foil coating or glitter
  • Sheets of address labels or stickers
  • Kraft or Tyvek envelopes
  • Pet food/charcoal/fertilizer bags
  • Frozen food container boxes
  • Carbon paper
  • Photographs
  • Wrapping & tissue paper
  • Facial tissues/napkins
  • Paper towels
  • Waxed paper
  • Paper plates
  • Paper cups
  • “Neon” fluorescent or dark-colored paper
  • Construction paper
  • Shredded paper

If these items are not reusable or are broken, please throw them in the trash.

  • #3 PVC, #6 PS, #7 PC plastic items
  • Block foam packaging (recycle #6 white block foam at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM facility)
  • Plastic cups (e.g. Solo cups)
  • Compostable serviceware
  • Foam to-go containers
  • Flattened cans and containers
    • Items must be 3-dimensional or “round”
  • Frozen food containers
  • Drink pouches/straws
  • Ceramics (can be recycled at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM facility)
  • Vases
  • Dishes
  • Drinking glasses (can be recycled at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM facility)
  • Incandescent light bulbs
  • LED light bulbs (can be recycled at the Hazardous Materials Management Facility)
  • Fluorescent tubes, including CFLs (compact fluorescent light), should be taken to the Hazardous Materials Management Facility
  • Mirrors
  • Window or auto glass
  • Empty plastic motor oil bottles
  • Plastic film/Cling wrap
  • Plastic bags. If bags are clean, dry, and empty they can be recycled at most grocery stores or at Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials)
  • Plastic lotion/toothpaste tubes

Contact Us

Resource Conservation Division

720-564-2220
resourceconservation@bouldercounty.gov

Location

Boulder County Recycling Center
1901 63rd St.
Boulder, CO 80301
Map and Directions
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday

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