Materials


What items does Denver Recycles accept for recycling?

Corrugated cardboard, office paper, junk mail, magazines, paperboard (cereal boxes, tissue boxes, etc), phone books, newspapers (including inserts and ads), plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, aluminum foil, and empty aerosol cans. See our accepted materials list for details.




What do you mean by corrugated cardboard and paperboard?

Corrugated cardboard refers to shipping boxes that have the "wavy middle layer". Boxes should be flattened and cut to pieces no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet. Boxes must be empty.

Paperboard (sometimes called single-layer cardboard) refers to the packaging material used to make cereal, cracker and shoe boxes. Milk cartons or juice boxes are not accepted for collection. Boxes must be empty. Please make sure you remove the plastic bag from cereal, cracker and other boxes. Boxes should be flattened and cut to pieces no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet.




Can I recycle pizza boxes?

Yes. Please remove any food or wax paper that may be inside.




Can I recycle shredded paper?

Yes, but please limit the amount you shred and place shredded paper in a sealed paper bag in your recycling container. NO PLASTIC BAGS, PLEASE. To minimize shredded paper, please only shred the paper that contains personal information. Also, to minimize litter, please make sure shredded pieces can't blow or fall out of your recycling container.




Do I need to separate paper from bottles & cans?

No.   They can all be mixed together in the cart.




Why can't we recycle plastic bags?

The new equipment that sorts the recyclables is incredibly sophisticated. Plastic bags are the one item that can get tangled around this equipment and cause damage. Please don't put plastic bags in your recycling container.  Most supermarkets in Denver take back their own bags for recycling.  King Soopers, Safeway, Whole Foods, Albertson's and Wal-Mart frequently have visible collection bins, however, this may vary by store.  Check with your local store to find out if they accept plastic bags for recycling.  Also, consider reusing your plastic bags. Many stores will give you a 5 cent credit for each bag reused.

 

 

In most cases, a simple light rinsing will do.  Containers don't need to be sparkling clean.  For "stickier" food items (such as mayonnaise or peanut butter jars) the containers might need to be scraped or wiped clean to remove as much food material as possible.

Recycling Carts


What is a recycling cart?

A recycling cart is defined as a container that is used to set out recyclable materials for the purpose of having recovered material collected and recycled by the city. The recycling cart is a city-issued purple recycling cart (a 65-gallon wheeled container with a lid).




Why did the city change to recycling carts?

We changed to recycling carts for several reasons:
(1) To increase the type and quantity of recyclable material collected;
(2) To increase customer satisfaction - the carts are easier to move, they hold more materials, they require no lifting, and they have lids so that they can be stored outside if needed.  Please note that carts should be brought up to the resident's property after collection day;
(3) To reduce worker injuries - crew members will no longer need to continually pick up heavy recycling bins which will improve the health and safety of our employees, and save the city money through reduced worker compensation claims and lost time; and
(4) To improve efficiencies - the automated trucks and carts will allow more collection per route and reduce the recycling fleet, thus saving money on program operation costs.



What is the size of the recycling cart?

The cart holds approximately 65 gallons of recyclable material (or about three and a half of the old style purple bins). The height with the lid is 41 inches, the width is 27 inches, and the depth is 29 inches.




What do I do with extra materials that won't fit in my cart?

Only recyclables inside the cart will be collected. Anything placed outside of the cart will be left behind. Maximize space in your cart by crushing down plastic bottles and aluminum cans.  Also, try loading cardboard pieces and boxes in last to save room.
If you have excess materials, see if your neighbors have extra room in their carts on collection day or take your materials to a recycling drop-off center.  A list of drop-off centers can be found on our online Recycling Directory.




What if the cart just isn't big enough?

Maximize space in your cart by crushing down plastic bottles and aluminum cans.  Also, try loading cardboard pieces and boxes in last to save room.
We will do our best to accommodate you.  A second recycling cart may be delivered to homes with significant and consistent extra recycling amounts.




Don’t carts allow people to put trash and non-recyclable items in them?

Yes, collections systems like this do tend to increase the collection of unwanted materials. We will monitor the carts with the cameras on our trucks and remove items when possible. In order to help minimize trash contamination, it is critical that you follow the acceptable materials list and bring your cart back onto your property on non-collection days. Recycling carts that continually have excess trash contamination will be taken away.




I live on a hill and I can't place my cart on the front curb. What should I do?

We are aware that there will be issues such as these in certain areas. Please send us an e-mail with your address, and your home and/or your block will be evaluated for a possible switch from curb collection to alley collection. We will make every effort to make everyone's set out as easy as possible.




Where should I store my recycling cart?

Your recycling container must be stored on your property, out of public view as best as you can.  Do not store your cart in the alley or on the street.  Store your container in your garage, breezeway, side of house, shed, or other location.  Carts continually left in alleys or on the street will be removed by collection crews.




General Service Questions


Is recycling mandatory?

No, it is not mandatory. But, the City and County of Denver encourages recycling because it reduces pollution, extends the life of our landfill, conserves natural resources, and supplies valuable materials to the manufacturing industry. Plus, by recycling, you will maximize the capacity you have in your garbage container.




How much does the program cost?

There is no charge to participate in the program.



What are the city's recycling service guidelines?