Denver Residential Recycling: Your Guide to Curbside Rules and Accepted Materials

Participation in Denver’s residential curbside recycling program is a key step towards a more sustainable city. Understanding specific rules and accepted materials ensures your efforts make a real difference, preventing contamination and supporting efficient processing. This guide offers clear, actionable information for Denver residents. Always refer to the official City and County of Denver Waste Management website for the most current and definitive guidelines.

What’s Accepted in Your Denver Blue Cart: A Detailed Guide

Denver’s blue recycling carts are designed for specific materials. Knowing what goes in ensures your recyclables are processed and don’t end up in a landfill due to contamination.

Paper Products

Common paper items are suitable. This includes junk mail, magazines, newspapers, catalogs, phone books, envelopes (including window envelopes), paperboard (like cereal boxes and tissue boxes), and flattened cardboard boxes. Ensure paper products are dry and free of food residue. Greasy pizza boxes, for example, are typically not accepted.

Cardboard

Corrugated cardboard is readily recyclable. Flatten all cardboard boxes to save space in your cart and aid in collection. Cardboard should be clean and dry. If heavily soiled with food or grease, it should go into the trash.

Metal Cans

Aluminum beverage cans, steel/tin food cans (e.g., soup, vegetable cans), and aluminum foil are accepted. These items should be empty and rinsed clean. Labels can remain on cans.

Glass Bottles and Jars

All colors of glass bottles and jars are accepted. These must be empty and rinsed. You do not need to remove labels. Metal lids should be removed and can be recycled separately if larger than 2 inches in diameter and placed loosely, or discarded if smaller. Plastic lids should be discarded.

Rigid Plastics #1-7

Look for the recycling symbol with a number 1 through 7 on the bottom of plastic containers. This typically includes plastic bottles (soda, water), jugs (milk, detergent), and tubs (yogurt, butter, sour cream, cottage cheese). Ensure all plastics are empty and clean. Crinkly plastics, plastic bags, Styrofoam, and plastic film are not accepted in the blue cart.

Common Contaminants: What NEVER Belongs in Your Blue Cart

Placing incorrect items in your blue cart, often called “wishcycling,” can contaminate an entire batch of otherwise good recyclables, leading to more waste and higher processing costs. Understanding these prohibited items is crucial.

Plastic Bags and Film

Grocery bags, produce bags, trash bags, bubble wrap, plastic film, and flexible plastic packaging are major contaminants. These items tangle recycling machinery, causing breakdowns and delays. Take these to designated store drop-off locations or place them in the trash.

Styrofoam

Styrofoam (polystyrene foam) in any form—cups, packing peanuts, takeout containers, or egg cartons—is not accepted in Denver’s curbside program. Recycling it is difficult and uneconomical due to its lightweight nature and volume.

Food Waste and Liquids

Food residue, liquids, or un-rinsed containers contaminate other materials, especially paper and cardboard. Always empty and rinse containers thoroughly before placing them in the recycling cart.

Electronics (E-Waste)

Electronics like televisions, computers, cell phones, and batteries contain hazardous materials and require special handling. They should never go into your blue cart. Denver offers specific e-waste recycling events or drop-off locations.

Clothing and Textiles

Clothing, blankets, shoes, and other textiles are not recyclable via the curbside program. Consider donating usable items or finding textile recycling programs in Denver.

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous items such as paint, chemicals, motor oil, sharp objects, and medical waste pose significant risks to workers and the environment. These are strictly prohibited from curbside recycling and require specialized disposal methods.

Prepping Your Recyclables: Maximizing Acceptance in Denver

Proper preparation is just as important as knowing what to recycle. A few simple steps ensure your materials are truly recyclable.

Empty and Rinse

Food and beverage containers—including plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, glass jars, and metal cans—must be empty and rinsed clean. A quick rinse is usually sufficient; they don’t need to be sparkling clean, but free of significant residue.

Flatten Cardboard

Break down and flatten cardboard boxes. This conserves space in your cart, allowing you to fit more, and helps the collection process. Cut large pieces to fit entirely inside the cart.

No Bagging

Place accepted recyclables loose in your blue cart. Never put them in plastic bags. Bagged recyclables are often landfilled as bags cannot be processed by machinery and hinder content identification.

Lids and Labels

Generally, labels on cans and bottles do not need to be removed. For plastic containers, small plastic caps can usually remain on if securely attached. Larger metal lids from glass jars can be recycled loosely if two inches or larger in diameter; otherwise, they should be trashed.

Understanding Your Collection Schedule & Bin Placement

To ensure your recyclables are collected efficiently, follow Denver’s guidelines for collection days and cart placement.

Finding Your Schedule

Your recycling collection day is tied to your address. Look up your collection schedule on the City and County of Denver Waste Management website by entering your address. Sign up for collection reminders if available.

Proper Cart Placement

On your collection day, place your blue cart at the curb by 7:00 AM. Ensure three feet of clearance around the cart from other bins, mailboxes, parked cars, or obstructions. The cart’s wheels should be against the curb, and the lid opening should face the street.

Missed Collection

If your cart was placed correctly but missed, contact Denver 311 or the Waste Management department promptly to report it. There’s usually a window to request a pick-up.

How to Verify in Denver Today

When in doubt about a specific item, it’s always best to verify directly with official Denver sources to avoid contamination.

1. Check the Official Denver Waste Management Website: Visit denvergov.org/wastemanagement and use their ‘What Goes Where?’ tool or review the detailed recycling guidelines for residential curbside collection. This is the most reliable and up-to-date source.
2. Call Denver 311: Dial 311 to speak with a representative who can answer specific questions about recycling particular items or clarify collection rules. If calling from outside Denver, check the official denvergov.org website for the appropriate phone number.
3. Check for the Official Denver Waste Management Mobile App: Search for and download the city’s official waste management app (if available for your device) to access recycling information, collection schedules, and waste disposal guides directly from your smartphone.

Your Denver Recycling Decision Checklist

Before tossing an item into your blue cart, run through this quick checklist:

• Is this item explicitly listed as accepted on Denver’s official recycling guidelines?
• Is the item completely empty and rinsed clean of all food or liquid residue?
• Is the item placed loose in the blue cart, never inside a plastic bag?
• Is the item a rigid plastic container (bottle, jug, tub), not a flexible film or Styrofoam?
• Is your blue cart placed at the curb by 7 AM on your collection day, clear of obstacles?
• For cardboard, is it flattened and cut to fit inside the blue cart?

Common Recycling Mistakes in Denver to Avoid

Be mindful of these frequent errors to ensure your recycling efforts are effective:

• Bagging recyclables in plastic grocery bags, which jams sorting machinery.
• Leaving food waste or liquids in containers, leading to contamination and odor issues.
• Placing non-recyclable plastics (e.g., plastic film, clam shells, Styrofoam) in the blue cart.
• Including electronic waste, batteries, or hazardous materials in the curbside bin.
• Attempting to recycle items not on the official list (‘wishcycling’), which increases contamination.
• Overfilling the blue cart or placing items outside of it, leading to missed collection or litter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I recycle shredded paper in my blue cart?

A: Shredded paper is generally not accepted in curbside recycling because its small size makes sorting difficult and can clog machinery. It’s often better to compost it or take it to special recycling events if available.

Q: What should I do with plastic bottle caps?

A: For plastic bottles and jugs, keeping caps on is generally recommended. When attached, the caps are more likely to be recycled with the container. Loose small caps can fall through sorting machinery.

Q: Are greasy pizza boxes recyclable?

A: Pizza boxes with significant grease stains or food residue should go in the trash. The grease contaminates the paper fibers, making them unsuitable for recycling. Clean portions of the box, however, can be torn off and recycled.

By following these guidelines, Denver residents can significantly improve the quality of their curbside recycling, contributing to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable community. Your careful attention to what and how you recycle makes a significant impact.