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Denver Metro Area Waste Disposal

We can all help our neighborhood, and the greater world environment, by properly disposing of exhausted things. 

Our care and attention keeps nasty chemicals and other dangerous items out of waterways and systems. 

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  • Paperwork Shredding- Burn, shred and throw away, or Drop off at Office Depot for 99 cents per pound.

  • General Recycling (Cardboard, paper, glass bottles and jars, scrap metal, aluminum beverage cans, and plastic bottles)- Quail Street Recycling Center in Lakewood (303) 987-7974

  • Plastic Film (aka bags and wrapping)- Almost every grocery store.​

  • Household Hazardous Waste- Rooney Road Recycling (303) 316-6262, open for drop off appointments on Wednesdays and Saturdays 8am-2pm. It is $20 for 75 pounds of hazardous waste including, but not limited to: aerosols, re-chargeable batteries, fertilizers, pesticides, non-THC vape pens, cleaners, antifreeze, gasoline, and fluorescent bulbs, and fire extinguishers.

  • Rechargeable batteries and fluorescent light bulbs (regular batteries and bulbs are okay to throw away), and mercury thermometers- Home Depot, Ace, Lowes, and Batteries Plus Bulbs 

  • Paint- Sherwin Williams (303) 932-0223, Rooney Road Recycling (303) 316-6262, and Paint Care Recycling

  • Motor oil- Almost any auto repair shop

  • Electronics and smoke detectors- Best Buy, Staples, Apple Give Back, and Sprint

  • Prescription Drugs- Littleton City government center, specific King Soopers and Walgreens locations, Jeffco public health (303) 232-6301, and (depending on the drug) you can follow individual disposal instructions.

  • Tires- Discount Tire, Big O, and Les Schwab

  • Automotive batteries- Walmart, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Batteries Plus Bulbs, and Home Depot

  • Guns and Ammunition- Jeffco Sherriff's Office (303) 277-0211 and the National Center for Unwanted Firearms (833) GIV-GUNS

  • Fireworks- soak for 24 hours in water and tie up in plastic bags to ensure they stay wet before disposal with regular trash service… Also, it is illegal to shoot off fireworks in most places.

  • Mattresses- Spring Back Colorado charges $30/piece (can bring yourself) and $45 to pick up (720) 515-1328

  • Car Seats- Cut the straps before throwing in the trash OR recycle your seat at Target (receive a 20% off coupon for each seat) during their twice annual car seat take-back program, or other CO locations-

  • Eyeglasses- Lions Club International, Goodwill, and New Eyes for The Needy (973) 376-4903 take only non-prescription sunglasses

  • Hearing aids- Hearing Charities of America (816) 333-8300

  • Scrap metal- Denver Scrap Metal Recycling (303) 297-1818 and All Recycling (303) 922-7722

  • Asphalt, Concrete, and Wood- Oxford Recycling in Englewood (303) 762-1160

  • Appliances, Furniture, and Salvage Materials- Habitat for Humanity ReStore (303) 407-2310

  • Digital Data- On site shredding, destruction, wiping, and more...

  • Clothing, home goods, furniture, and more- ARC (720) 542-9800 and Goodwill (303) 904-6804​

  • Textiles (can be in any condition)- American Textile Recycling Service 2950 W. 2nd Ave. #20​

  • Medical sharps- Seal tightly (with duct tape or similar) in a thick plastic container (like a detergent bottle) marked, “DO NOT RECYLCE” before throwing in the trash

  • Brush/yard waste- Assuming "green waste" or compost is not an option in your area, dispose in regular trash (this actually helps landfill waste to decompose faster!)

  • Compost- DIY or check out A1 organics for large donation options

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More Local Resources

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Info on Trash Companies

In an effort to help people know their options and avoid hours of research,

this list of company details (servicing the SW parts of the Denver Metro area) has been compiled. 

Please note, all costs are approximate and will vary (updated quotes March 2023). 

 

  1. Waste Connections of CO- (303) 288-2100, www.wasteconnections.com/denver/

    • ~$336/year for trash & recycling ($218 for trash only), $27.50 startup fee, provide cans 

    • Recycling goes to the LOCAL Alpine Altogether (GFL) recycling facility. Alpine offers the most comprehensive recycling program available in Colorado with the widest breadth of acceptable items. Processing recycling locally is by far the most environmentally effective approach. Alpine has received numerous prestigious awards over the years for sustainability and green practices. 

    • From a homeowner- It feels good to know our recycling is processed locally, and we have not had any major issues with our trash pickups.   

  2. Colorado Waste (AKA Eppie & Eddie)- (303) 437-7432, www.coloradowaste.com

    • ~$340/year for trash & recycling (included, so can’t do trash only), no startup fee, need your own cans

    • Recycling is mixed (they DO NOT accept CARDBOARD) and goes to the Waste Management Recycle America facility. Colorado Waste requests all recycling be bagged, as they haul it in a pickup truck. The recycling bags are removed and thrown away (not ideal) when recycling is unloaded. They are a small family-owned business with personalized service. 

    • From a homeowner- They provide amazing service and even move the trash cans back up the driveway after pickup. Also, we have never been charged for extra trash.  

  3. Republic Services- (303) 286-1200, www.republicservices.com

    • ~$421/year for trash & recycling ($352 for trash only), $113 delivery fee upfront for "provided" cans

    • Recycling goes to various transfer stations (and then somewhere unknown???). They could not specify where the recycling was eventually processed, and likely it is shipped out of state. 

    • From a homeowner- They have been reliable for years and we do not get pay for reasonable overages.

  4. Waste Management- (720) 523-3842, www.wm.com

    • ~$328/year for trash & recycling ($240 trash only), $90 startup/delivery fee for "provided" cans

  5. Colorado Waste Services- (720) 930-7645, www.wscolorado.com

    • ​A 3rd party that partners with Waste Management using their same trucks, service days, and dumps.

    • ~$300/year for trash &recycling ($225 trash only), no startup fee, provide cans

    • Recycling is mixed and probably goes to the Waste Management Recycle America facility, which is located in the Denver metro area, although they could not provide information on whether or not all recycling is processed locally. When asked they said the recycling is taken to transfer stations.

    • From a homeowner- They get the job done. Use CO Waste Services for a better deal.

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