Recycling Basics

This information is intended to promote and encourage recycling and assist those wishing to recycle such as business and industry (set up your own recycling program), governments (see case studies for decision makers) and schools (tools for teachers and students).

Need Help Recycling in Colorado? 

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment can help you find a recycler or drop off center near you, electronics recyclers, paint recycler, and hard to recycle materials recycler. Check out their resource.

Top 5 Recycling Questions

How does Colorado compare to other "green" recycling states?
Colorado is not doing a great job with recycling relative to the rest of the nation. In 2018, 17% of the municipal waste stream was recycled or composted in Colorado; the rate for the rest of the nation was about 35%. About half of the counties in Colorado have recycling available for residents at the curb.  In 2021, the municipal solid waste diversion rate rose slightly from 15.3% to 16%, while the total diversion rate fell from 35.8% to 31.2%.  Details on the specific category changes, as well as diversion trends, and compost data, can be found here.

Eunomia Research & Consulting and the Ball Corporation published the 50 States of Recycling Report, a comparable assessment of common packaging materials based on 2018 data. This calculation set a baseline in each state that can be used to inform policy, design programs, and assess infrastructure needs. Check it out to see how Colorado ranks up to other states.

Do recyclables really get recycled?
Recyclables have value and once separated from trash and collected as recyclables, are very rarely thrown into landfills. Recyclables are sold to markets for a profit (revenues can vary depending on local and international economies). It does not make business sense to separately collect recyclables and then pay to put something in a landfill that has value in the markets.

Does recycling reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Even taking into account the recycling trucks on the road and transportation impacts, the embedded energy recovered in recyclables dramatically outweighs the emissions from transportation.

How can I recycle?

Recycling services vary depending on where you are located. Contact your waste hauler or your local government office for options in your area. You can also search Recycle Colorado's member directory for recyclers.

Why isn't recycling free for all households?

Someday it may be free, but right now recycling is only cheaper than trash service. On average, a collection hauler will charge a household around $3-$5/month to collect recycling and around $8-$12/month (or more) to collect trash. The actual recyclables are only a portion of a hauler’s total budget and expenses. To collect recyclables haulers must still purchase trucks and carts/bins, staff the trucks to collect the materials, purchase fuel, provide maintenance, etc. These costs are nearly the same for recycling as for trash. However recycling, unlike trash, once collected can be sold as a commodity. Haulers must pay to dispose of trash in a landfill.

Facts, Figures and Resources