Recycling rules in Colorado can vary widely between cities and counties, making it important to understand your local recycling guidelines to avoid costly mistakes and contamination issues. Even neighboring communities can have completely different requirements for sorting, preparation, and acceptable materials, creating confusion for residents who move between areas or work in different cities.
Misplaced or contaminated items often lead to entire recycling loads being rejected and sent to landfills instead of being processed into new products. When non-recyclable materials get mixed with acceptable items, they can jam sorting equipment, contaminate clean materials, or create safety hazards for workers at processing facilities.
Next, we will explain the proper do’s and don’ts for recycling in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas to help you recycle more effectively. At SOCO Waste, we understand the importance of proper recycling education and are committed to helping our community reduce waste through informed decision-making and responsible disposal practices.
What Can Be Recycled In My Area?
In Colorado Springs, you can typically recycle paper products including newspapers, magazines, office paper, and junk mail, along with corrugated cardboard boxes that have been flattened and kept dry. Aluminum cans are highly valuable recyclables that should be empty and rinsed clean, while rigid plastics marked with recycling codes Plastic #1 (PET) and Plastic #2 (HDPE) such as bottles, milk jugs, and detergent containers are widely accepted. Glass bottles and jars in clear, brown, and green colors can be recycled, though they should be empty and free of lids, corks, or other non-glass attachments.
Electronics like computers, televisions, cell phones, and printers may require drop-off at designated facilities or special collection events since they contain valuable metals and hazardous components that need specialized handling. Many retailers and manufacturers offer take-back programs for electronics, and Colorado Springs hosts periodic e-waste collection events throughout the year. Batteries of all types, including household alkaline batteries and rechargeable lithium batteries, should never go in curbside bins but can be taken to participating retailers or hazardous waste collection sites for proper processing.
What Not to Recycle
Items like plastic bags, greasy pizza boxes, Styrofoam containers, and food-soiled containers should never go in your curbside recycling bin because they either cannot be processed by standard equipment or will contaminate other materials. Plastic bags and flexible films jam sorting machinery and create costly downtime at recycling facilities, while food waste and grease make paper products unsalvageable and can spread contamination throughout entire loads of otherwise clean materials. Styrofoam and expanded polystyrene products break into small pieces that are difficult to separate from other materials and generally have no viable recycling market in most Colorado communities.
Medical waste, including used syringes, bandages, and prescription medications, poses serious health and safety risks to workers and should never be placed in recycling bins or regular trash without special handling procedures. Hazardous chemicals, paint cans, motor oil, and automotive fluids require specialized disposal methods and can contaminate entire loads of recyclables while creating dangerous working conditions at recycling centers. Construction materials like drywall, concrete, and treated lumber are too heavy for standard recycling equipment and often contain substances that make them unsuitable for standard recycling processes.
Including non-recyclables can contaminate a batch, increasing processing costs and reducing the effectiveness of the recycling program for everyone in the community. Contaminated loads often must be diverted to landfills, which wastes the time and fuel spent collecting them while discouraging recycling facility operators from accepting materials from problematic areas.
How to Recycle Correctly
Proper preparation of recyclables increases the chance they’ll be successfully processed and reused while reducing contamination that can ruin entire batches of materials. Taking a few extra minutes to clean containers, remove non-recyclable components, and sort materials correctly makes a significant difference in the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of your local recycling program.
Following a few key best practices ensures your efforts actually benefit the environment and reduce landfill waste rather than creating additional problems for processing facilities. Consistent application of proper recycling techniques helps build sustainable programs that can continue operating effectively for years to come.
Clean, Dry Items Only
Rinse out food and beverage containers thoroughly with water and let them air dry completely before placing them in your recycling bin to prevent contamination and odors. Even small amounts of food residue can attract pests, create unpleasant smells, and make materials unsuitable for recycling into food-grade containers or other high-quality products. Dried containers are also lighter and easier for workers to handle during sorting, reducing the physical strain on recycling facility employees.
Wet or dirty recyclables can contaminate paper products and cause entire loads to be discarded rather than processed into new materials, wasting everyone’s effort and resources. Moisture from dirty containers can soak into cardboard and paper, making them too weak to process through recycling equipment and potentially causing expensive machinery breakdowns. Oil, grease, and food particles can also transfer to clean materials during transport and sorting, requiring facilities to reject materials that would otherwise have been successfully recycled.
Bag Loose Items
Keep shredded paper, soft plastics, or small recyclables contained in clear bags if accepted by your hauler, as loose items can create problems during collection and processing. Clear bags allow sorting workers to quickly identify contents without opening containers, improving safety and efficiency at recycling facilities. Some programs prefer that small items be contained to prevent them from falling through sorting screens or getting lost in the collection truck during transport.
Loose, lightweight items can get lost in sorting systems or create equipment jams at recycling facilities, leading to costly downtime and reduced processing efficiency. Shredded paper and small plastic pieces can blow around during windy weather, creating litter problems and making collection more difficult for workers. Properly bagged materials stay together throughout the collection and sorting process, ensuring they reach the appropriate processing equipment and don’t contaminate other material streams.
Sort By Materials
Separate glass, cardboard, and plastics as required by your local recycling program or drop-off center, since different materials require different processing methods and equipment. Some programs use single-stream collection where everything goes in one bin, while others require separation into multiple containers to maintain material quality and reduce processing costs. Check with your specific hauler or municipality to understand their requirements, as improper sorting can lead to rejection of your recyclables.
Sorting helps streamline processing and reduces the risk of cross-contamination between different material types that could make them unsuitable for recycling. Pre-sorted materials move more efficiently through recycling facilities, requiring less labor and energy to process while yielding higher-quality recycled products. Proper sorting also helps recycling facilities achieve better prices for their processed materials, making recycling programs more economically sustainable and environmentally beneficial.
Let SOCO Waste Handle All of Your Recycling Needs
Staying informed about local recycling rules helps reduce waste, save resources, and protect the environment while supporting your community’s sustainability goals and economic development. Proper recycling practices conserve natural resources, reduce energy consumption, and create local jobs in the growing green economy sector.
SOCO Waste offers comprehensive recycling guidance and services to help you recycle smarter and keep more materials out of the landfill through education and convenient collection options. Our experienced team stays current on changing regulations and best practices to provide accurate information that helps our customers make environmentally responsible choices.
SOCO Waste has built a strong reputation in the Colorado Springs community through years of reliable service, environmental stewardship, and commitment to customer satisfaction. Our knowledgeable customer service team takes pride in educating customers about proper waste management practices and providing personalized solutions for residential and commercial recycling needs. We believe that informed customers are the foundation of successful recycling programs, and we’re dedicated to supporting our community’s environmental goals through exceptional service and education.
For comprehensive trash removal and junk removal services that include recycling guidance and support, visit our website to get a quote, or call SOCO Waste at (719) 357-8855 to learn more about how we can help you reduce waste and recycle more effectively. Reach out to us for help with all of your local recycling needs.