Residential Guidelines For Trash, Recycling and Composting Collection in Boulder and Broomfield Counties, Colorado

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Residential Guidelines

If you "Know Before You Throw, you can reduce your amount of trash to a fraction of what it was. This photo represents the average amount of trash, recyclables and compostables generated in a week. After sorting the recyclables and compostables from the trash, there is only one small bag of trash left.

	Trash
	Recycling
	Hazardous Waste
	Electronics Drop-off
	Yard Waste & Wood Waste Drop-off

Trash Collection Guidelines

General Guidelines for Collection Day

	Have your trash and recyclables out by 7:00 a.m. to ensure pickup.
	If you use trash cans or bags, do not use sizes larger than 32-gallon size. For the safety of our drivers, please do not overload trash cans or bags with more than 35 pounds of material.
	Tie trash bags securely.
	Additional charges will be added for trash, including yard waste, that exceeds your service level limits
	If branches will not fit in your cart, cans or bags, cut branches into five-foot lengths and tie into bundles no larger than three feet in diameter.
	Furniture, appliances, carpet, construction debris, etc., can be picked up for an extra charge.
	Call in advance to authorize special pickup of large or unusual items.
	Call in advance to arrange a change of address, a vacation stop and restart, or name change on your account.
	Grass clippings, bundled branches and special items must be placed within three feet of the curb or alley.

Guidelines for Automated Cart Service

	Only use trash and recycle carts provided by Western.
	Place carts at least two feet apart and two feet from parked cars, recycling bins, fences, mailboxes and other obstructions.
	Place carts with arrow facing the street and the handle facing your house.
	Unhook any temporary bungee cords or tie-downs you may have used to secure the lid before setting the cart(s) out on collection day.
	Do not overload cart(s). Do not place dirt, sod, brick, concrete or rock in the cart(s).
	Please bag your trash and tie securely before placing in cart.
	Do not bag recyclable items. Place them directly in the appropriate recycle cart.
	Do not place anything on top of cart(s).
	Do not mark or write anywhere on the cart surface. Do not paint or deface the cart in any way.
	Do not place hot ashes, coals or other flammable materials such as solvents, oil, gas or paint in the cart.
	Fill your trash cart first before placing materials outside the cart.
	Do not remove the cart(s) from your home if you move. The cart(s) is the property of Western Disposal.
	All recyclables must fit in the cart.

With any service level, if there is more trash than the service level allows, or if large and bulky items are put out, it will result in an additional charge. Please call in advance so we may advise you of the charge.

Guidelines for Can/Bag/Bin Service

	Do not set out your recyclables on windy days. When possible, save your materials for the next assigned pickup day for the appropriate material.
	If you do not use Western's recycle cart or if you have extra recyclables, use sturdy plastic bins.
	Do not set out recyclables in plastic or paper bags.
	Tie trash bags securely.
	Use trash cans or bags which are no larger than a 32-gallon size (no 55 gallon drums). Do not overload trash cans or bags. They should not exceed 35 pounds.
	If animals get into your trash, spray the outside of the cans or bags with ammonia.

Recycling Guidelines

These guidelines apply to customers who subscribe to our cart service. Scroll down further for the guidelines for co-collect bag customers. NOTE: collection details can vary depending on your location - check further details here.

To download a printable version of the guidelines for recycling in English click here.

To download a printable version of the guidelines for recycling in Spanish click here.

All approved recyclables must fit in the recycle cart.

Allowed items:

Paper & Cardboard

	Office paper & opened mail
	Copy & loose leaf paper
	Letterhead
	Brochures & pamphlets
	Greeting & index cards
	Computer printouts
	File folders
	Blueprints
	Paste-colored paper & envelopes
	Newspapers & inserts
	Corrugated cardboard
	Brown paper bags
	Phonebooks
	Cereal & other paperboard boxes
	Paper egg cartons

No need to remove: paperclips, stamps, address labels, staples, tape, wire, metal fasteners, rubberbands, plastic spiral bindings, plastic tabs.

If cardboard boxes don’t fit in the cart, flatten and place under the cart lid.

Containers

	Plastic bottles and jugs (#1 - #7, no #7 PLA compostables, do not flatten, plastic caps okay if re-attached)
	Plastic screw-top jars (#1 - #7, no #7 PLA compostables, do not flatten)
	Glass bottles & jars(remove lids)
	Aluminum cans
	Clean, balled aluminum foil (2” or larger) & pie pans
	Steel/tin cans
	Empty aerosol cans (no lids)
	Paper milk & juice cartons
	Juice boxes & drink boxes (no foil pouches)
	Metal jar lids &steel bottle caps

Please note: Empty and rinse all containers. Do not flatten containers.

These items ARE NOT ALLOWED:

	No plastics other than those listed
	No plastic bags
	No loose plastic caps (attached okay)
	No motor oil bottles
	No vitamin or prescription bottles
	No plastic 6-pack holders
	No plastic film canisters
	No plastic microwave trays
	No plastic or Styrofoam® to-go containers
	No neon, fluorescent, goldenrod or dark-colored paper
	No gift wrap or tissue paper
	No tissues, paper towels, napkins
	No waxed paper or waxed cardboard
	No shredded paper
	No paper ream wrappers
	No books
	No photographs
	No Kraft® (orangish/brown/yellow) envelopes
	No backing from stickers or labels
	No stickers(address labels and stamps ok)
	No frozen food, ice cream or frozen juice containers
	No paper to-go containers(they have a plastic coating)
	No paper cups or plates
	No straws
	No foil drink pouches
	No Tyvek® envelopes
	No Styrofoam® egg cartons
	No pet food, kitty litter, fertilizer or charcoal bags
	No Styrofoam® “clamshell” boxes
	No drinking glasses, window glass
	No light bulbs, plates or vases
	No mirrors, ceramics or Pyrex®
	No scrap metal
	No hazardous or bio-hazardous waste
	No diapers
	No needles or syringes

If in doubt, throw it out! Don’t guess.

CO-COLLECT BAG GUIDELINES

These guidelines apply to customers who live in rural or mountain areas and subscribe to our co-collect bag service.

To download a printable version of the guidelines for co-collect bags in English click here.

This program is designed so that you can mix everything together in one bag. All recyclables included in the guidelines above, except glass items, can be placed in the bag. You may mix your newspaper, junk mail, cans and plastic bottles. Glass is not allowed in this program to protect our drivers and sorters.

How to Maximize Your Recycling at Home (and Decrease Your Trash)

The key to efficient recycling is an easy-to-use storage system that fits into your daily routine. Recycling can take effort, but when you make it convenient and create a system for it, recycling gets to be an easy habit. Here are some tips that will help you recycle more and trash less:

Make recycling convenient. Have a place to store recyclables wherever they are generated. Example: place a box under your desk in your home office for office paper, set a bin under your kitchen sink for commingled containers.

Set up an intermediate holding location for each level of your home using separate bins for mixed paper, commingled containers and trash. These bins can then be easily emptied taken to the trash and recycle area outside.

Have a dedicated storage area outside for your recyclables and compostables if applicable. If you have recycle carts, they can be placed almost anywhere: garages, carports, on the side of your house, etc. The carts have lids and friction locks to protect materials from the wind and weather, and they are more difficult for animals to access.

Place a copy of the recycle guidelines wherever you have a recycle container so you can easily identify what materials are acceptable guidelines.

Place a copy of the recycle collection calendar where it is convenient and easy to find.

Start “waste reduction” at the store:

	Select products with minimal packaging
	Use products in containers that can be recycled locally
	Reuse plastic and paper grocery bags or bring your own canvas or net bags
	Bring your own containers to stores that sell products in bulk

Compost your food scraps and yard waste. For larger quantities of yard waste, consider these alternatives:

	Bring materials to the year-round yard waste drop-off sponsored by the city of Boulder and Boulder County—located at Western Disposal’s Trash and Recycle Center.
	Deliver your leaves to your municipality’s fall leaf recycling program if available

Reuse items when possible. Donate clothing, furniture, etc., to any of the following charities

Organizations that pick up reusable items free of charge:

	Vietnam Veterans of America 800-775-8387
	Association for Retarded Citizens 303-238-5263
	Salvation Army 800-958-7825
	ARES Thrift Shops 303-651-6066 (Longmont) or 303-444-8088 (Boulder)
	Disabled American Veterans 303-288-8387 x303

Drop-off centers:

	Bargain Basement Thrift 720-494-0987 (Longmont)
	Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Foundation Thrift Shoppe 720-890-4311 (Louisville)
	Boulder County Recycling Center
	Boulder Freecycle 720-304-2171
	Boulder Humane Society Thrift Shop 303-415-0685
	Flatirons Habitat Thrift Store 303-404-2008 (Broomfield)
	Goodwill Industries 303-650-7700
	HospiceCare & Share Thrift Shop 303-604-5353 (Boulder)
	Longmont Humane Society Thrift Store 720-494-8348
	Savers 303-499-6979 (Boulder)
	2nd Hand Revival 303-258-7240 (Nederland)
	Sister Carmen Community Center 303-665-4342 (Lafayette)
	Get your entire household involved. If you have children, make recycling an educational opportunity. Make recycling easy and fun. Reward your household for a job well done.
	Explore this website or call the Recycle Boulder Hotline at 303-441-4234 for additional help and information.

Have another good idea? Please e-mail it to us at recycle@westerndisposal.com.

Composting Guidelines

This information is under construction, check back soon or click Composting on our homepage.

Household Hazardous Waste Guidelines

It is easy and convenient to dispose of your household hazardous waste at the new Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF) located at 1901c 63rd Street (enter at Boulder County Recycling Center - follow signs to HMMF), it is free for Boulder County residents and the cities of Broomfield and Erie. For a list of residential materials they accept and other details click here.

Electronics Drop-off