We all should try to do our part in making sure we dispose of things in the best way possible for the environment. Some may not be aware that items like CFLs, prescription medicines, and mercury thermometers can’t go in the trash. Knowing when upcoming free events are occurring enables us to plan and, hopefully, save some money. In Boulder County, we have resources and free events throughout the year that make it so much easier for us to do so.
Often appliances and large items, like an old couch, are expensive to dispose of properly. Of course, the best choice is to donate an item to charity or on message boards like Craigslist so that another person can use the item. In situations when an item can’t be reused, it is best to know what options are available. There is nothing like spending $220 to have a junk company dispose of your old sofa when the city would have picked it up for almost $150 less in Longmont or almost $200 less if you live in Superior!
Make sure to reach out to your local city government if you have questions or need assistance with how to properly dispose of various items. Some quantity and size restrictions may apply. This Hazardous Waste Flyer might provide some answers if your city doesn’t accept certain items.
Helpful Information
> Appliances: Free Appliance Pickup, Disposal & Recycling. Connect with local services for fast, free, and eco-friendly removal and haul away with Take My Appliance.
> Remodeling: Reclaimed materials from renovations (cabinets, doors, tile, sinks, windows, fencing, roofing material, etc.) may be accepted and picked up or dropped off if in good condition to be resold by Resource Central in Boulder or the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Check out their websites for details.
> Scrap Metal: You may be able to sell your scrap metal to a company like Rocky Mountain Recycling depending on what you are discarding.
Boulder
- Cardboard Boxes – Boulder County Recycling Center
- FOR A FEE: Hard to Recycle – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- Hazardous Waste (pesticides, propane, CFLs, gas) – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- FOR A FEE: Leaf Collection – Western Disposal
- Medications – Boulder Community Health – Foothills Hospital – ER bin
- FOR A FEE: Metal – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- Oils – Hazardous Materials Management Facility or Eco-Cycle ChaRM (cooking, fee)
- Paint – 5 gallons per day accepted at most places that sell paint, like Home Depot and Sherwin Williams
- Rechargeable Batteries – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- FOR A FEE: Shredded Paper Recycling – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- FOR A FEE: Tires – accepted at places that sell tires, such as Discount Tire
- FOR A FEE: White Block Styrofoam – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- FOR A FEE: Yard Waste, Tree Limbs, Leaves – Western Disposal
FREE:
- Mulch (available to residents) – Boulder Forestry at Pearl Parkway between 49th and 55th Street
Erie
- Cardboard Boxes – Recycling Center
- Hard to Recycle Event – Twice a year
- Hazardous Waste (pesticides, propane, CFLs, gas) – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- Landfill Drop Days (Free days) – Twice a year
- FOR A FEE: Large Items – Twice a year
- Medications – Twice a year
- Metal – Twice a year
- Oils – Hazardous Materials Management Facility or Eco-Cycle ChaRM (cooking, fee)
- Paint – 5 gallons per day accepted at most places that sell paint, like Home Depot and Sherwin Williams
- Rechargeable Batteries – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- Recycling (plastics, paper, cans) – Recycling Center
- Shredded Paper Recycling – Once a year
- Tires – Re-Tyres
- FOR A FEE: White Block Styrofoam – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- Yard Waste, Leaves – Recycling Center
FREE:
- Compost (available to residents) – Recycling Center
Lafayette
- Cardboard Boxes – Republic Services
- Hard to Recycle Event – Republic Services (April)
- Hazardous Waste (pesticides, propane, CFLs, gas) – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- FREE AND FOR A FEE: Large Items (sofa, mattresses, appliances) – Republic Services
- Leaf Collection – Republic Services (Twice per year)
- Medications –Lafayette Police Department Records Division
- FOR A FEE: Metal- Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- Oils – Hazardous Materials Management Facility or Eco-Cycle ChaRM (cooking, fee)
- Paint – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- Rechargeable Batteries – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- FOR A FEE: Shredded Paper Recycling – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- FOR A FEE: Tires – accepted at places that sell tires, such as Discount Tire
- FOR A FEE: White Block Styrofoam – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- Yard Waste, Tree Limbs, Leaves – Republic Services
FREE:
- Compost (available to residents) – Republic Services (April)
Longmont
- Cardboard Boxes – Recycling Center
- Hard to Recycle Event (mattress, TV, fire extinguisher) – Green Girl Recycling (October)
- Hazardous Waste (pesticides, propane, CFLs, gas, electronics) – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- Landfill Drop Days (Free days) – June and August
- FOR A FEE: Large Items (sofa, furniture) – City of Longmont pick up
- Leaf Collection – City of Longmont
- Medications – Longmont Public Safety
- Metal (appliances, hot water heaters, things mostly metal) – Recycling Center
- Automotive and Cooking Oils – Recycling Center
- Paint – 5 gallons per day accepted at most places that sell paint, like Home Depot and Sherwin Williams
- Rechargeable Batteries – Recycling Center
- Recycling (plastics, paper, cans) – Recycling Center
- Shredded Paper Recycling – Green Girl Recycling
- FOR A FEE: Tires – accepted at places that sell tires, such as Discount Tire
- White Block Styrofoam – Recycling Center
- Yard Waste, Tree Limbs, Leaves – Recycling Center
FREE:
- Mulch (available to residents) – Recycling Center
Louisville
- Cardboard Boxes – Republic’s Services Louisville
- FOR A FEE: Hard to Recycle (electronics, refrigerators) – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- Hazardous Waste (pesticides, propane, CFLs, gas, electronics) – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- FOR A FEE: Large Items – Republic’s Services Louisville
- Leaf and Branch Collection – Republic’s Services Louisville
- Medications – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- Metal – RV Dump Station
- Oils – Hazardous Materials Management Facility or Eco-Cycle ChaRM (cooking, fee)
- Paint – 5 gallons per day accepted at most places that sell paint, like Home Depot and Sherwin Williams
- FOR A FEE: Shredded Paper Recycling – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- FOR A FEE: Tires – accepted at places that sell tires, such as Discount Tire
- FOR A FEE: White Block Styrofoam – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- Yard Waste, Tree Limbs, Leaves – City of Louisville Branch or Leaf Collection Sites
FREE:
- Mulch (available to both residents and non-residents) – Branch Recycle Site
- Compost (available to residents only) – Branch Recycle Site
Lyons
- Cardboard Boxes – Recycling Center
- SOME FOR A FEE: Hard to Recycle (Electronics, small appliances, TVs) – Diversion Day*
- Hazardous Waste (pesticides, propane, CFLs, gas, electronics) – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- FOR A FEE: Landfill Drop Days – Materials Management Center
- Large Items (Mattresses) – Diversion Day*
- Medications – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- Metal – Diversion Day*
- Oils – Hazardous Materials Management Facility or Eco-Cycle ChaRM (cooking, fee)
- Paint – Diversion Day*
- Rechargeable Batteries – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- Recycling (plastics, paper, cans) – Recycling Center
- Shredded Paper Recycling – Diversion Day*
- Tires – Diversion Day*
- White Block Styrofoam – Diversion Day*
- Yard Waste, Limbs, Leaves – Diversion Day*
*Diversion Day is limited to a specified number of cars and requires an appointment.
Superior
- Cardboard Boxes – Republic Services
- FOR A FEE: Hard to Recycle (electronics, refrigerators) – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- Hazardous Waste (pesticides, propane, CFLs, gas, electronics) – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- FOR A FEE: Large Items (Mattresses, appliances, sofa) – Republic Services
- Medications – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- FOR A FEE: Metal- Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- Oils – Hazardous Materials Management Facility or Eco-Cycle ChaRM (cooking, fee)
- Paint – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- Rechargeable Batteries – Hazardous Materials Management Facility
- FOR A FEE: Shredded Paper Recycling – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- FOR A FEE: Tires – accepted at places that sell tires, such as Discount Tire
- FOR A FEE: White Block Styrofoam – Eco-Cycle ChaRM
- Yard Waste, Tree Limbs, Leaves – Yard Waste Site
FREE:
- Compost (available to residents only) – Yard Waste Site
Before you go, please make sure to verify any information on this page. Policies and requirements are constantly changing. Contact the city or organization prior to disposal, so you don’t waste a trip. Please let us know if anything on this page needs to be corrected.
