Recycling

Recyclable Material Preparation Guidelines:

Please follow these guidelines carefully to help make recycling a success.

Commingled Containers (Bottles/Cans/Jars)

"Commingled Containers" include all of the following food and beverage containers and are accepted mixed together at the City and County drop-off centers.

Glass bottles and jars of all colors: Please avoid breaking glass. Labels OK. Please rinse. Remove and recycle metal lids/caps. NO vases, plate or window glass, drinking glasses, dishes, Pyrex, light bulbs, mirrors, ceramics or syringes. more information on glass recycling->>

• Aluminum and steel (tin-coated) food and beverage cans including empty aerosol cans (throw away plastic lids/caps): Don't crush or flatten cans. Please rinse. No need to remove labels. Remove and recycle metal lids/caps. Pinch the open end of cans closed. NO plastic lids/caps or scrap metal.
• Empty aerosol cans: Cans must be completely empty of all contents. Remove and throw away plastic lids/caps. The nozzle should be left on the can.

• Plastic bottles and jugs: Check for the neck. Recycle all plastic bottles and jars with an opening smaller than the base (or widest part). Bottles generally have screw tops. Empty the contents. You don't need to remove labels. Remove and throw away caps, lids, pumps and sprayers. Flatten plastic bottles so they take up less room in the recycling bin. For more detailed information, print this poster (pdf) and keep it handy.

DO INCLUDE these kinds of empty bottles:

• Kitchen: soda, milk, water, juice, syrup, ketchup, cooking oils, and jars with necks, like peanut butter.
• Household Cleaners: liquid dish soap, liquid household cleaners (window, bathroom and kitchen).
• Bathroom: shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, mouthwash, lotions, pump hair spray.
• Laundry: liquid laundry detergent, bleach, liquid fabric softner.
• Beverage containers at home and on the go: soft drinks, teas, sports drinks, water.

DON'T INCLUDE these kinds of plastic items:

• Caps, lids, pumps and sprayers
• Bags, film or wraps
• Toys
• Medical supplies
• Large plastic items
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Solvent, paint and adjesive containers
• Tubs such as yogurt and margarine
• Pails, such as ice cream
• Flower pots and garden plastics
• Food storage, fast food containers and microwave containers.

For more information on the plastic recycling codes, visit this link Plastic Resin Identification Codes.

Paper

• Office paper, newspaper and inserts (including advertising, TV guides, coupons, etc. delivered inside the newspaper), junk mail, magazines and catalogs. Separate from other recyclables (i.e. brown paper bag). Please don't tie with string! Don't set it out if it's snowing or raining. NO phone books.

Corrugated cardboard and paperboard (beginning in January 2006)

Fort Collins haulers have agreed on uniform preparation guidelines for cardboard to ensure the new materials can be efficiently collected.

1. Cardboard should not exceed 2’ x 2’ in size (oversized pieces must be cut down)
2. Items must be placed inside the recycle bin (additional bins available by calling your hauler), or in a box equal to or smaller in size than the bin itself
3. Boxes must be broken down along the folds (please do not smash them flat)
4. Remove all materials, packaging, and other items from inside the boxes
5. Pizza boxes are allowed as long as all food particles are removed

If you have questions contact the City Natural Resources Department at 970-221-6600.

To dispose of unused hazardous products (e.g. pesticides) call Larimer County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 970-498-5760.

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