Yes pizza boxes, no plastic bags: Here’s what Denver Recycles accepts

Brooke Williams
·5 min read

DENVER (KDVR) — According to the City and County of Denver, the average household in the Mile High City produces about 1.2 tons of waste each year.

However, the city is hoping to help change how that’s sorted – Denver has three waste bin options for residents: green for compost, black for trash going to the landfill, and purple for recycling.

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Many waste services have unique guidelines for what they can and cannot accept when it comes to recycling waste. It can vary from one waste management service to another.

Denver Recycles, the program behind the purple containers, doesn’t accept some things that others might, such as plastic bags.

Plastic that Denver Recycles accepts

Denver Recycles accepts rigid plastics marked with numbers 1 through 7, including bottles, jars, jugs, tubs and cups for recycling.

Some examples include containers from everyday items like water and soda bottles, soap bottles, milk cartons, laundry detergent jugs, yogurt containers, peanut butter and mayonnaise jars, to-go plastic cups, plastic trays, plastic egg cartons, etc.

Clear containers like those used to pack strawberries, baked goods and salads are accepted for recycling, but the city asks recyclers to remove as much of the price sticker as possible.

In any case, plastic containers must be emptied and rinsed if needed before recycling.

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Plastic that is not accepted for recycling

The biggest recycling contaminant in Denver is plastic bags, according to the website. Plastic bags are just one of many things that should not be put in a purple bin

That means you cannot put items for recycling in a bag before putting them in the recycling bin.

  • NO Plastic bags

  • NO Bubble wrap or envelopes with bubble wrap inside

  • NO Candy or food wrappers

  • NO Cassettes, DVD’s, CD’s or plastic cases

  • NO Containers larger than 3 gallons

  • NO Garden hoses or plastic tubes

  • NO Juice pouches

  • NO “K-cups” or individual coffee creamers

  • NO Plastic flower pots

  • NO Plastic shrink wrap

  • NO Plastic tubes (such as toothpaste or hair gel tubes)

  • NO Potato chip bags

  • NO Styrofoam® or packing peanuts

  • NO Toys

Any plastic container marked as “compostable” or “PLA” is not accepted for recycling.

Glass accepted by Denver Recycles

Everyday glass containers like jars and bottles used for food and drinks are OK to put in the purple recycling bin.

The city asks recyclers to remove the lids. If the lids are metal and large they can be recycled but still must be removed from the container.

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Glass that is not accepted for recycling

  • NO Glassware such as vases or drinking cups

  • NO Window glass

  • NO Ceramics

Aluminum, steel, aerosol cans that Denver Recycles accepts

Empty aerosol cans are OK to go in the purple recycling bin. Labels and spray nozzles can stay, but plastic caps that are not part of the can should be removed.

Aluminum soda and food cans, foil, trays and pie plates can all be recycled, but Denver Recycles asks the recycler to remove as much food residue as possible.

Aluminum cans should not be crushed or punctured before recycling.

Metal things not accepted by Denver Recycles

  • NO scrap metal

  • NO fuel canisters (camping tanks)

  • NO full or partially full aerosol cans

  • NO Foil bags (such as potato chip bags)

  • NO Foil lids like those for yogurt

Paper materials accepted by Denver Recycles

Paper and many stationery products can go in the purple Denver Recycles bin. According to the website, envelopes, even those with windows, are good to go. Paperclips, stamps, staples, tape and sticky notes are OK too.

Most things that come in the mail are recyclable. Denver Recycles accepts opened mail, greeting cards (non-foil coated), postcards, index cards, file folders, legal pad, letterhead and copy paper, brochures, glossy ads and more.

Newspapers, phone books, magazines and catalogs are good to go in the recycling. Denver Recycles asks that you remove any plastic wrapping and discard non-paper inserts like magnets or sample packets.

Non-glossy paper bags can go in the purple bin, but Denver Recycles asks that the rope handles be removed.

A lot of paper food containers can be recycled as well. Generally, a quick rinse is adequate for recycling food containers.

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Paper food and drink cartons are recyclable with Denver Recycles. For example, some things you can put in the purple bin include milk, juice and cream cartons, egg cartons, soup or broth cartons, protein drink cartons, small juice boxes, and paper tubs for ice cream.

Paper cups for cold and hot drinks are also good to go as long as they are clean and empty, with sleeves, lids, straws and stirring sticks removed.

Note: guidelines on the Denver Recycles website say not to flatten cartons before recycling.

Paper that Denver Recycles does not accept

  • NO tissue paper, ribbon or bows

  • NO bubble envelopes or Tyvek® (polyethylene fiber) envelopes, such as some overnight mailing envelopes

  • NO shredded paper

  • NO Paper plates

  • NO Paperback or hardcover books

  • NO Paper Towels, Tissues, or Napkins

How to recycle cardboard in Denver

While food cartons should not be flattened before recycling, Denver Recycles asks that cardboard and paperboard boxes be flattened before recycling.

According to the website, only boxes that are broken down and are inside the cart will be collected for recycling. Denver Recycles recommends flattening and cutting pieces no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet.

Cereal boxes, tissue boxes, gift and shoe boxes, hanging file folders, paper towel and toilet paper tubes are all good to go. Frozen food boxes can be recycled as long as they do not have a waxy white coating on the inside, according to the website.

Foil-coated paperboard and waxed cardboard are not accepted by Denver Recycles.

Additionally, Denver Recycles says pizza boxes can be recycled as long as grease is not going through the other side.

Not sure if something is recyclable?

The City and County of Denver has a thorough guide on how to recycle including what can and cannot be recycled. There is even a search bar to easily find whether a specific material is recyclable.

If you are still uncertain about whether or not to recycle something, the city says “When in doubt, throw it out!”

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