From mattresses to glassware, discover five surprising items you can recycle at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). 

Ever had an item that you knew couldn’t be recycled in your curbside bin, but still wondered, Can this be recycled . . . somewhere?

That somewhere just might be the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). This first-of-its-kind drop-off recycling and reuse center accepts electronics, appliances, some hard-to-recycle plastics, and other items that don’t belong in your curbside bin—but don’t have to go to the landfill.

Located at 6400 Arapahoe Rd. in Boulder and open Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., CHaRM makes responsible recycling simple. Here are five items you might be surprised to learn can be recycled at CHaRM:

1. Mattresses

Eco-Cycle partners with Spring Back Colorado to recycle mattresses and box springs of all sizes. After collection at the CHaRM, mattresses are transported to Spring Back’s facility in Commerce City where each mattress is carefully deconstructed into its core components by Spring Back staff. Foam and fibers are reused to create carpet padding, while metal is recovered and recycled into new products like kitchen appliances and automotive parts.

Fee: $3 facility fee for cars; $30 per mattress or box spring (covers collection and labor costs) 

2. Ceramics and Porcelain

Planning a bathroom remodel? Don’t send that old toilet to the landfill! The CHaRM accepts porcelain toilets, sinks, and urinals as well as ceramic materials like tile and pottery. These materials are crushed into sand and used as road base.

Please make sure all items are free of biohazards and thoroughly cleaned. Save money by removing all fixtures before dropping items off.

Fees:

• Toilets, sinks, and urinals without fixtures: $5 each
• With fixtures attached: $25 each
• General ceramics: $0.10 per pound
• $3 facility fee charged per vehicle

3. Textiles

The CHaRM accepts clean, reusable clothing and paired, reusable shoes. Items are donated to Pig + Pearl, a local thrift store that supports reuse and waste reduction.

Please note that underwear, bathing suits, and socks are not accepted.

Fee: $3 facility fee only, no additional charge. 

4. Paper to Be Shredded 

Please avoid shredding your paper as it shortens the life of paper fibers (meaning they can be recycled fewer times). But if you do need to shred, take your sensitive documents to the CHaRM intact. You’ll place the paper into a secured, locked bin. Our partner, Altitude DocuShred, will shred the paper onsite to become recycled into products like brown paper bags, toilet paper, tissue, and newsprint.

Fee: $3 facility fee for cars; $5 per file box of shredded paper

5. Glassware

Glass bottles and jars belong in your curbside recycling bin, but other glass doesn’t. Drinking glasses, tableware, vases, and candle holders have different melting temperatures and have to be handled separately. That’s where the CHaRM comes in. We accept these glass items so they can be properly recycled instead of landfilled.

PLEASE NOTE: Pyrex and other heat-resistant glass cookware is not accepted. They’re manufactured to withstand much higher temperatures than everyday glass (which is why they survive the oven)—and that difference makes them incompatible with the recycling process.

Fee: $3 facility fee; No additional charge

The CHaRM accepts dozens of hard-to-recycle household items! See a full list of what we accept (and related fees) here.

Know Before You Go (Hours, Fees, Location)

The CHaRM is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A $3 facility fee is charged per visitor arriving in a motorized vehicle (bikes are free!). 

We are located along Recycle Row at 6400 Arapahoe Rd in Boulder,  colocated with Resource Central. 

If you have any questions about what you can recycle and where, check out Eco-Cycle’s A–Z Recycling Guide (also available as an app)! 

The post Five Surprising Items You Can Recycle at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

The holiday shopping surge means more boxes, more plastic mailers, and more waste. These easy tips will help you celebrate sustainably without sacrificing the joy of giving.

This holiday season, the waste forecast isn’t great: an estimated 2.3 billion packages will be shipped across the US—about seven deliveries per person on average. Those boxes, plastic mailers, padded envelopes, and layers of packing material add up fast. And when packages travel long distances, the energy, natural resources, and emissions required to manufacture, package, and transport them take a real toll on our planet. 

This year, show your love without piling up waste and environmental impacts by following a few easy tips:

1. Shop Local First

One of the easiest ways to avoid all that packaging is to skip the online cart and shop right here at home.

→ Visit craft fairs and makers markets.
Handmade goods = gifts with minimal waste and a lot of heart. 

→ Choose reuse with local thrift and secondhand stores.
You can find many “like new” products at far more affordable prices.

→ Give gift certificates for experiences.
Local restaurants, theaters, and music venues offer experiences—not packaging.

2. Return Less, Waste Less

Online retailers make returns easy—but the environmental cost is huge. About one in every five or six online purchases gets sent back during the holidays. Shipping those items to and from warehouses often costs more than the product itself.

What happens then? Often, it’s not worth it for retailers to inspect, repackage, and restock those items. Many returns end up thrown away or sold in bulk to secondary markets like discount stores and flea markets. 

To cut waste and emissions from extra transportation, buy thoughtfully. Choose quality gifts from reputable stores, and only purchase items you’re confident will be loved.

3. Recycle the Packaging You Do Get

Some packaging can go into your curbside bin, and some can be recycled at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). Here’s how to sort it: 

In your curbside recycling bin, recycle:

• Cardboard boxes & paperboard envelopes
• Paper packing sheets
• White or light-colored envelopes
• Dark or bright-colored envelopes that, when torn, are white inside 
• Plain paper envelopes mailers
• Paper envelopes with paper fiber padding

Take to the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM):

• Plastic packing pillows
• Bubble wrap & thin flexible foam
• Rigid white block foam
• Mailers made entirely from plastic

The following items are not recyclable. Please put these in the trash:

• Multi-material mailers (paper + plastic, etc.)
• Plastic or foam packaging peanuts* (though some packaging stores will take these for reuse)
• Foil or metallic mailers
• Bright or dark-colored envelopes that, when torn, the paper fibers inside are dyed all the way through

* Tip: Some packaging peanuts are made from cornstarch. If they dissolve with water, they’re compostable in your backyard bin.

Check out Eco-Cycle’s Packaging & Mailers Guidelines for a printable guide of what packaging goes where.

4. Choose Zero-Waste Wrapping

Traditional wrapping paper is difficult to recycle—it’s more clay, ash, and inks than recoverable paper fiber.

Instead, choose:

• Reusable gift bags
• Kraft paper wrapping paper—it’s highly recyclable
• Repurposed newspaper, calendars, or kraft grocery bags (turn them inside-out and decorate the blank side)
• Recycled-content wrapping paper without glitter or embossing

Skip these non-recyclable gift wrap options:

• Glitter, foil, metallic, or heavily dyed paper

Give More, Waste Less

There are countless ways to celebrate the season without the trash. Explore Eco-Cycle’s Zero Waste Holiday Guide for more ideas that keep the joy—and cut the waste!

The post How to Reduce and Recycle Holiday Packaging Materials appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

The holiday season should feel full of connection, not overstuffed trash cans. From gift wrap and shipping materials to leftovers that don’t get eaten, it’s easy for waste to pile up this time of year. Eco-Cycle’s 2025 Zero Waste Holiday Guide brings together simple, practical tips so you can enjoy the traditions you love while cutting back on what gets thrown away.

Eco-Cycle’s two-page 2025 Zero Waste Holiday Guide guide offers ideas for greener gifting, holiday decorating, and meaningful celebrations. For Boulder County residents, page 2 doubles as a quick-reference chart for what to do with common holiday items locally—what goes in your curbside recycling bin, what you can recycle  at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), and special tree recycling options across the county.

The guide is available in English and in Spanish: Guía para las festividades con cero desperdicios

What You’ll Find in the Zero Waste Holiday Guide

Inside the guide, you’ll find quick tips to help you:

• Rethink wrapping and packaging—Lower-waste options for wrapping gifts and shipping packages, plus what to avoid so your paper can actually be recycled where accepted.
• Give “more than stuff”—Ideas for experiences, donations, practical reusables, and homemade treats that don’t create long-lasting waste.
• Choose greener cards and décor—How to keep the sparkle and sentiment while steering clear of non-recyclable glitter, foil, and plastics.
• Host a Zero Waste gathering—Simple swaps to move away from disposables, reduce food waste, and make cleanup easier.

Cut back on junk mail—Steps to slow the flood of catalogs and sales flyers so you can focus on what you really need.

Dive Deeper: Holiday Recycling FAQs

Here are more details on some frequently asked questions.

• Gift wrap and packaging
  Learn why most traditional wrapping paper is so challenging to recycle and explore eco-friendly holiday wrapping alternatives in “Unwrapping Wrapping Paper Recycling”
• Broken holiday lights
  Find out where and how to recycle old string lights—and why they’re collected separately from other cables—by reading “How to Recycle Christmas Lights and Holiday Lights in Boulder County”
• Christmas tree recycling
  When the season winds down, your tree still has one more gift to give. “Where to Take Your Christmas Tree for Recycling in Boulder County” explains why tree recycling matters for climate and soil health and lists local drop-off and curbside options.
• Rigid white foam from shipping boxes
  Large gifts, such as electronics,  often arrive packed in rigid white #6 foam that can’t go in your curbside recycling bin. “Rigid White Foam Recycling: Why and How to Recycle at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM” walks you through how to recycle this material properly and what it becomes next.

Have a great holiday season, and cheers to a Zero Waste New Year!

The post Celebrate the Holidays with More Joy and Less Waste appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Whether you’re channeling your inner Clark Griswold or just aiming for a cozy glow for the solstice season, we all know the sinking feeling of realizing a string of lights are broken and need to be recycled. Plug in to sustainability this winter by recycling your old stringed lights!

Where to Recycle Your Broken Holiday Lights

Don’t allow your broken Christmas lights to dim your shine—if you can’t repair your string lights, recycle them at the  Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) in Boulder instead! Holiday lights are accepted for recycling year-round since they contain precious copper metal resources, which can (and should) be recycled indefinitely!

Where Christmas Lights Go at the CHaRM

Throughout the holiday season and beyond, we have a bin for recycling Christmas lights at the CHaRM separate from the “Cables and Wires” bin we have year-round. Here’s why: One gaylord—that’s what the giant, industrial cardboard boxes you’ll see around the lane are called—is for thicker cables such as extension cords, which contain more copper per pound. Christmas lights go in a separate recycling bin (gaylord) because they typically have intertwining strands of tiny wires that are much smaller in circumference (like the ones you may have intended for a Christmas tree this season) as well as a higher proportion of non-recyclable plastic housing and bulbs. So when you visit the CHaRM, be sure to keep an eye out for the String Lights bin if you’re looking to recycle your old Christmas lights!

Why do we collect and recycle holiday lights separately? 

In turn, this gives the CHaRM a little more leeway in the budget to cover the costs of recycling materials that, while important to keep out of the landfill, do not have as much market value and are more expensive to recycle. And that’s just good business practice!

Recycling Christmas Lights Outside Boulder 

You do not need to be a City of Boulder resident to use the CHaRM, but if you need to recycle old holiday lights and the CHaRM in Boulder isn’t conveniently located near you, check your municipality’s website to see if they offer a seasonal collection for cables and wires in your area, such as Longmont’s drop-off program available through Jan. 5, 2025. You can also check out this mail-in program, which allows you to ship holiday lights if local options are not available.

And if you’re in the market to buy new holiday lights, be sure to opt for environmentally friendly LED lights instead of traditional incandescents—they use 90% less energy, and will last up to 25 times longer!

Learn more about recycling holiday items and find sustainable holiday tips in our Zero Waste Holiday Guide, available in English and Spanish.

The post How to Recycle Christmas Lights and Holiday Lights in Boulder County  appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

If you’ve recently unwrapped a new television, computer, or large appliance, chances are you’ve encountered rigid white foam—a lightweight material designed to protect items during shipping. Also known as expanded polystyrene (EPS), rigid foam is a type of plastic made from petroleum. While its protective qualities make it useful in packaging, its environmental impact requires responsible disposal.

Why Foam Doesn’t Belong in Your Curbside Recycling Bin

Rigid foam cannot be recycled through curbside programs due to its bulky structure and tendency to break into small fragments. Unlike easily compressible materials like bottles and cans, rigid foam takes up significant space and, if mixed into single-stream recycling, its fragments can contaminate other recyclables. To recycle rigid foam properly, it must be taken to a drop-off facility such as the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). At CHaRM, the foam is processed by grinding and densifying it into a compact, transportable form.

Recycle Rigid #6 White Block Foam at Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM Facility

The CHaRM is a hub for recycling materials that can’t go in your curbside bin, including #6 rigid white block foam. This holiday season, as you unwrap gifts and declutter your home, make a plan to recycle your rigid foam and other hard-to-recycle materials at the CHaRM. By doing so, you’re giving these resources a second life and keeping usable materials out of the landfill.

What Happens to Recycled Rigid Foam?

When you recycle your rigid foam at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM, it is broken apart and then compacted into dense blocks. These blocks are then taken to a third-party recycler to be processed into raw materials that manufacturers use to create new products. Common items made from recycled polystyrene foam include crown molding, insulation, and packaging materials.

This process not only diverts waste from landfills but also reduces the demand for virgin plastics, conserving natural resources and energy.

Why Rigid Foam Shouldn’t Go to the Landfill

Dumping rigid foam in the landfill poses environmental risks. Rigid foam, like most plastics, doesn’t biodegrade, meaning it can persist in the environment for centuries. Its lightweight nature also makes it prone to blowing out of landfills, where it can break into microplastics, polluting ecosystems and threatening wildlife. Toxic additives in rigid foam products, such as styrene, which has been identified by the Department of Health and Human Services as a possible human carcinogen, has the potential to leach into soil or water over time.

Small Actions, Big Impact

Next time you’re tidying up after a festive gathering or unwrapping presents or new purchases, set aside your #6 rigid white block foam and take it to the Eco-Cycle CHaRM. Together, we can create a more sustainable, Zero Waste future—one recycled foam block at a time!

Learn more about recycling holiday items and find sustainable holiday tips in our Zero Waste Holiday Guide, available in English and Spanish.

The post Rigid White Foam Recycling: Why and How to Recycle at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

With a new school year on the horizon, we have a fresh opportunity to teach something lasting: how the small choices students make each day can ripple out into a more sustainable, climate-conscious world.

Schools are more than classrooms—they’re where lifelong habits take shape! That’s why Eco-Cycle’s environmental educators are heading back into the school year with renewed energy. Our School Recycling and Environmental Education Program helps students sort waste, recycle, and explore conservation through hands-on classroom lessons. The small, daily choices students learn to make—like what they do with a banana peel or juice box—can ripple out to homes, neighborhoods, and communities. 

Environmental Education: The Numbers Add Up

Eco-Cycle is helping schools in Boulder Valley, as well as St. Vrain Valley and Adams 12 Five Star School Districts make a big environmental impact through education and everyday actions. During the 2024–25 school year, we: 

• Reached 29,466 participants during 1,268 presentations and field trips.
• Delivered 174 presentations to Title 1 schools and 118 presentations in Spanish or bilingual format. 
• Redistributed 4,394 children’s books throughout Boulder, Broomfield, and Weld Counties, giving new life to beloved stories through the CHaRMed Books Program.
• Recycled 474,311 pounds of material across schools in the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD)—with even more impact coming from St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) and Adams 12 Five Star, data pending.

That’s hundreds of metric tons of CO₂ emissions avoided, thousands of gallons of water saved by students through daily Zero Waste hands-on practice! 

• Scroll through the full 2024–2025 annual report for Eco-Cycle’s School Recycling and Education Program here!

Green Star Schools^® Are Leading the Way

The Green Star Schools program builds on Eco-Cycle’s School Recycling and Environmental Education Program by going deeper—bringing composting to cafeterias, strengthening recycling systems, and finding creative ways to cut waste at every level.

This matters because the scale of school waste is staggering. Nationally, schools generate an estimated 530,000 tons of food waste each year—equal to 1.9 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions and nearly 21 billion gallons of wasted water.

Green Star Schools are setting a new standard. In the 2024–2025 school year alone, 68 schools (across three school districts), and 38,000 students and staff took part in the program, reaching waste diversion rates of up to 67%. Forty-three Green Star Schools in BVSD composted 222,515 lb of food scraps during the 2024–25 school year. (Data is not currently available for three mountain schools.) It’s a powerful example of how Zero Waste isn’t just something students learn about—it’s something they live, every day.

• Read the Green Star Schools Annual Report here!

Free Zero Waste Tools for Schools

Looking to bring Zero Waste practices to your school community? Check out these free resources from Eco-Cycle:

• Seven Tips for Going Zero Waste This School Year
  Quick, practical tips for students and families starting the year with sustainability in mind.
  
• Celebrate More, Waste Less!
  A guide to throwing school events that are festive and waste-free.
  
• Zero Waste Schools Activity Guide
  A flexible, downloadable toolkit packed with creative, low-cost activities on waste reduction, recycling, composting, and motivation strategies. Perfect for schools ready to launch or level up their Zero Waste efforts.

Want help getting started? Email schools@ecocycle.org—our team is here to support you.

Why This Work Matters—to All of Us

When students practice waste reduction, recycling, and composting every day at school, those habits don’t stay in the classroom—they follow them home, influencing families and communities. And the biggest impact? They learn to think critically about what they use and why—lessons they carry with them into the world, whether they’re headed for science labs, city halls, or back to the classroom to lead future generations of environmental stewards.

The post Zero Waste Schools: Turning Daily Habits into Climate Solutions appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Saying goodbye to Plastic Free July doesn’t mean we stop recycling plastics in August. Hard-to-recycle film plastics like bags and bubble wrap, large durable items like buckets, and rigid white block foam (often referred to as Styrofoam) are always accepted at the CHaRM in Boulder if they meet our recycling guidelines.

Let’s face it—despite our best efforts to go plastic-free, sometimes we find ourselves with a plastic bag or some bubble wrap we are now responsible for. A plastic item like a laundry basket we’ve used forever will finally break in a way that doesn’t lend itself to repair. Or we’ll finally upgrade a much-needed appliance, only to find inside the highly recyclable cardboard box there lurks a bunch of blocks of toxic-to-produce expanded polystyrene foam! Are all of these materials destined for the landfill?

Fortunately for those who live within driving distance of the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials, these items don’t have to be landfilled! These plastics can be responsibly recovered and turned into new products.

Plastic Bags and Other Film Plastics

Did you know you cannot recycle plastic bags or bubble wrap curbside? This special collection accepts soft, flexible plastics made from polyethylene (#2 HDPE and #4 LDPE). Items must be clean and dry, be mostly free of tape and labels, and should pass the “poke test” or “rip test.” While this type of plastic is not usually marked with a number, these tests are a good rule of thumb for determining whether your item is made from the right type of plastic for our recycling stream.

Polyethylene is stretchy and tears with a ruffled edge. If you can poke a finger through the material, or it tears raggedly, it is probably the correct stuff. The wrong type of plastic will probably sound crunchy/crinkly, and will tear with a straight edge—a good example is the type of plastic that is used to wrap a bouquet of flowers.

If your plastic will not let you poke a finger through it, it probably isn’t polyethylene (unless it is bubble wrap, an important exception—this is too thick for your finger to pass through but it IS made from polyethylene and is recyclable).

Items recycled in our Plastic Film collection are turned into composite lumber and used to make weatherproof decks and furniture with the help of our recycling partner, Trex.

Large Durable Plastics

Think buckets, milk crates, laundry baskets, lawn chairs . . . items for this stream are bulky, and are usually made from one piece of plastic, or are sometimes hollow with a visible seam where two halves were connected when the item was produced. 

To be recycled, these items MUST be made from #2 HDPE or #5 PP plastic only (and should be clearly marked). They must be less than 3 feet in length in every direction; customers may cut larger items down to size before bringing the pieces to the CHaRM facility. Finally, please make sure that all non-plastic parts, including screws, bolts, rope, and fabric, are removed before drop-off. Bucket handles are OK to stay.

We encourage folks to first offer reusable items to our next-door neighbor at 6400 Arapahoe, Resource Central, ahead of recycling. Items recycled in this stream become weather-proof railroad ties and car parts, among other applications.

Rigid White Block Foam (AKA Styrofoam)

Block foam usually comes part and parcel with a new fridge, stove, TV, or other electronic item. This means on top of making a large purchase you now have to deal with your typically landfill-only expanded polystyrene foam (EPS). But fear not—if your foam material is white, clean, dry, rigid (you should be able to break a piece off of it), and you can see round beads of foam in it, we can take it for recycling.

It may or may not have a #6 PS stamped on it. As long as it is not any color other than white, isn’t dirty, comes in blocks or sheets (no peanuts or food packaging, please), and doesn’t have a spongy, squishy texture that resists breaking (which would mean it’s not the right kind of plastic!) . . . then it is most likely expanded polystyrene that we can accept for recycling at CHaRM! 

We work with a recycler in Denver to transform EPS into lightweight and affordable building materials. Learn more about our foam recycling program here.

How to Find Us

6400 Arapahoe Rd. in Boulder
Open 9 am–5 pm, Monday–Saturday (follow closure notices here)
ecocycle.org/charm

Our facility is located in Boulder, Colorado, but we are dedicated to serving the recycling needs of all visitors, whether you live in Boulder County, Denver, or beyond. Please do not mail us materials—we only accept in-person drop-offs for recycling.

The CHaRM is owned and operated by Eco-Cycle in partnership with the City of Boulder, and is co-located on City property with another Zero Waste organization serving the community, Resource Central—so be sure to bring along with your plastics for recycling at CHaRM any reusable items for donation to Resource, and plan to take some time to shop the materials reuse yard! 

Whether you are a seasoned CHaRMer or this will be your first time visiting, we look forward to helping you go plastic-free, this month and every month. If you have any questions, please reach out to charm@ecocycle.org, or call 303-444-6634.

Want to make sure you stay in the loop on CHaRM news? Subscribe to our newsletter.

The post Hard-to-Recycle Plastics You Can Bring to CHaRM All Year Round appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

At the end of each school year, students pack up their backpacks and clean out their lockers, ready to welcome the summer break, but often that means an overwhelming amount of school supplies are left behind. These usable or recyclable materials could easily end up in the landfill—even items that have never been opened. Eco-Cycle’s Schools team is helping students at local schools save usable supplies . . . and now, families can use our new, FREE digital resources available in English and Spanish to figure out what school supplies go where.

Eco-Cycle’s Locker Leftovers and Classroom Cleanout events are an annual tradition in Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) and St. Vrain Valley Schools (SVVSD) in Colorado. This year, the Eco-Cycle Schools team led Locker Leftovers events at seven middle and high schools, and collected classroom cleanouts from two elementary schools. These initiatives give students and staff the opportunity to participate in hands-on sustainability by sorting through items that can be reused, donated, or properly recycled.

Reducing School Supply Waste: Locker Leftovers and Classroom Cleanouts

Eco-Cycle Schools staff helped students and teachers sort their materials during the final weeks of school. Recyclable paper, worn notebooks, broken pens, and empty glue sticks were separated from items that could be reused, such as gently used folders, binders, unused pencils, and art supplies. The goal? Prevent perfectly good supplies from being tossed simply because the school year has ended.

Once all the materials were collected, the Eco-Cycle team rolled up their sleeves and began the next phase—sorting and organizing. Items were carefully evaluated, with high-quality, reusable materials set aside for donation. In total, 30 boxes of school supplies were rescued and redistributed to six schools across the BVSD and St. Vrain Valley districts. These supplies will be used by students and teachers in the coming academic year, reducing the need for new purchases and supporting a circular, community-centered economy.

Without programs like this, these school supplies would likely have gone straight to the landfill! Instead, thanks to the efforts of schools staff and students, with Eco-Cycle support, the items will find their way back into classrooms as well as other reuse and recycling outlets, helping students learn while reinforcing the value of sustainability in action.

What Families Can Do with Extra School Supplies

The work doesn’t end when school does. Parents and caregivers, if your student came home with a backpack full of half-used notebooks, random markers, or mystery art supplies, you’re not alone. Many families find themselves wondering what to do with leftover school items. Luckily, the Eco-Cycle Schools team has created a helpful bilingual resource to guide you through your own cleanout. Our End-of-School-Year Cleanout guide (y en español!) offers tips for reducing waste, reusing supplies, and recycling right—for example, did you know that in Boulder County, you don’t need to remove the spiral from a notebook to recycle it in your curbside bin? 

Get more tips in our End-of-School-Year Cleanout Guide! 

This resource can help your family make thoughtful decisions about what to keep, donate, or recycle, supporting a more sustainable summer and an even greener start to the fall semester.

• English: End-of-School-Year Cleanout
  
• Español: Clasificando Materiales al Fin del Año Escolar

Happy summer from Eco-Cycle—let’s keep working together to build a Zero Waste future, one backpack or locker at a time!

The post That’s a Wrap on Another Successful Eco-Cycle Schools Locker Leftovers and Classroom Cleanout! appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Spring is in full swing, and lawn mowers are being called back into service. If your lawn mower’s days are done, find the inside scoop on best practices and tips for recycling locally!

The growing season has arrived in Colorado’s Front Range, and many of us are firing up lawn mowers for the first time. If your mower has seen its last summer, don’t toss it in the trash! Here’s how to recycle it responsibly—and keep valuable scrap metal from wasting away in a landfill.

Lawn Mower Recyclers around Boulder County

• The Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) located at 6400 Arapahoe Road (next door to Resource Central, which is a great place to take a working mower you no longer need!)
• The Longmont Recycling Center located at 140 Martin Street.
• Explore even more options for recycling lawn mowers in the Front Range in the Eco-Cycle A–Z Recycling Guide!

Recycling a mower at Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM is simple! 

The CHaRM in Boulder accepts all types of lawn mowers for recycling (aside from riding mowers, which should go to an automotive scrap yard instead). Fees vary depending on the type of mower. Read on to learn more about the different types of mowers, and find current recycling fees at CHaRM here—please note that prices are subject to change.

Gas Mowers

• If you’re recycling a gas mower, please be sure all gas and oil has been drained before drop off. The CHaRM window cashier will confirm that the mower is empty before it’s accepted. CHaRM does not accept gas or motor oil; these materials must be taken to a hazardous materials facility such as the Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility
• Not sure how to safely drain gas and oil? Find tips for draining mowers here.
• Gas mowers that are confirmed empty can be recycled as scrap metal for the $3 facility fee.

Electric Mowers

CHaRM takes all three types of electric mowers: 

• Corded: Safe to recycle as scrap metal for the $3 facility fee.
• Non-removable/internal batteries: Recyclable as e-waste for $0.59/lb plus the $3 facility fee. 
• Removable/external battery: These batteries are easily removed and usually rechargeable in a dock; the batteries can be recycled at CHaRM for $2/lb or can go to the Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF). The rest of the mower can be recycled as scrap metal for the $3 facility fee.

What happens to lawn mowers after recycling at CHaRM?

Most of the mowers brought to CHaRM are gas-powered, contributing to the roughly 7,800 lb of scrap metal we receive at the facility each day! Scrap metal is a very important recycling stream to a circular economy, because unlike many materials that can only be recycled a certain number of times before becoming too degraded, metal can be recycled indefinitely without any loss in quality. Recycling metal eliminates the need for mining new ore, which comes with a host of benefits for the planet! 

Through the scrap metal recycling program at CHaRM, eligible drop-offs ranging in size from tiny metal shavings and staples to water heaters, barbecue grills, and plumbing pipes will be recycled into new car parts and kitchen appliances (which could also very well be made from those same items to begin with!). Just about any object that is at least 50% metal by weight and does not contain fluids or hazardous materials is eligible for scrap metal recycling at CHaRM—and there are no additional costs besides the $3 facility fee! 

For electric mowers, especially those containing a battery, recycling is even more essential. Landfilling electronics is illegal in Colorado and can result in a hefty fine. More importantly, recycling lawn mowers allows us to safely capture heavy metals and other hazardous materials inside electronics that, when landfilled, become a dangerous pollutant to the water supply.

When recycling an electric mower or other electronics, Eco-Cycle recommends using an e-Steward Certified recycler to ensure your electronics are recycled to the highest ethical and environmental standards.

Mow Down Pollution Discount for Electric Mower Purchases

The Mow Down Pollution Program is currently encouraging use of the 30% state discount available for electric mowers purchased at participating retailers.

If needed, customers can request a receipt at the CHaRM window that specifically notes that a mower or other item was recycled at the facility. This documentation can be used to meet requirements for certain voucher or reimbursement programs.

Got questions?

We have answers. Contact recycle@ecocycle.org, call our recycling helpline at 303-444-6634, and learn more about what we accept at CHaRM at ecocycle.org/charm.

The post Where to Recycle a Lawn Mower in Boulder County appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Every day in communities across the country, food waste ends up in the worst possible place: the landfill. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, food is the single largest component taking up space inside US landfills, making up about 24% of municipal solid waste. The United States discards more food than any other country in the world: nearly 120 billion pounds every year.

When organic matter like food scraps and yard trimmings decomposes without oxygen in landfills, it produces methane—a greenhouse gas more than 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term. Instead of nourishing the soil, this valuable material becomes a major contributor to climate change.

Even when food scraps are composted, municipal compost systems often fall short of their full climate and soil-building potential. Industrial composting facilities play a vital role, but their centralized nature can present challenges. For example, they are often located far from the communities they serve, requiring long-haul transportation that increases emissions and costs. These systems also tend to receive loads contaminated with plastic and other non-compostables, which slows down processing, drives up expenses, and can result in a lower-quality compost product that doesn’t meet farmers’ needs.

Expanding more localized and community-based composting options closes these gaps and builds healthier soils closer to home.

That’s where Eco-Cycle’s Farmer First Compost System is different. This closed-loop, super-localized model turns food waste into a local climate solution by collecting the very cleanest food scraps generated in the community and delivering them directly to local small-scale farms in Boulder County, where they are turned into high-quality compost for use on-farm. 

Here’s how Farmer First works:

1. Collect Clean Food Scraps: Eco-Cycle collects food scraps from local restaurants, schools, and businesses that produce high-quality, contamination-free discards.
   
2. Deliver Directly to Farms: These clean scraps are brought to farms, where they’re turned into high-quality compost on-site. Through partnerships with local farmers, Eco-Cycle has helped install innovative, small-scale Aerated Static Pile (ASP) composting systems—efficient, low-impact setups capable of producing top-tier compost that can be used right where it’s needed. The systems are highly functional, productive, and low-cost—made almost entirely from reused pallets sourced from our friends at Resource Central.
   
3. Apply Compost to the Land: Farmers receive training on how to maintain and utilize the systems. They apply the compost to their fields to restore and enrich the soil, increasing its ability to absorb carbon, retain water, and grow more nutrient-dense crops.
   
4. Harvest and Feed the Community: The food grown from this healthy soil stays local, reaching residents through farmers’ markets, CSAs, and local food providers. It also returns to the businesses, schools, and restaurants that generated the clean food scraps to make the compost.
   
5. Continue the Circular System. Clean scraps from this food come back once again to the farmers to keep the compost cycle turning. 

This model isn’t just about waste diversion—it’s about building a regenerative system where food “waste” powers healthy soils and food production.

Why Clean Compost Matters

Regenerative farmers rely on compost (rather than synthetic fertilizers) to build healthy, living soil. But not all compost is created equal. Contaminants like plastics, produce stickers, and other non-organic materials commonly found in industrial compost streams degrade compost quality and limit its use on food-producing fields.

By contrast, Eco-Cycle’s Farmer First model prioritizes “clean organics”—clean food scraps collected from local businesses, restaurants, and schools with strong waste-sorting practices. These clean materials don’t need additional processing to weed out contamination, and they allow farmers to make high-quality compost that meets their specific needs for growing food.

Environmental Benefits That Scale

This local, decentralized network of small-scale production sites on local farms offers major environmental advantages. In Boulder County, most organics generated in the community are currently delivered to a regional compost facility located over 50 miles away. By cutting long-distance transportation out of the composting process, the Farmer First method reduces greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel use. Applying compost to the land helps restore topsoil and boosts the ability of soil to sequester carbon from the atmosphere and store it safely and beneficially, reversing climate impacts.

It’s also a drought resilience strategy. Compost-rich soil retains water more effectively, reducing the need for irrigation and making farms more resilient in the face of increasing climate stress. 

A Stronger Local Food System

Keeping compost production and application local strengthens Boulder County’s food system. Farmers gain access to affordable, high-quality soil amendments produced on their own land. Food grown in compost-enriched soil is more nutrient-dense and resilient. And because the food stays local—sold through farmers’ markets, CSAs, and wholesale to schools and restaurants—the benefits come full circle, nourishing the same community that helped create the compost in the first place.

Ultimately, Eco-Cycle’s Farmer First compost model demonstrates what a truly circular, community-based food system can look like: one that values resources, builds soil, supports farmers, reduces emissions, and restores the health of both people and the planet.

• Learn more about the benefits of composting and how “carbon farming” builds healthier soils, more nutrient-dense foods, and draws down carbon in the atmosphere.

The post Closing the Loop: How Boulder County Farms Are Turning Food Waste into Climate Solutions appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

If you’ve heard of the CHaRM in Boulder, you already know that we are a collection center for hard-to-recycle materials, and that we recycle. 

But did you know that a large part of the circularity and resource recovery offered by the CHaRM facility depends on systems of reuse, not just recycling?

Top Reuse Materials at the CHaRM Facility

BOOKS

At the CHaRM, books stand out as the top item collected with a focus on reuse rather than recycling. Eco-Cycle’s CHaRMed Books Program is a collaboration among many partners, including our Schools and CHaRM/Business departments, a skilled independent bookseller who has helped manage the multi-stage sorting process for incoming books for many years, and a Denver-based vendor that recycles unusable books (those that are damaged or out of date) into cellulose insulation.

Around half of the book donations dropped off at CHaRM are unfit for reuse and get recycled into pulp. Gently used books are put back into circulation at schools and other organizations in Boulder County! 

• Learn more about the work the Eco-Cycle Schools department is doing locally to reduce waste!

TEXTILES

CHaRM has shifted its approach for textiles—we now serve as a hub for donation of reusable clothing and textiles. We partner with our neighbors on east Arapahoe, local thrift store Pig + Pearl, who evaluate the donations for resale, keeping usable textiles in our local community.

In the past, CHaRM was able to recycle unusable textiles into industrial rags, but unfortunately, those markets have since gone out of business. Currently, we are not aware of any viable textile recycling markets in our region. That could change with the launch of the forthcoming Circular Economy Development Center in Colorado, which aims to bring new recycling end markets to our state.

Of the 10 tons of textiles we receive annually, the vast majority of donations are suitable for reuse, but CHaRM does receive a small proportion of unusable textiles in our collection bin that must be landfilled. We kindly ask that customers do not drop off unusable textile items. Instead, we encourage upcycling fabric scraps, and whenever possible, repairing items to extend their usable life. 

BIKES

Eco-Cycle partners with Community Cycles to give usable BIKES brought to our facility a second life. Community Cycles takes bikes to their nearby shop, where they’re repaired and resold at affordable prices as part of their mission to make biking a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable transportation choice. Non-reusable bikes are recycled with scrap metal.

PRINTER CARTRIDGES & FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

For both printer cartridges and fire extinguishers, all drop-offs brought to CHaRM are evaluated for reuse. Units that meet reuse criteria are refilled and recirculated back into their original purpose!

Additional Reuse Opportunities at CHaRM

In addition to the reuse programs above, the CHaRM operations team is always striving to increase reuse solutions, even when small in scale. For example:

• Around 10% of our mattress donations are evaluated as fit for reuse over recycling and are diverted by a local charity benefiting the unhoused community.
• A staff-led pilot project is underway to recover usable cables and wire for resale in partnership with our neighbors at 6400 Arapahoe, Resource Central. 
• We are pursuing avenues for the repair and refurbishment of usable electronics with Blue Star, our electronics recycling partner, among other possibilities. 

Additionally, our hauling service for businesses will often present new opportunities for reuse in the form of unique material streams generated consistently by businesses, allowing items like milk crates, plastic buckets, and barrels brought in by CHaRM hauling to find new homes in nearby micro reuse markets.

What else happens to materials collected at CHaRM?

Check out our resource, The CHaRMed Second Life of Your Hard-to-Recycle Materials, to learn more, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 303-444-6634 or recycle@ecocycle.org with any questions.

The post Not Just a Recycler: Reuse Makes the CHaRM Go Round appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

At Eco-Cycle, we believe true sustainability begins with a mindset shift, rethinking how we use natural resources. Since 2005, our award-winning Green Star Schools^Ⓡ Program—the first Zero Waste Schools program in the nation—helps schools reduce waste, conserve valuable resources, save money, and foster a culture of environmental stewardship that students, staff, and parents can carry with them for life.

Waste Reduction Up to 67%

In the face of an escalating waste crisis, the Green Star Schools Program provides hands-on, age-appropriate strategies to reduce waste and protect the environment. Participating schools are able to cut waste by up to 67%, embedding sustainable practices into everyday school life and creating lasting change beyond the classroom.

Here are a few ways Eco-Cycle is helping schools reduce waste:

Zero Waste Event Kits: Celebrate More, Waste Less

School celebrations often generate huge amounts of single-use waste, from plastic cups to paper plates. To tackle this challenge, Eco-Cycle created Zero Waste Reusable Event Kits for Schools—a solution supported by funding from Boulder County, the Town of Superior, and the City/County of Broomfield. These kits provide everything needed for a waste-free celebration, including reusable plates, cups, utensils, and napkins. After the event, parent volunteers wash and return the items. Since launching, Eco-Cycle has distributed 74 kits to schools, including four Title I schools, proving that sustainability and celebration can go hand in hand.

CHaRMed Books Program

What happens to gently used kids’ books taken to the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM)? Eco-Cycle’s CHaRMed Books Program ensures that these books get a second life in classrooms across Boulder County, bringing joy to newer readers. Books are carefully sorted by grade level and distributed to schools, focusing on those in under-resourced communities, through partnerships with family liaisons and teachers. 

In the 2023–24 school year, Eco-Cycle redistributed over 4,600 books to 30 local schools in three school districts to promote literacy and sustainability while reducing waste. 

Locker Leftovers

At the end of each school year, Eco-Cycle staff help students clean out their lockers and identify reusable school supplies. Reusable Items like notebooks, pens, binders, and more are sorted and saved for next school year, redistributed to other schools, or donated to local thrift stores. Items that can’t be reused are recycled responsibly, ensuring that less waste ends up in landfills. This initiative not only helps schools reduce waste but also fosters a sense of community and responsibility, teaching students the value of reusing what they already have.

The Bigger Picture

By embracing reuse, Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools Program is teaching the next generation about the power of reducing consumption, making sustainable choices, and minimizing waste. With each redistributed book, reused plate, and shared school supply, we’re encouraging students to make mindful, sustainable choices that will help them become environmental champions in their homes, communities, and beyond.

Want to see how your school can reduce waste and promote sustainability? Explore more of Eco-Cycle’s Green Star School waste reduction initiatives!

The post Waste Reduction in Action: Building Lifelong Habits Through Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools Program appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Did you know that fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors expire? This time of year is known for incorporating healthy habits, and a good one to add to your resolutions list is performing an annual safety check of these items, marking your calendar for when to recycle and replace them.

With the devastating fires currently impacting Southern California, as well as Boulder County having recently reached the three-year mark following the Marshall Fire—one of the most destructive urban fires in US history—there’s no time like the present to ensure your home’s fire safety devices are up to date. 

Fire Extinguishers

The Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) works with a company based in Denver called Cintas that collects the fire extinguishers dropped off at the CHaRM facility, then evaluates them for reuse. First they discharge the contents of the extinguishers into a “hopper” sealed containment system. Extinguisher cylinders that are still up to code (which means the valve and threads are still viable) get refilled with these reused contents. For units that are not viable, the vendor will destroy the threads and then recycle the cylinder as scrap metal.

Our recycling partner recommends that extinguishers be maintained every six years regardless of expiration date. If the extinguisher is left in one spot immobile for a long time, the contents can settle and it will not be functional.

CHaRM accepts the following varieties of fire extinguisher in connection with our vendor:

• any dry powder extinguishers (ABC, BC, D, K)
• pressurized water extinguishers
• CO₂ extinguishers 

Fire extinguishers collected at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM facility.

Fortunately, there is an option for recovering some varieties that we do not accept at CHaRM. The Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF) can take the following styles of extinguisher:

• aerosol
• hand pump

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are consumer products that have specialty disposal processes and requirements. Complicating matters further, some models contain materials that are more hazardous than others. Fortunately for folks who live near the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM, our facility can accept both the older, more toxic models as well as newer “smart” devices.

Smoke detectors packaged for monthly shipment to Curie Environmental.

Here are a few details for the different varieties of detectors on the market as well as associated processing fees for those accepted at CHaRM*:

• Photoelectric smoke detectors: These are considered e-waste and sent to our downstream electronics recycling vendor, Blue Star Recyclers, and incur a cost of 59 cents per pound. Sometimes a detector has features that are both photoelectric and ionization in design, but whenever they contain microcuries of a radioactive isotope, indicating ionization, they must be handled as such to ensure appropriate processing.
  
• Ionization smoke detectors: These detectors contain small amounts of hazardous, radioactive materials, and the first step for CHaRM staff is to confirm which kind of isotope is used and whether it’s within the margins we’re certified to handle. CHaRM can accept units that contain the isotope Americium-241 (abbreviated as “Am-241”) in quantities of less than 1 microcurie, and they incur a fee of $15 per unit. If the detector contains between 1 and 5 microcuries of Am-241, we refer customers to our downstream recycling vendor, Curie Environmental, which is based in New Mexico and offers mail-in programs. If your detector contains over 5 microcuries of Am-241 or any other isotope, such as Ra-226 or Ni-63, please contact the Radioactive Materials Unit of CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) for guidance.
  
• Carbon monoxide detectors are classified as e-waste, and cost 59 cents per pound to recycle—unless the item is both a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector, in which case it will be charged as a smoke detector according to type.

Not sure what you have? Please bring your item to the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM facility any time during business hours and our staff would be happy to evaluate your materials and assess the cost to recycle. Contact us at recycle@ecocycle.org, or 303-444-6634 with any further questions. 

* Please note that fees are subject to change. Find the most current pricing information at ecocycle.org/charm-fees.

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Need to shred paperwork but not sure who you can trust? The Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) is the place to do it! 

We’re proud to help Boulder County area residents shred paper securely and sustainably through our partnership with local green paper shredders Altitude DocuShred. Founded in 2019, Altitude DocuShred is a NAID AAA certified business based in nearby Arvada that has quickly grown to be the premier document shredding service in the Boulder and Denver Metro area—and best of all, 100% of the paper they shred is recycled into new products such as paper towels, toilet paper, and brown bags. 

The Benefits of Shredding Paper at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM in Boulder

This beats shredding paper at home, as once paper has been shredded, your options for recycling become very limited due to the logistics of collecting, sorting, and maintaining quality control for this material. Shredded paper is not curbside recyclable or compostable in many Colorado communities, including Boulder County. This is unfortunate when paper is one of the most environmentally beneficial materials to recycle, saving water, energy, transportation emissions—and of course, trees the planet needs to thrive!

The good news is, if you bring your old bank statements, tax documents, and other identity-compromising paperwork to the Eco-Cycle CHaRM in Boulder for shredding, not only do they get recycled, but you can rest assured that your information is handled securely to the highest standards while on-site at the CHaRM, and onward down the supply chain.

Just ask Greg Miller, co-owner and operator of Altitude Docushred: “We became business partners with CHaRM when they were struggling with a vendor they had that did the paper shredding. I met with Justin Stockdale [the director of CHaRM at Eco-Cycle] and we talked over what his main concern was: security, and customer service, and that’s really our bailiwick. It’s been a great relationship for a couple of years now.” 

This family-owned and operated local business has a mobile shredding service area in Colorado that includes anywhere from Cheyenne, Wyoming, all the way down the Front Range to Colorado Springs; as far east as Aurora, and west to Golden. While they do not service locations in the mountains, Greg adds, “We’ll work with companies that are in areas where we don’t go, and they’ll bring it down into our drop-off area, where we’ll shred it in one of our trucks.”

Eco-Cycle and Altitude DocuShred Partner for Secure and Sustainable Paper Shredding 

Documents dropped off at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM in Boulder are assessed a small fee for quantities equal to one or more “banker’s boxes” (check our fee chart for current pricing), and then customers are welcome to empty their container into our large blue vault containing wheeled collection toters that are out of reach from the drop-off window, locked securely outside of business hours, and regularly emptied into Altitude’s state-of-the-art mobile shredding truck to be shredded right here on-site. Your documents never leave the property intact when dropped off at the CHaRM in Boulder. If you live at a distance from CHaRM, you may also be glad to know that Altitude offers drop-off shredding service at their main office and warehouse in Arvada, Colorado. 

• Watch the video to learn more about their operation, family story, and the finer points of their security protocols, as well as how their truck facilitates the recycling process!

These expert shred professionals can truly do it all, according to Altitude director of operations Spencer Tscherpel: “We provide residential service, business-to-business service, recurring service, putting a secure bin in your office, shred events—anything that has to do with keeping secure information safe and destroyed properly.” 

Small pieces of metal attached to papers do NOT need to be removed. Spare yourself some effort and leave those staples, paper clips, binder clips, spiral notebooks, and hanging file folders intact! The shredding truck contains rotating knives that make short work of these small, soft metal items—but please remove large metal objects such as three-ring binders, and any other non-paper items such as CDs and plastic, which are contaminants.

Look for Altitude’s green logo on their mobile shredding trucks around the Front Range, inspired by a vintage green Chevy pickup on display in their Arvada warehouse that belonged to Greg’s beloved late father and has been refurbished by Spencer and their family. Lori Miller, co-owner of Altitude DocuShred, explains how this truck helped shape their brand: “It’s kind of the icon of our family, so we had to stick with the green. It’s a reminder that we are all your family, that we come from a line of hard workers, and that we stick together.”

Wondering what else you can recycle at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM? Click here to learn more about what we accept!

The post Paper Shredding Services in Boulder appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

More than 1 million people have their identity stolen every year in the US. That’s a nightmare no one wants to face! When this happens, credit cards may be opened, tax refunds stolen, or health insurance used fraudulently. Even scarier, victims typically spend between six months to several years recovering and securing their accounts. 

Why Recycling Electronics Matters

On top of protecting your data, recycling your electronics keeps harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury, and flame retardants out of the environment. The impact of these toxins on people and the planet is the reason why, in Colorado, it’s illegal to throw electronics in the trash. Plus, electronics contain valuable metals including copper, silver, and other rare earth elements that can be reused, reducing the need for mining.

Safe and Secure Electronics Recycling at CHaRM

To protect your data—and the environment—take your electronics to the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), located at 6400 Arapahoe Rd in Boulder, and open Monday–Saturday, 9 am–5 pm. 

Our electronics recycling partner, Blue Star Recyclers, is certified in the most rigorous data-destruction standards through the National Association of Information Destruction (NAID AAA Certification®), ensuring your personal information is secure. Blue Star Recyclers is also E-Steward certified, ensuring that they are adherent to the highest standards of environmental responsibility and worker protection. 

What happens to your electronics?

After you drop off your electronics at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM, they are transported to Blue Star Recyclers’ Denver facility, where the e-waste is sorted by category. General electronics (like vacuum cleaners, keyboards, DVD players, etc.) are processed by third-party recyclers. Electronics that could contain sensitive information, like computers, laptops, and servers, are processed on-site. These devices are brought to a secure storage area, where hard disk drives, solid state drives, and other data-containing storage devices are either physically destroyed or digitally wiped.

Data destruction protocols at a glance:

• Any computer that can be refurbished is first digitally wiped with special software to ensure all stored data is deleted, ensuring no sensitive information carries over to the new user.  

• If a computer is not recoverable as a whole, some parts may still be functional for reuse. This includes the processors, RAM, solid-state drives, and hard disk drives. The data drives are digitally wiped and then tested for functionality before resale. 

• If a computer’s drives are not recoverable and thus destined for scrap, the drives are physically destroyed. This is done with a drive shredder, which mechanically destroys the drive, rendering it unreadable. 

Don’t let your old electronics and personal data come back to haunt you! Drop them off at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM and rest assured that your identity and the environment are well protected. Learn more at ecocycle.org/charm!

The post Don’t Let Your Data Haunt You: Safely Recycle Electronics at CHaRM appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

For over three decades, we’ve partnered with Boulder, Broomfield, and Weld County public schools through our Schools Programs to support waste reduction and provide extensive environmental education. This education is amplified when sustainability practices are incorporated at home!

Here are 7 tips to help you reduce your family’s impact this fall:

1. Shop what you already have before buying new stuff.
   Before filling your shopping cart with brand-new school supplies, figure out what you already own. Reuse is always the best option—plus you’ll save a few bucks! If you’ve been buying supplies for a few years, there’s a good chance you already have some of the stuff on the school supply list. 

2. Host a supply swap.
   If you still don’t have everything you need, host a party and swap some supplies. Double win: You can finally get rid of that drawer full of pencils you’ve been hanging on to!

3. Pack your lunch with reusables!
   Food packaging is a significant source of waste in schools. To reduce your personal impact, replace single-use disposable items such as Ziploc–type sandwich bags, plastic straws, and juice pouches with reusable food containers, beverage bottles, cutlery, and lunch containers. 

4. Buy snacks in bulk.
   To reduce single-use disposable food packaging—such as single-serving chip bags—buy snacks in bulk and pack portions in reusable containers each day or during meal prep.

5. Reduce wasted food.
   If your student eats a hot lunch at school, remind them to take only what they can eat, since they can always go back for more. Ask your student if they have a food share station at their school where they can share packaged food and uneaten whole fruit. Remind your student they can save uneaten snacks to eat after school.

6. Label everything.
   Make sure your child’s name is visible on all of their stuff to avoid accidental loss. This includes clothes, jackets, reusable food containers (including the lids), backpacks, etc. The best way to reduce waste is to avoid buying new stuff, and keeping track of items is a great strategy. 

7. Celebrate more, waste less!
   Classroom celebrations are fun for everyone, but it’s an easy way to create a lot of waste, from non-recyclable plastic cups and utensils to plastic-coated paper plates. A surefire way to reduce party waste is to swap out single-use cutlery, plates, cups, and napkins for reusables. See our tips for Zero Waste school events here!

Thanks to funding from Boulder County, the Town of Superior, and the City/County of Broomfield, Eco-Cycle has launched our Zero Waste Reusable Event Kits for Schools! Instead of volunteers buying single-use plates, cups, utensils, and napkins for classroom celebrations, families can use the event kit full of reusable plates, cups, utensils, and napkins! After a celebration, volunteers take the materials home to wash, and return them to the school.

While our Zero Waste Reusable Event Kits for Schools program is growing, we are unable to reach every school. This school year, check in with your local school to see if they could benefit from creating a Zero Waste Reusable Event Kit! If so, ask other parents to chip in to create one or more kits, which we recommend to include:

• Lightweight, stackable small plastic plates
• Lightweight, stackable small plastic cups
• Reusable utensils
• Reusable cloth napkins
• A few silicone straws and utensils. Silicone is flexible and soft, meaning these straws don’t pose a risk of injury for those with special needs.
• A large plastic storage box to put everything inside

What are your waste-reduction strategies for the back-to-school frenzy? If you are a teacher, how do you reduce waste in the classroom? Parents, what tips have worked best for you? Let us know! Email recycle@ecocycle.org, or tag us on social with your Zero Waste solutions!

The post Seven Tips for Going Zero Waste This School Year appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

The US is among the top largest markets for books in the world, second only to China. Over one-third of Americans report keeping 50 or more books in their homes, with 7% owning 500 or more books! When making room on our bookshelves, we typically discard some old books by donating or gifting them to friends and family. Even so, an estimated 320 million books are sent to landfills in the US each year, adding to America’s problem with waste, resource depletion, and climate change.

The Environmental Cost of Landfilling Books

When books are thrown away rather than donated or recycled, the trees, water, and energy used in their production are wasted. Producing paper for books consumes vast amounts of resources, including over 9.5 million gallons of water and 32,600 trees to make 1 million books. For the 320 million books landfilled in the US each year, that equates to over 3 billion gallons of water and over 10.4 million trees going to waste in the trash!

The environmental costs don’t end there. Once in landfills, books also contribute to methane emissions. When organic material (like paper) decomposes without oxygen in a landfill, it creates methane, a potent greenhouse gas with a warming potential 84 times greater than carbon dioxide. The decomposition process in landfills is slow, so landfilled books can release methane for decades!

The Challenge of Recycling Books

Unlike newspapers, magazines, mail, and office paper, books are typically not recyclable in your curbside bin. Why? The glues, inks, mixed materials, and coatings found in many books create recycling challenges. Additionally, the paper in many books, especially mass-market paperbacks, is made from low-quality fibers that are too short to be recycled (similar to paper towels and napkins). Hardcover book covers are especially problematic for recycling because they may contain non-recyclable materials like cloth or plastic. These covers require manual removal, which can be time- and labor-intensive.

Reusing and Recycling Books in Boulder County

At the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), we’ve been accepting books for 20 years. Simply bring your books to our book drop, and our staff will identify books that can be redistributed to organizations in our community—including local schools! Those books that cannot be reused and reread are recycled as cellulose insulation in the next chapter of their lives. 

Eco-Cycle’s “CHaRMed Books Program” returns gently used books brought to the CHaRM to local teachers, students, and families at schools in underserved and under-resourced communities. These books are available free of charge, and are often used as prizes and rewards for students. Last year, we redistributed over 4,000 books throughout Boulder and Broomfield Counties!

How you can help “turn the page” on wasted books:

• Bring your unwanted books to the Eco-Cycle CHaRM, located at 6400 Arapahoe Road in Boulder! Deposit your books in our weather-resistant book drop, and our staff will sort through them, recycling those that are no longer usable, and rehoming all other books! Please only drop off books that are clean, dry, and free of mold. (Note: A $3 facility use fee applies per vehicle.)

• Become a CHaRMed Books Program volunteer! Volunteers help sort, process, and redistribute used children’s books to students at local schools in under-resourced communities during the school year. Ideally, volunteers would be available for one day every two weeks for a couple of hours between 9 am and 5 pm. If you are interested in an opportunity to support Eco-Cycle’s CHaRMed Books project, email marita@ecocycle.org!

• Donate to support our CHaRMed Books Program! With foundational funding for our CHaRMed Books Program from our partners at Elevations Credit Union, we’re starting the school year strong! However, your support allows us to distribute more books to more local schools, free of charge. Donate to this program here (be sure to type “books” in the “Donation dedication” field.

Let’s work together to close the book on waste—one recycled or rehomed book at a time—because every book deserves a second chapter!

The post Recycling, by the Book appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and advocates have identified many strategies to combat climate change and increase community resilience, from behavior change campaigns to pollution mitigation and sequestration technologies. Yet, despite our scientific and technological advances, it turns out Mother Nature knows best when it comes to balancing our climate. Nature-based Climate Solutions (NbCS) are practices quickly gaining traction worldwide that leverage natural ecosystems’ abilities to combat and adapt to climate change. By supporting and utilizing nature’s own processes, we can more swiftly and effectively address the climate crisis, benefitting both people and the environment. 

What are nature-based climate solutions? 

Although it is a rapidly growing field, nature-based climate solutions are not a new idea. Rather, this movement is a modern embrace of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) practices and principles, which have been active and passed down by Indigenous peoples for millennia, and NbCS efforts worldwide are frequently led by Indigenous leaders. 

Amidst the extensive damage caused by the climate crisis, the good news is that nature already has the ability to reduce pollution, stabilize temperatures, and support ecosystems. We just need to re-learn how to restore these natural processes. Research shows that NbCS offer a wide range of interconnected benefits, helping to restore our ecosystems and their ability to regulate climate and enhance the overall health of our environment.

How do nature-based climate solutions build climate and community resilience?

Healthy ecosystems—complex, diverse networks of plant and animal life—naturally capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide, the main driver of global climate change. Estimates suggest that by restoring healthy ecosystems and their natural processes, NbCS can boost progress in tackling climate change by up to 30%.

Strong ecosystems are also important players in lessening the negative impacts of climate change on human communities. They act as buffers to storms and flooding, prevent erosion, and provide cooler temperatures. Nature-based climate solutions help us mitigate and adapt to climate change and protect human health and safety. 

Does this sound familiar?

You might remember the concept of NbCS from following Eco-Cycle’s Carbon Farming efforts. Carbon farming involves implementing regenerative farming practices such as “no tillage,” cover crops, grazing, and adding amendments such as compost that restore living ecosystems and increase soils’ ability to draw down atmospheric carbon and store it safely in the ground for the long term. Eco-Cycle has been piloting and implementing carbon farming solutions since 2019, from farms across the county to your own backyard! 

A Local Nature-Based Climate Solution: The Cool Boulder Campaign

The Cool Boulder Campaign is a collaborative effort involving the City of Boulder, local organizations, and communities to tackle the climate crisis and biodiversity loss through nature-based actions. The campaign focuses on three areas: expanding our urban connected tree canopy, planting biodiverse habitats in urban areas to create pollinator pathways for key native species, and creating absorbent landscapes by rebuilding the health of our soils to capture and hold more carbon, water, and nutrients. Cool Boulder acts as a bridge between emerging, nature-based climate science and engaged community members, and works with researchers to develop and implement a larger vision for resilience goals in the community and plan for future climate conditions. 

Eco-Cycle is a leading organization of Cool Boulder’s campaign as a next step in our NbS efforts. From 2019–2021, Eco-Cycle conducted an NbCS campaign: the Community Carbon Farming Project. Working with more than 250 community members, we employed NbCS by applying soil amendments like compost to lawns and gardens to help sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Now we’re building on that work and taking the next step. In partnership with Cool Boulder, we’re creating a Neighborhood Urban Forest! 

What’s a Neighborhood Urban Forest?

To prepare for climatic extremes and proactively build resilience and urban biodiversity, the City of Boulder’s goal is to build a connected canopy of thousands of trees and shrubs planted in our community—most of which will need to be located on private land, like your yard! Eco-Cycle is looking for resident volunteers to help make this vision of climate resilience come to fruition. 

How can you get involved?

The Fairview, BCSIS, and Crestview neighborhoods have been selected by Cool Boulder to launch the new Neighborhood Urban Forest Pilot Program this fall. We’re looking for neighbors in those areas to adopt and plant a FREE tree or shrub provided by the City of Boulder! Participants will receive regular care support and communication from our tree expert partner PLAY Boulder Foundation Tree Trust. After you fill out the interest form, you’ll receive information about where to plant your tree or shrub, species options, and more. You will be supported throughout the process by Eco-Cycle, PLAY Boulder, and Cool Boulder partners. 

If you don’t live in a pilot neighborhood or can’t currently plant a tree or shrub, you can still sign up to be a volunteer to support the project through the form linked below. You can also follow along with the Cool Boulder by subscribing to the Cool Boulder newsletter. 

• Click here to learn more and get involved!

The post Nature-Based Solutions: The Key to Climate Resilience appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Remember the headlines years ago about the ozone layer crisis? Scientists identified that the hole in the ozone was primarily caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a group of chemicals commonly found in Freon appliances like refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers.

The global response to this crisis was fortunately swift. Thanks to the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty signed in 1987 by every country on the planet, we have restricted the production of nearly 100 ozone-depleting substances, including CFCs, so effectively that the atmosphere is healing the damage done to the ozone layer—but recovering used refrigerants is still essential.

That’s where the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) comes in. Since 2001, it has been a vital resource for recycling unusual items safely and efficiently to protect both the environment and public health.

Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM Facility Takes on Refrigerant Recycling

When refrigerators, freezers, air-conditioning units, and dehumidifiers are functioning normally, they are not posing much environmental risk. But when they malfunction or die, it’s important not to chuck them in the landfill and to take them, instead, to a recycler like the Eco-Cycle CHaRM. 

In the ever-evolving recycling industry, downstream recycling markets (especially for hard-to-recycle materials) can come and go, and the Eco-Cycle CHaRM has faced repeated challenges with disappearing markets for Freon recovery. When the local option for refrigerant processing fell through earlier this year, our operations team was faced with a dilemma—how to continue offering this vital service to the community without a reliable partner to handle the complex and accredited process of Freon removal.

Rather than abandoning the service, Eco-Cycle brought refrigerant-recovery operations in-house. This decision wasn’t made lightly. It required training and professional certification of CHaRM staff to safely extract refrigerants from appliances dropped off at the facility. The process also demanded significant adjustments to the center’s operations, including additional labor and the necessity of raising the fees for Freon appliance drop-offs to cover these new costs.

As CHaRM navigated these hurdles, the steady stream of refrigerant-containing appliances arriving at the facility showed no signs of slowing. At times, the sheer volume of appliances pushed the center’s storage capacity to its limits. However, through the dedication of our warehouse operations team, we established a system that maximizes labor efficiency while safely recovering both refrigerant chemicals and the scrap metal from dozens of Freon appliances each week.

Thanks to these efforts, CHaRM not only continues to serve the local community in Boulder County and beyond, but also contributes to a larger environmental mission—keeping harmful refrigerants out of the environment and valuable materials out of the landfill.

Learn more about our Freon appliance recycling processes, and the top three best practices for recycling your Freon appliances at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM, in this video starring our two certified-expert staff members, Finn and Avery!

Understanding Freon: The Legacy and Impact of a Once-Revolutionary Refrigerant

Freon, a brand name now synonymous with chemical refrigerants, was initially developed as a safer alternative to the highly toxic substances used in early refrigeration systems. The Freon trademark includes a range of chemical compounds found in modern cooling units, from refrigerators to air conditioners. 

One of the most notorious refrigerants in the Freon family is R-12, once hailed as an industry standard. But its environmental impact—specifically its role in depleting the ozone layer—led to its inclusion in the Montreal Protocol, the landmark 1987 treaty that enacted bans on the further production of many ozone-depleting substances. Despite the phase-outs, these chemicals still linger in older appliances, many of which find their way to the CHaRM in Boulder, where they’re safely recovered for reuse.

Refrigerants come in various types, each with a different Global Warming Potential (GWP). Read on to see them ranked from bad to better!

• R-12—This refrigerant is the worst that we tend to see, and is ozone-depleting. The Montreal Protocol outlawed new production of this refrigerant as of 1996, but when safely recovered from existing appliances, it can legally be put back into units that are only able to use this type. Global Warming Potential: 10,800 times as harmful for the atmosphere as CO₂ 

• R-22—This refrigerant, common to air-conditioning units and dehumidifiers, is also ozone-depleting. GWP: 5,310 times as harmful as CO₂ 

• R-410a—Common to ACs and dehumidifiers. In 2025, the EPA will ban this refrigerant from inclusion in new units. GWP: 4,260 times as harmful as CO₂ 

• R-134a—These units are the most common type we get at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM, but that may change when in 2025, the EPA also bans R-134a from inclusion in new units. Studies show that this type of refrigerant poses health risks to those who come in contact with it. GWP: 3,810 times as harmful as CO₂ 

• R-32—This is what most new air conditioners and dehumidifiers use today and is an improvement on past refrigerants. GWP: 2,530 times as harmful as CO₂ 

• R-600a—This is what most new fridges use these days, and is the most environmentally friendly refrigerant, as it is more or less equivalent to CO₂ and poses the smallest risk to the atmosphere. Draining should still be conducted by a professional, as the gas is highly flammable. 

Find the full list of materials accepted for recycling at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM at ecocycle.org/what-we-accept!

The post How Your Refrigerator Affects the Planet . . . and How Eco-Cycle Can Help! appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

A jumble of broken small appliances in a cardboard box, a mattress in the basement, an expired fire extinguisher in the garage, empty ink cartridges in a junk drawer, broken electronics in the back of a cabinet . . . Do any of these “junk” piles sound familiar? 

All these materials have one thing in common: They may no longer be useful in your home, but they’re still valuable resources that can be recycled at the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). At the CHaRM—the nation’s first facility of its kind—Eco-Cycle accepts over two dozen categories of hard-to-recycle materials,  including mattresses, fire extinguishers, ink cartridges, e-waste, and much more, such as scrap metal, plastic bags, block foam, vegetable oil, books, and even toilets! 

• See a full list of accepted materials and fees here

Perhaps you’re wondering, Can anything really be recovered from that 1980s television or busted air conditioner? The answer is yes! The more we recover to be reprocessed into new items, the less we need to extract finite virgin natural resources from the earth. In the case of items like TVs and ACs, responsible recycling is even more important because they contain hazardous materials such as heavy metals (one CRT TV can contain up to 5 lb of lead!) and chlorofluorocarbons (aka CFCs, from refrigerants) that must be handled with care by certified recyclers to avoid contaminating our environment and impacting the health of people and wildlife.

What becomes of the hard-to-recycle items brought to the Eco-Cycle CHaRM?

Common Household Items

Fire extinguishers are evaluated for reuse by our partner business, then they are either refilled or sent on for recycling as scrap metal. Porcelain and ceramic, from small items like broken mugs to larger drop-offs such as whole sinks and toilets, are recycled into an aggregate used to replace gravel in road base. Plastic bags are turned into composite lumber used for outdoor furniture and decks. Food scraps and other light organic matter (like a wilted bouquet of flowers) is composted. Plastic storage bins and other large items made from #2 or #5 plastic are recycled into new storage bins, weatherproof railroad ties, and car parts. Cardboard is recycled back into more cardboard. 

Reusable Items 

Bikes, books, and clothing collected at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM are distributed throughout the community for reuse whenever possible. For example, working bicycles are donated to Community Cycles, a local nonprofit bicycling advocacy organization. If bikes are beyond repair, the metal is scrapped and the tires and tubes are used to make crumb rubber, commonly used for athletic fields, as an asphalt base, or as an alternative fuel source for cement kilns. Gently used books are donated to local schools and organizations, while damaged or out-of-date books are recycled into cellulose insulation. In our newest community partnership, Eco-Cycle sends wearable clothing to be sorted for resale at Pig and Pearl Thrift Store in Boulder. 

Mattresses

Eco-Cycle partners with Spring Back Colorado to recycle mattresses of all sizes. Once they receive a delivery of mattresses from the CHaRM to their warehouse in Commerce City, Spring Back Colorado employees deconstruct each mattress into its core components. The foam and fibers are used to create carpet padding. The metal is recovered as scrap metal and recycled into kitchen appliances and the automotive industry. An incredible aspect of this organization is not only its recovery of valuable materials from the landfill—which helps address the issue of 50,000 mattresses going to landfill in the US each and every day—it also intentionally hires people in recovery from addiction or who were formerly incarcerated, providing a sustainable pathway to employment and a supportive culture for employees.

Electronics

Eco-Cycle partners with a local chapter of Blue Star Recyclers to recycle electronics, including cell phones,  TVs and monitors, laptops and computer towers, and small appliances like coffee makers and vacuums. By partnering with an e-steward certified company, your e-waste is not only recycled at the highest standards of environmental responsibility and worker protection, but also provides local green jobs to people on the autism spectrum and with other “disAbilities.” 

The next time you’re clearing out your clutter, visit the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials located at 6400 Arapahoe Rd. in Boulder to ensure your items get a second life! For more information on where your recycled stuff ends up, check out our comprehensive chart below. 

The Recycling Journey of CHaRM Materials

The post The CHaRMed Second Life of Your Hard-to-Recycle Materials appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Located in East Boulder, Recycle Row is a unique corridor with several Zero Waste facilities dedicated to helping residents and businesses reuse and recycle their discards responsibly, fostering a culture of sustainable resource management in the community.

Eco-Cycle is proud to be an integral part of Recycle Row, operating the Boulder County Recycling Center and founding the nation’s first Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM). We collaborate with mission-aligned organizations, including our neighbor at 6400 Arapahoe Road, Resource Central, as well as the Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility, and Western Disposal, to advance resource conservation.

Read on to learn more about the member organizations of Recycle Row and the services available to you, and watch this video produced by Boulder County to see Recycle Row facilities in action!

Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM)

Founded in 2001, the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) creates an opportunity to recycle unusual items not typically accepted in curbside programs. By accepting dozens of hard-to-recycle materials at our drop-off location in Boulder, the CHaRM makes it easier for area residents and businesses to responsibly recycle (and in some cases, reuse) these items.

Accepted Items at Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM

• Electronics, including computers, monitors, printers, and cell phones. E-waste contains hazardous materials that can harm the environment if not disposed of properly, making it illegal to dump electronics in the trash in Colorado.
• Plastic Bags and Bubble Wrap: Unlike plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, jars, and clamshells, plastic bags and other polyethylene films are not accepted in curbside recycling because they get tangled in recycling machinery. However, when collected separately from curbside recyclables, this material can be recycled into composite lumber for outdoor furniture and decking—or even turned back into film plastic!
• Documents for Shredding, including loose office paper, folders, and envelopes—staples and paper clips do not need to be removed. 
• Block White Styrofoam, often seen in the form of the rigid material in which electronics are packaged inside the box. Food-grade styrofoam containers and cups are NOT accepted, and are being phased out in Colorado thanks to the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act championed by Eco-Cycle in 2021. Packing peanuts are also not accepted for recycling at CHaRM, but can often be reused by shipping companies.
• Scrap Metal, which include items that are at least 50% metal by weight and contain no refrigerants—everything from metal caps less than 2 inches in diameter (which are too small to put in your curbside recycling bin) to pots and pans, microwaves,  water heaters, and non-Freon appliances.
• Large Plastics, made of #2 HDPE or #5 PP only and less than 3 feet in length in every direction, including all-plastic kiddie pools, lawn chairs, trash cans, buckets, laundry baskets, and milk crates.
• Freon Appliances, including all sizes of refrigerators, freezers, air-conditioning units, and dehumidifiers.  
• And more! See our full list of accepted items and fees here.

Resource Central

Co-located with Eco-Cycle at 6400 Arapahoe Road, Resource Central is a fellow nonprofit organization facilitating Zero Waste in Boulder by accepting donations of reusable building materials, and selling these reclaimed items to the public at a fraction of the original price. Resource Central also runs effective and innovative programs to save water, conserve energy, and reduce waste.

Accepted Items at Resource Central

Resource Central accepts donations of new and gently used building materials, such as:

• Lumber
• Hardware
• Cabinetry and doors
• Plumbing fixtures
• Sinks
• Appliances in good working condition

Resource Central also takes some housewares such as shelving units. Learn more about what items they accept at resourcecentral.org/reuse/material-donations.

Looking to purchase building materials at prices significantly below retail cost? Visit the Materials Reuse Store co-located on the same property as the Eco-Cycle CHaRM, open Monday through Saturday, 9 am–5 pm. 

Boulder County Recycling Center (BCRC)

The Boulder County Recycling Center, operated by Eco-Cycle, is a state-of-the-art facility that processes recyclable materials from Boulder County and beyond. If you live in Boulder County, your curbside single-stream recycling is brought here to be sorted, baled, and sold to end markets for remanufacturing, ensuring your recyclables are returned to the supply chain.

At the Boulder County Recycling Center Drop-Off Center, located at 1901 63rd St. in Boulder, the community can bring single-stream recycling materials for free drop-off! Accepted items include paper, cardboard, glass bottles, aluminum or metal cans, and plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and jars. 

• Find a Boulder County recycling center near you with this map 
• Find a list of materials accepted curbside in our Recycling Guide for Boulder County

Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF)

Proper disposal of hazardous waste is critical to protecting both human health and the environment. Boulder County’s Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF), located at 1901 63rd St. in Boulder (just to the west of the Boulder County Recycling Center), offers a safe and responsible solution for managing hazardous materials, ensuring the health of our community and environment. 

Accepted Items at Boulder County’s Hazardous Waste Drop-Off:

• Household Chemicals: Items such as cleaning products, pesticides, and paint thinners are accepted. These materials can be extremely harmful if disposed of improperly.
• Fluorescent Bulbs: Fluorescent bulbs require special handling to prevent environmental contamination, since they contain mercury.
• Automotive Fluids: Used motor oil, antifreeze, and other automotive fluids are accepted. Proper disposal prevents these substances from polluting waterways.
• Batteries: All types are accepted—please tape your lithium batteries.
• Vaping Accessories 
• LED Bulbs
• Camping Fuel Containers (under 1 pound)

Western Disposal

Western Disposal provides comprehensive waste management services, including housing the Boulder County and City of Boulder Yard Waste and Wood Waste Drop-Off Center, trash collection, and recycling. Visit their location at 2051 63rd St. in Boulder to drop off a host of materials, including:

• Yard debris: branches, stumps, leaves, etc.
• Construction & Demolition (C&D) materials
• And more!

Recycle Row in Boulder exemplifies our community’s commitment to Zero Waste and sustainability. Whether you’re looking to recycle electronics, donate building materials, safely dispose of hazardous waste, or find a home for C&D materials, Recycle Row has you covered! The next time you’re in Boulder, take a trip down Recycle Row and see sustainability in action.

• Learn more about these facilities in the latest edition of the Eco-Cycle Guide!

The post Take a Trip Down Recycle Row, Boulder’s Hub for Sustainability appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Great news for recycling and resource management from this legislative session! Collaborating with numerous partners, Eco-Cycle facilitated the passage of several circular economy bills through the Colorado General Assembly. 

Top Priority: Senate Bill 24-150 Aimed at Discouraging Waste-to-Energy and Plastics-to-Fuel Facilities from Coming to Colorado

Our top legislative priority this season was the passage of Senate Bill 24-150, a bill Eco-Cycle championed along with key allies including Green Latinos, Sierra Club, Earthjustice, Conservation Colorado, and Environment Colorado. This victory would have significantly advanced efforts in Colorado, and nationally, to safeguard communities from pollution generated by plastics-to-fuel technologies. 

Every year, we hear from Colorado communities that are being pitched false solutions to waste management, such as waste-to-energy and plastics-to-fuel technologies. These approaches are two of the most expensive ways to dispose of materials, requiring tremendous energy inputs while generating toxic, carcinogenic pollutants. They also perpetuate a system that demands ongoing resource extraction to create feedstock for incineration. Even worse, these facilities are most frequently located in already disproportionately impacted communities, putting them at additional environmental, safety, and health risk. 

Currently, Colorado has no waste incineration or plastics-to-fuel facilities. To preempt these facilities from coming to Colorado, we worked with bill sponsors Senators Lisa Cutter and Dafna Michaelson Jenet to try to ban Municipal Solid Waste incinerators. After meeting strong opposition in the Senate, we pivoted. House Sponsor, Representative Meg Froelich, amended the bill to prohibit the state from funding Municipal Solid Waste incinerators that turn plastics to fuel. The bill also required that these types of facilities be regulated as solid waste incinerators and clarifies that these processes (including pyrolysis and gasification) are NOT recycling or renewable energy as previously allowed in Colorado statute.  

Unfortunately, despite passing through to the governor’s desk, Governor Polis did not opt to sign this bill into law and it was vetoed.

Eco-Cycle still firmly believes pyrolysis and other plastics-to-fuel processes should be banned, but at the very least, they should not be subsidized by taxpayers. Instead, public funds should be used to support sustainable solutions and used only for truly recyclable and renewable projects. We intend to pursue passage of these types of policies again in future legislative sessions.

Zero Waste Policy Wins This Legislative Session

Producer Responsibility for Recycling Paper and Packaging (House Bill 22-1355)

In 2022, Eco-Cycle successfully championed a Producer Responsibility bill that will bring recycling to ALL Coloradans at no cost starting in 2026. As part of the compromise to get the bill passed, the legislature added an additional requirement that once a statewide assessment of infrastructure and service needs was complete, the legislature must approve the scenario for implementation before the program could move forward. For months, Eco-Cycle led meetings with interested parties and provided feedback on the statewide needs assessment. This April, the legislature approved our recommended scenario, giving the go-ahead to start program planning and implementation. 

The new Producer Responsibility program will provide recycling services to an additional 700,000 homes in Colorado that currently do not have recycling services, and will result in an additional 410,000 tons of valuable recyclable materials collected, for a statewide annual total of 720,000 tons of recyclables diverted from landfill by 2035. This was the last major hurdle before implementation; now it’s full steam ahead!

Waste Tire Management (Senate Bill 24-123)

This bill updates Colorado’s existing Waste Tire Recycling Program by charging a small fee on every new tire purchase to help fund tire recycling solutions, paving the way to transform rubber tire waste into useful products, such as road materials. Colorado is home to the largest tire landfills in the nation, which can erupt with unintentional fires, like the Hudson fire in 2021. In partnership with Recycle Colorado, Eco-Cycle supported SB24-123, which is headed to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Environmental Sustainability Circular Economy (House Bill 24-1449)

This bill proposes to combine two funds, the Front Range Waste Diversion (FRWD) program and the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity (RREO) program, into one statewide program, the Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise, that will expand access to financial and technical support for Zero Waste initiatives to Colorado municipalities. As advocates for both of the original funding programs, Eco-Cycle supported this move to create a unified, efficient, well-funded program to help advance Zero Waste projects statewide.

Eco-Cycle and partners dedicated significant effort to establish these two funds that turn nominal “tipping” fees paid at landfills into impactful grants that have helped schools, municipalities, recyclers, composters, and other businesses build recycling, composting, and waste reduction programs and infrastructure over the past two decades. HB24-1449 passed its final vote in the Senate on May 8, the last day of the session, and is now headed to the governor’s desk.  

Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment (House Bill 24-1121)

This is the third successful “right-to-repair” law championed by our partner Colorado Public Interest Research Group (CoPIRG). After passing similar bills that make it easier for consumers to repair their powered wheelchairs (2022) and agricultural equipment (2023), this year’s bill will extend the life of consumer electronics by making it easier to repair them. Eco-Cycle testified on behalf of this bill and is excited to see it go to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Eco-Cycle’s Policy Work Continues Even After the Legislative Session Ends

Recycling of Single-Use Electronic Smoking Devices (House Bill 24-1069) tackled the problematic disposal of single-use electronic smoking devices (vapes). While HB24-1069 did not pass, Eco-Cycle is working with legislators and partners to request funding for the study outlined in the proposed bill through the new Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise. 

Eco-Cycle celebrates these tremendous wins for our circular economy, environment, and communities, with our partners and supporters who took the time and made the effort to advocate for these bills—and a cleaner, more sustainable future for Colorado.

The post Impactful Outcomes for Key Zero Waste Bills appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

This May 5–11, environmental and recycling businesses, organizations, and individuals across the US are commemorating International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), an annual event highlighting the many benefits of using compost and recycling organics such as food scraps and yard debris. 

Progress Following Regional Compost Guidelines Changes

Here in Colorado’s Front Range, this year’s ICAW marks approximately one year since the region’s primary compost manufacturer took measures to reduce significant contamination challenges by limiting accepted materials to food scraps and yard trimmings only, excluding paper, paper towels, and compostable tableware. These changes prompted most restaurants and businesses to remove all compost bins from customer access. Schools that are part of Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools (GSS) program also needed to pause and adapt student participation in compost collections. Now, one year later, the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley School Districts participating in Eco-Cycle’s GSS program have innovated a shift in their operations to resume composting, accompanied by the use of reusable foodware over single-use products at school events, setting a precedent for other institutions and businesses to follow.

It is essential to teach students right there at the compost bin what is and isn’t compostable, so Eco-Cycle’s environmental educators go “out to lunch” in the school cafeterias every single day to help students as they’re clearing their trays, providing one-on-one training on correctly sorting food scraps at the compost bin. It has been extraordinarily successful, and GSS schools are proving that we can collect clean compost.

Eco-Cycle’s award-winning Green Star Schools program is the first in the nation to address waste reduction and the collection of compostables, in addition to recyclables, in every aspect of school life— from classrooms and hallways to cafeterias and special events. Composting is an essential component of the GSS program as food makes up 50–80% (by weight) of school cafeteria discards. With the addition of Colorado’s new free lunch program for all public school students, food waste has increased. Up to two-thirds of the discards from each GSS are kept out of landfills, which is almost double the national recycling and composting rate. The Eco-Cycle GSS program serves 66 regional schools in two districts—43 in Boulder Valley and 23 in St. Vrain Valley—educating 32,382 students and 4,093 staff members. The successes in these schools would not be possible without the partnerships between Eco-Cycle and custodial, kitchen, administrative, district, and municipal sustainability leadership.

The changes in compost guidelines presented a concerning lost opportunity for students because many of the schools have been composting for 19 years. Committed to giving students the opportunity to compost, Eco-Cycle’s GSS program, Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley School Districts, and individual schools innovated a shift in their operations to adapt to new composting procedures. Eco-Cycle’s team of environmental educators now go on-site in classrooms and cafeterias, providing extensive support in re-educating students and school staff about the changes. 

“Boulder Valley School District began composting with Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools Program in 2005. As a result of this partnership and with support from Boulder County, the City of Boulder, the Town of Superior, and the City/County of Broomfield, Boulder Valley School District has expanded to 43 Green Star Schools spanning two counties, with more to come,” said Ghita Carroll, BVSD Sustainability and Energy Officer. “For students in these schools, Zero Waste is part of their daily routine. Through their hands-on experience reducing waste, composting, and recycling, environmental conservation becomes less of an abstract concept and instead is the norm for these children.”

According to Curtis Leonard, Energy & Sustainability Specialist at St. Vrain Valley School District, “The Green Star Schools program has been an exceptional resource and cornerstone of sustainability programming in many of our schools at SVVSD. At the heart of St. Vrain Valley Schools’ Energy & Sustainability Program is a commitment to conscientiously managing waste and material flows. Through compost education initiatives and nurturing partnerships within our schools, Eco-Cycle and the Green Star Schools program are actively fostering an ethos of sustainability within the culture of our schools.” 

Reusable Zero Waste School Event Kits

Eco-Cycle’s environmental educators were also committed to supporting the schools in composting at events, parties, and meetings. Historically, these gatherings typically involved the use of single-use compostable cutlery, plates, and cups, but these items are no longer allowed in the compost stream. The Eco-Cycle schools team solved that problem with reusables and partnerships. The Town of Superior and the City/County of Broomfield funded the distribution of 43 Zero Waste Event reusable kits. Each kit contains a class set of reusable/washable plates, cups, cutlery, and napkins. With a grant from Boulder County, they will assemble additional kits and prioritize their distribution to Title I schools in both Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley School Districts in the fall. 

Students, parents, and faculty scrape their food scraps into the compost bin, then the reusable plates and utensils are washed in the kitchen or by parent volunteers, and are ready to use again. Reuse reduces waste, saves money and natural resources, results in cleaner compost without disposables, and is a local climate solution.

Keeping organic matter like food scraps out of the landfill is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When landfilled, organic discards don’t just rot, they decompose anaerobically, meaning “without oxygen,” and in the process, they create methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. But if food scraps, yard trimmings and other organic matter are diverted to compost manufacturing and applied to landscapes, they have the opposite effect—they can draw down atmospheric carbon and store it beneficially in the soil. It will also build soil that grows more nutritious food crops and retains water, all without polluting synthetic chemicals. 

As students learn in school about the importance of composting and what materials belong in the compost bin, they take that knowledge home to their families, leading to increased participation in community compost programs.

“Schools are a key part of recycling and compost education, so the Town was thrilled to be able to start Green Star Schools last year,” said Alexis Bullen, Town of Superior Sustainability Manager. “We continue to look for strategies to reduce waste in the first place, which is why it was so exciting to be the first community to launch reusable Zero Waste Event kits for classroom parties and events. Eco-Cycle is a great partner to the Town of Superior and we hope to continue to increase compost collection in our community and make our waste stream more circular.”

Moving forward, Eco-Cycle is working to establish funding support and develop partnerships with more municipalities and school districts to expand access to the program. Support from the City/County of Broomfield means Broomfield schools are the next to be enrolled in Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Schools Program.

• To learn more about the Eco-Cycle Green Star Schools program, visit ecocycle.org/schools!

The post Growing Green: Composting & Reuse in Green Star Schools appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

You may know Eco-Cycle as the operator of the Boulder County Recycling Center, where we process more than 55,000 tons of some of the cleanest recyclable materials in the nation. Or maybe you’ve visited the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), the first facility of its kind to accept dozens of items that can’t be recycled in your curbside bin. Zero Waste services like these are the roots from which our community Zero Waste programs have grown, demonstrating that from localized beginnings can emerge a canopy of environmental resilience. Read on to see how our programs are blooming this spring!

Turning Over a New Leaf: Transitioning to an Electric Fleet

Later this spring, Eco-Cycle will welcome its second battery-electric vehicle! In 2023, Eco-Cycle introduced our community to the first-in-the-nation electric compost collection truck, collecting compostable organic discards from businesses and schools across Boulder County! Our newest EV fleet member will collect recycling from our commercial and school customers. Switching our fleet to electric vehicles helps us realize all the climate benefits of recycling and composting without generating transportation emissions. Our goal is to help lead the transition of commercial fleet electrification for all haulers, merging our mission of Zero Waste with Zero Emissions for a more climate-resilient future.

Deepening Our Roots: Community Compost System

We’re demonstrating that composting and carbon farming are critical nature-based climate solutions by taking the first steps toward developing a Circular Community Compost System in Boulder County. In this system, residents and businesses generate clean food scraps and yard trimmings that are received by local compost manufacturers (rather than being transported to an industrial facility located far away) to make high-quality compost. The compost is then applied to local farms, gardens, and lawns to build healthy, drought-resistant soils that absorb carbon from the atmosphere while growing more nutritious food!

To model this system, in 2022 we began building a network of on-farm compost production sites within Boulder County. Today, five farm partners have Aerated Static Pile (ASP) compost production systems that take materials generated on the farm (such as manure, animal bedding, plant trimmings, and food scraps) and produce a premium-grade compost that is applied to the farm’s lands.

Our next step is to deepen these roots of local composting by bringing clean, organic discards from the public to the farms for composting. In 2023, we successfully changed local regulations so that farms can now accept food scraps generated from the community and compost them on-farm. Next up, we’re developing a system for CSA members and farm-to-table restaurants to send their food scraps to local farms to be composted, closing the loop on our food system and creating an impactful climate solution!

Nurturing Environmental Stewards: Green Star Schools

There is no better way to change our society’s culture of wasteful habits than by educating and engaging children, motivating them and their families to protect the environment. Eco-Cycle launched our Schools program in 1987, and since then, hundreds of thousands of students have grown up with an exceptional degree of environmental literacy thanks to our first-in-the-nation, science-based programming. 

Sprouting from our original Schools program, we launched our Green Star Schools Program in 2005—the first program in the nation to address waste reduction and the collection of compostables and recyclables in every aspect of school life. We make Zero Waste an integral part of the daily school routine by increasing environmental literacy, providing infrastructure, and changing behavior. As a result, schools reduce their waste by up to 67%, and because we actively involve families in waste reduction, Green Star students and their families learn that they can significantly contribute to their own health, and the health of the natural world.

From our initial enrollment of four schools, today we serve 60 schools and over 35,000 students and staff. During the 2023–2024 school year, we’re making history by enrolling an all-time high of six schools into the Green Star Schools program! 

Branching Out: Statewide Policy

Eco-Cycle is dedicated to building Zero Waste communities across Colorado and beyond. Throughout our 48-year history, we’ve helped communities pass ordinances to reduce waste, decrease plastic use, improve access to recycling services, and promote composting. Emerging from these successes, Eco-Cycle branched out in 2019 to advocate for statewide policy to guide all Colorado communities toward a Zero Waste future. 

Each year since, we’ve successfully helped draft and advocate for the passage of Zero Waste legislation, including two historic policies: 1) Colorado’s Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (House Bill 21-1162), which, when fully implemented this year, will ban plastic checkout bags from distribution at large Colorado retailers, and ban polystyrene foam food and beverage containers from being distributed by all restaurants, and 2) a Producer Responsibility program that will create a fully producer-funded and operated statewide recycling system for all consumer-facing packaging and printed paper in 2026. The successful implementation of this law will provide recycling for ALL Coloradans and take our state from a Zero Waste laggard to a leader. 

Working from the foundation of these and other legislative successes, we’re championing more Zero Waste bills in 2024 than ever! In this current session, we’re working hard to write, advocate for, and pass Zero Waste bills to disincentivize proposed plastics-to-fuel facilities, ensure sustainable tire recycling, promote right-to-repair legislation, and more!

Learn more about these bills and other statewide legislative campaigns!

The post Eco-Cycle Initiatives Are Branching Out in 2024 appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

Eco-Cycle’s Zero Waste Hauling and Consulting Services team works with a sizable roster of local businesses to meet their recycling, composting, and hard-to-recycle hauling needs as well as guiding them toward the cutting edge of sustainable best practices. Many of our customers go above and beyond the requirements of Boulder’s Universal Zero Waste Ordinance, and one such customer is SomaLogic (which recently merged with Standard BioTools), a Boulder-based biotech company specializing in proteomics, the study of proteins. 

The Process

Identifying ways to recycle difficult materials and generate less waste from the start, while actually saving the organization money, are just some of the benefits of a circular economy. SomaLogic adopted many of these Zero Waste practices to transition away from a linear take-make-waste production model. 

For example, Crissy DeGruccio, Senior Supply Chain Manager at SomaLogic, gave us some insight on the purchasing decisions that SomaLogic made in their Assay Services laboratory, where thousands of exact protein measurements are done on small blood samples. These decisions resulted in higher recyclability (and reduction of waste) of the lab products they utilize in their processes:

“Efforts were made to look at our biggest source of plastic wastes. We found that having individually packed buffers in the Assay Laboratory was generating a huge amount of waste, especially as assay volumes grew. We identified buffers that could be made in bulk, generating considerably less waste. Metrics were developed to identify the costs of the extra plastic in our laboratory. We looked at the Purchasing costs, as well as the extra manpower to fill additional bottles and the cost to recycle the additional waste. We realized there were benefits to getting rid of the plastics that benefited everyone in Operations.

“A big challenge was determining ways to make bulk buffers that would still work in the Assay Services laboratory and provide a quality product and results.  Manufacturing spent quite a bit of time performing work to ensure accurate volumes could be dispensed from a bulk buffer. We also needed to identify ways to store the new bulk materials properly.

“It is a much better process for us now. We generate much less plastic waste, and this saves us time on filling buffers. It has saved us money and it makes us proud that we have found ways to be more green! We also worked closely with Eco-Cycle to ensure we identified all the different materials in our lab that could be recycled.”

– Crissy DeGruccio, SomaLogic purchasing department

Other impressive sustainability initiatives at SomaLogic

A robust and egalitarian Green Team of around two dozen people from across all departments and employment levels that works together to strategize new sustainability initiatives and find new ways to engage in the community. They offer sustainability programming including a Lunch ‘n’ Learn series that has hosted recycling trainings with Eco-Cycle staff and a field trip to the Boulder County Recycling Center operated by Eco-Cycle as well as the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM).

Excellent educational signage on-site and meticulously maintained recycling bins everywhere you look, including hard-to-recycle material collections where employees are encouraged to deposit not only plastic film and other materials generated at work, but are also welcome to bring in items from home. Watch the video tour in which Madeline “Mads” Welch, a Quality Control Laboratory Associate and co-leader of the company’s Green Team, shows us some of the infrastructure at SomaLogic/Standard BioTools that facilitates their standard of excellence. 

A SomaHub intranet accessible to both remote and on-site workers where the Green Team curates useful information, coordinates seasonal challenges for eco-holidays and sustainability, and shares opportunities to get involved and give back to the community, such as:

A Litterbug Hike in which Green Team volunteers gathered at the Boulder Creek Path and picked up trash. 

A hugely successful Earth Day/Arbor Day plant swap hosted in-office. Staff brought in seedlings, seeds, pots, full-grown plants—and everything had been claimed by the end of the day.

A World Water Day challenge to raise funds for eco-activist youth Mari Copeny’s foundation helping Flint, Michigan.

A Holiday Drive to reduce textile/home goods waste in partnership with Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM and local charities Sister Carmen Community Center and A Precious Child.

Energy efficiency on-site: Starting in 2020, the company has converted all fluorescent lighting to LED lighting. To save on the cost and waste of swapping in new lighting fixtures, they opted to remove the ballast and utilize “plug and play” bulbs that fit right into the same fixture. One of their buildings on Wilderness Place has converted to motion-sensor lighting in all labs, and are working toward converting the other building as well. In the meantime, every light switch has a reminder sticker above it to turn off the lights when you’re not in the room.

According to Chris Tapparo, Senior Manager of Laboratory Operations and one of the founding members of the Green Team, both the incoming staff as well as customers at SomaLogic find value in their sustainability initiatives, with some customers vetting the company’s recycling program and other eco-efforts as a deciding factor in their decision of whether to go with SomaLogic. With the help of a diversion report created through Eco-Cycle’s Hauling and Consulting Services, Chris was able to send metrics on discards to an inquiring prospect for both buildings when the customer expressed interest.

SomaLogic’s “lab results” demonstrate how one company’s sustainability ethic led to new solutions in the recycling world. Thank you to SomaLogic and its incredible staff for demonstrating how we all have a role to play in building circular economies!  

• Interested in becoming more like SomaLogic? Learn more about Eco-Cycle’s Zero Waste Hauling and Consulting services.

“The Green Team’s work in Boulder is a shining example of continuously improving our efforts to create sustainable and environmentally friendly business processes. We see sustainability as a vital step in protecting our planet and also a way of delivering value to our customers who are increasingly seeking partners who prioritize green practices.”

– Michael Egholm, President and CEO of Standard BioTools

Many thanks to Emilia Costales, Chris Tapparo, Madeline Welch, Crissy DeGruccio, and Michael Egholm for sharing insights on the sustainability practices at SomaLogic/Standard BioTools, with special thanks to Nick Miranda and Paul Bosman at Eco-Cycle.

The post Business Spotlight: SomaLogic Labs Help Pioneer New Recycling Stream appeared first on Eco-Cycle.

What better way to celebrate spring than by using compost to nourish the soils your garden, lawn, and trees depend on? Starting April 6, Microbe Brew Compost Tea will be available for purchase at the Eco-Cycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) window, to help you infuse your soils with beneficial microorganisms that promote healthy growth all season long. This season Microbe Brew has been reformulated and is teeming with more diverse microbial life than ever!

Compost tea is a liquid concentrate of living microorganisms that boost soil health. In nature, as vegetation falls to the ground, it slowly decays, providing minerals and nutrients needed by plants. We can mimic this natural cycle by applying compost or compost tea to our trees, gardens, and lawns!

Build Healthy Soils with Microbe Brew Compost Tea!

With depleted soils, dry heat, little rainwater, pests and weeds, Colorado’s spring and summer climate doesn’t exactly create ideal growing conditions. Additionally, it’s likely that your backyard contains clay soil, which is dense and can be a challenge for plants’ roots to grow. Or perhaps your soil is very sandy and does not retain water. Eco-Cycle’s Microbe Brew Compost Tea tackles these problems by infusing your soil with beneficial microorganisms, helping create soil that retains more moisture, yields more plentiful vegetation, and grows more pest-resistant plants!

We produce Microbe Brew onsite by feeding the cleanest food scraps and yard trimmings to our resident red wiggler worms (Eisenia fetida). As organic material passes through the gut of the worm, it is converted to worm castings (also known as vermicompost)—an especially rich form of compost. The castings are then brewed in highly oxygenated water under optimal conditions for the beneficial microorganisms present in the castings to reproduce rapidly.

How do I use Microbe Brew Compost Tea?

Microbe Brew is easy to use and requires no prep work. Using a lawn sprayer or a standard watering can, sprinkle Microbe Brew Compost Tea directly to soils in your garden, lawn, or around trees and shrubs—anywhere you want to boost plant growth, including on household plants—then thoroughly moisten the soil with water. Your plants’ roots will work symbiotically with the Microbe Brew microorganisms in the soil to get the different nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong!

• Watch the video demonstrating how to apply Microbe Brew Compost Tea

Unlike conventional plant foods you’ll find at the store, which act as an “IV” to transfer artificial nutrients to your plants, Microbe Brew infuses your soil with millions of living microbes, creating an ideal habitat for plant growth all season long.

Where can I get Microbe Brew Compost Tea?

Pick up your Microbe Brew Compost Tea at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM window, located at 6400 Arapahoe Rd. One gallon of Microbe Brew covers 200–400 square feet; five gallons cover an average city lot. Microbe Brew is sold in 1-gallon, 2.5-gallon, or 5-gallon containers. To promote reuse, we assess a small bottle deposit fee that is refunded when the empty jugs are returned for us to refill and resell. Please rinse out the jugs (water only, no soap) and return them at the CHaRM window during your next visit!

• Learn more at ecocycle.org/microbe-brew!

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