If you’ve ever done a big clean up of your garage or backyard storage shed, you’ve likely run across lots of items that you can’t just throw in the trash;
These types of items are banned from landfills in most communities. There are even further prohibited items not allowed in landfills.
These hazardous materials should be recycled instead of tossing them in your trash. However, some people believe this is easier said than done.
Despite perceived difficulties, recycling is easy and comes at little to no cost. Recycling facilities are the key to hazardous waste disposal, yet so many don't even know if their area has one let alone how to find it!
The ease of finding a recycling facility near you depends on where you live. In large cities and their suburbs, recycling facilities are common and typically easy to access. In rural areas, homeowners and businesses may find it harder to locate and use a recycling facility nearby. This is due to less demand, sparser infrastructure, and lack of government programs and funds that encourage recycling.
The larger the city, the more likely you are to find recycling facilities. These facilities are designated as collection points for specific types of recyclable material.
For example, the City of Phoenix offers large appliance recycling at two transfer stations and through a curbside pick-up program. Denver has contracted with PaintCare, an organization that offers drop-off sites where the public can take unwanted paint for recycling.
It’s worth it to find a recycling spot near you that can handle the type of waste you’re tossing. Using a proper recycling facility keeps toxic chemicals out of your community’s water, soil, and air. This protects your family and local animals and plants.
There are some national recycling programs that work to connect local citizens with proper recycling resources in their community. Check these out to see a large list of recycling options near you:
Earth911 is the largest recycling database in the nation. You can search for nearby facilities using your zip code and can narrow down the results based on the type of waste you have.
RecycleNation offers information on recycling for over 50 different items. They have details on drop off, curbside, mail back, and pickup options for recycling.
RecycleFinder is a free resource with online and mobile application to make it easier to find a recycling facility nearby.
You can always start with an internet search for a recycling center near you. However, take care to avoid for-profit recycling enterprises that charge you for recycling. In most cases, you can find local and governmental resources that will accept your hazardous items for free or for a nominal fee. Check with your local city or county or ask for information at your local library or community center.
Many cities offer periodic clean up events, with many accepting those items that can’t be put in your regular trash. Watch neighborhood online groups or city announcements for events like prescription drug disposal, large appliance curbside pickups, or paint collection events.
Colorado lags in its recycling rate, reporting a landfill diversion rate of only 16%, well below the national average of 32%. While the City and County of Denver itself does better than the state average, it is working to improve its recycling rate. In 2022, voters in Denver passed an ordinance that requires recycling in all apartment complexes and businesses in the city.
The city offers a robust curbside recycling program through its Denver Public Works Department. Denver residents also can access free drop-off services at the Cherry Creek Recycling Facility. Residents should contact the city for more information about accepted items and proper disposal methods.
Chicago recycling rates also run below the national average. Recycling advocates are working with city officials to increase participation in recycling efforts. The City of Chicago offers a Blue Cart Recycling Program to residents, offering bi-weekly recycling services to single-family and small multi-unit buildings.
There are also recycling drop-off centers on the Far North Side and Near South, plus frequent recycling events for electronics and other hazardous items. To increase participation, the city runs a Recycling Block Captain Program which connects citizens with city officials to get the word out to residents about safe recycling and community events.
Kansas City has just begun a new recycling program for residents with a goal of increasing recycling participation. Each residential home will receive a free recycling cart by the end of 2023. The city offers weekly recycling pickup of most items. There are some restrictions on items, including things such as automotive fluids, glass, large appliances, e-waste, and toxic chemicals.
The city offers drop offs through a partnership with Bridging The Gap at three locations:
You can also arrange for pickup of bulky items such as appliances, carpet, and large pieces of glass through the Bulky Item Collection Program.
The City of Phoenix offers weekly recycling collection through their municipal trash collection program. All collected recyclables are taken to the Phoenix Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) for sorting and processing. Residents can drop off recyclables at two transfer locations:
There are also options for drop offs or scheduled pickups of appliances and household hazardous waste. You can find Eco-stations throughout the city. These large roll-off bins are strategically placed in city park lots and near multi-family housing complexes. This allows residents without access to residential trash pickup to recycle their waste.
Bins are located in:
In Houston, residents using the city waste collection service receive a large, 96-gallon recycling bin for free. Recycling is collected every other week. Truck operators will not pick up certain items, including batteries, yard waste, scrap metal, and large bulky items such as appliances.
For these things, residents should use a nearby neighborhood deposit and recycling center. These are located throughout the city. The large comprehensive Westpark Consumer Recycling Center in west Houston also accepts many types of recyclables.
Call us today to find out how to manage all your trash and recyclables. Discount Dumpster is committed to responsible waste disposal. Our smart and experienced customer service team will help you sort out what can and can’t go in your rental dumpster. We’ll get you the information and resources you need to manage any hazardous or prohibited waste.
Let us help you clean up responsibly and affordably. Call us today to discuss all your needs and get a waste disposal plan set up for you!
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