Colorado's new recycling program is rolling out across our service areas, and most households are set to receive no-cost recycling automatically. But not everyone is on board right away. Some customers have let us know they'd rather skip it.
We get it. Change takes some convincing. So let's walk through the most common reasons people give for opting out, and why a lot of them don't hold up once you dig in.
"It's Probably Going to Cost Me Something"
This is the big one. A lot of folks assume a new service means a new line item on the bill. It doesn't. Thanks to Colorado's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, the companies that make packaging and paper products help fund the recycling system statewide.
Residential recycling service comes at no additional cost to you. No hidden fees, no surprise charges.
"I Don't Make Enough Recycling to Bother With a Whole Cart"
Totally fair assumption, and also not quite true. On average, about half of what a household throws away is stuff that could be recycled instead: cardboard, paper, plastic containers, glass, and metal. Most people just aren't used to separating it out yet.
And here's the thing: there's no minimum. Fill the cart every week or once a month, it doesn't matter. It's there when you need it and ignorable when you don't.
"I Don't Have Room for Another Cart"
Understandable if your driveway or side yard is already tight. But a lot of customers find the opposite happens once they start recycling. Pulling cardboard, cans, and bottles out of the regular trash frees up a surprising amount of space in that cart. For a lot of households, it ends up being a wash, or even a net gain in space.
"Recycling Is Confusing. I Don't Know What Goes In and What Doesn't"
This one's legitimate, and honestly the easiest to fix. The short version: cardboard boxes, mail and paper, plastic bottles and jugs, aluminum cans, and steel food cans are all good to go.
Cardboard & paper — boxes, mail, newspaper, magazines.
Plastic bottles & jugs — rinsed and dry.
Aluminum cans — soda, beer, and other beverage cans.
Steel food cans — soup, vegetable, and pet food cans.
When in doubt, our recycling guide breaks it down item by item, so there's no guesswork involved.
"I Already Decided, Why Revisit It?"
Also fair. But the program hasn't launched yet in every area, and new details keep coming in as it does. If your first no was based on assumptions about cost or hassle, it might be worth a second look now that those assumptions are cleared up.
Changing Your Mind Is Easy
If you opted out and you're reconsidering, you don't have to overhaul a decision you've already made somewhere complicated. Just reach out to your local team or fill out a quick form, and we'll get you set up.
- No cost to add recycling service to your account.
- No minimum amount you need to recycle.
- Curbside pickup on your existing service day.
- A quick call or form is all it takes to switch back.
That's what we're here for. Give your local office a call, ask the questions, and decide from there. No pressure either way, we just want you to have the full picture before you make the call.
Ready to opt back in, or still have questions? Find your local team here or check out our full recycling guide for the details.
