The Complete Guide to Recycling in Colorado Springs (2026)

What can you recycle, where does it go, and what should you do with items that won’t fit in your recycling bin? Here’s what Colorado Springs residents need to know.

Recycling in Colorado Springs isn’t always as straightforward as tossing something into a blue bin. Between cardboard boxes, plastic packaging, old electronics, broken appliances, household furniture, and yard debris, knowing what can actually be recycled can be confusing.

The good news? Colorado Springs and El Paso County offer a variety of options for responsibly managing unwanted materials. Whether you’re cleaning out your garage, moving to a new home, remodeling, or simply trying to reduce household waste, understanding your options can save time and help keep recyclable materials out of landfills.

At Moon Junk Removal, we help homeowners and businesses throughout Colorado Springs clear unwanted items while looking for appropriate opportunities to reuse, donate, and recycle materials.

Here’s your practical local recycling guide.

1. What Can You Recycle in Colorado Springs?

The answer depends on which recycling service you’re using.

Many curbside recycling companies accept common household recyclables, including:

  • Cardboard: Shipping boxes, moving boxes, and clean corrugated packaging.
  • Paper: Newspapers, office paper, magazines, and eligible mail.
  • Aluminum: Empty beverage cans and certain clean aluminum containers.
  • Steel and tin cans: Empty food cans and eligible metal packaging.
  • Plastic containers: Accepted bottles, jugs, and tubs, depending on the collection provider.
  • Glass bottles and jars: Where accepted by your recycling provider.

Important: Not every recycling facility accepts the same materials. For example, El Paso County’s household recycling drop-off program does not accept plastics, even though certain curbside services do.

Before recycling, empty containers, remove food residue when required, and flatten cardboard. Check with your specific collection provider rather than assuming every item with a recycling symbol is accepted.

2. Where Can You Take Recycling in Colorado Springs?

El Paso County Household Recycling Program

One official recycling option is the El Paso County Environmental Division.

Location: 3255 Akers Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80922

The county’s household recycling bins accept six categories of materials:

  • Flattened corrugated cardboard
  • Food and beverage glass containers
  • Aluminum cans
  • Tin cans
  • Newspaper
  • Eligible office paper

Items must be clean, and the county does not accept plastic, foam, or paperboard through this program.

The recycling program operates on designated days and may close collection bins when they reach capacity. Proof of El Paso or Teller County residency is required.

Check the county’s official recycling program before visiting.

Other Local Recycling Options

El Paso County also publishes a directory of recyclers accepting different materials, including metal, cardboard, plastic, and specialty waste.

Local providers may charge fees or restrict certain materials. Always verify current acceptance rules before loading your vehicle.

You can consult the county’s Recycling Directory for additional resources.

3. Cardboard Recycling in Colorado Springs

Cardboard is one of the most common materials people accumulate, especially after moving, online shopping, business deliveries, and remodeling projects.

Clean, dry, flattened corrugated cardboard is widely recyclable.

However, excessive packaging can become a problem when your household recycling cart is already full.

Common situations include:

  • Moving into a new house
  • Receiving large furniture deliveries
  • Unpacking appliances
  • Emptying storage units
  • Managing retail packaging waste
  • Clearing warehouse shipping boxes

If you’re dealing with a large pile of boxes, Moon Junk Removal offers cardboard removal and hauling for residential and commercial customers.

Our team handles loading and transportation so you don’t have to make repeated trips.

4. Electronics Recycling: Don’t Throw Old Devices in the Trash

Old electronics are a particularly important category of waste.

Colorado restricts the disposal of many covered electronic devices in landfills. Electronics can contain metals, batteries, and other materials that require specialized handling.

Items that commonly need electronic recycling include:

  • Desktop computers and laptops
  • Computer monitors
  • Televisions
  • Printers and scanners
  • Keyboards and mice
  • Gaming consoles
  • Stereo systems
  • Networking equipment
  • Electronic cables and accessories

Not all electronics recyclers accept every device, and televisions or monitors may carry recycling fees.

Before disposing of a computer or phone, back up important information and securely erase personal data.

For larger household or business electronics cleanouts, Moon Junk Removal can help customers arrange removal of eligible items.

Need to clear out old electronics? Call (719) 453-8211 to discuss your pickup.

5. Scrap Metal Recycling in Colorado Springs

Metal is another material that often has recycling potential instead of being discarded with ordinary household trash.

Common examples include:

Household metal: Steel shelving, metal bed frames, filing cabinets, metal furniture, sinks, and eligible appliances.

Construction metal: Rebar, steel beams, aluminum siding, pipes, metal roofing, and fencing.

Commercial metal: Warehouse racks, metal fixtures, equipment components, and assorted scrap materials.

Copper, brass, aluminum, steel, and iron can be processed through appropriate recycling channels.

However, material condition matters. Items containing hazardous liquids, refrigerants, batteries, or other restricted substances may require specialized handling.

Moon Junk Removal offers a dedicated scrap metal removal service for residential and commercial projects.

Instead of transporting a large pile yourself, you can arrange pickup and hauling.

6. Can You Recycle Furniture, Sofas, and Mattresses?

Furniture is a little different from cardboard, cans, and metal.

Most furniture cannot simply be placed in a residential recycling cart.

A wooden dresser, upholstered couch, mattress, or dining table may contain multiple materials that require different disposal or recovery processes.

Whenever possible, reuse should be considered before disposal.

Furniture in clean, safe, usable condition may qualify for donation if an organization is willing to accept it.

Items that are broken, heavily damaged, contaminated, or otherwise unsuitable for reuse may require disposal or specialized material recovery.

Moon Junk Removal can help with:

Donation eligibility is never guaranteed. Furniture and upholstered seating must meet the requirements of a willing recipient.

If you’re unsure whether something can be donated, send us pictures before scheduling.

7. What About Clothing, Toys, and Household Goods?

Clothing and toys that are still usable may be better suited for donation than traditional recycling.

Consider separating clean, usable items such as:

  • Clothing and jackets
  • Shoes and accessories
  • Children’s toys
  • Board games and puzzles
  • Books
  • Baby items that meet current safety requirements
  • Household decor
  • Kitchenware

Donation organizations have different rules about condition, safety, and accepted items. Always check before dropping anything off.

For customers clearing entire closets, playrooms, bedrooms, or storage spaces, Moon Junk Removal offers clothing and toy removal.

We can help remove unwanted items and evaluate practical reuse and donation opportunities where available.

8. How Do You Dispose of Paint, Batteries, and Hazardous Waste?

Some materials should never be mixed into an ordinary junk removal load.

El Paso County operates a Household Hazardous Waste program at:

3255 Akers Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80922

The program provides residents with a disposal option for certain household hazardous materials, including qualifying paints, chemicals, automotive products, batteries, and cleaning supplies.

Acceptance rules vary by item.

Business-generated waste has different requirements, and certain materials are not accepted at the household facility.

For current requirements, visit the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste website.

Safety tip: Never mix unknown chemicals, pour chemicals into storm drains, or place loose lithium batteries in ordinary recycling bins.

9. Recycling During a Move, Remodel, or Property Cleanout

Large projects often produce many different types of waste at once.

A garage cleanout might produce cardboard, scrap metal, old tools, clothing, damaged furniture, broken electronics, and ordinary trash.

A remodeling project may produce carpeting, wood, drywall, tile, metal, and fixtures.

Trying to fit all those materials into one recycling bin usually isn’t practical.

A better approach is to separate materials into categories:

  1. Reusable items: Things suitable for keeping, selling, or donating.
  2. Recyclables: Materials accepted by an appropriate local recycler.
  3. Special handling: Electronics, hazardous materials, and regulated waste.
  4. Residual trash: Non-recyclable items requiring lawful disposal.

This makes the cleanout more organized and helps identify which materials may be kept out of the landfill.

For large projects, professional hauling can simplify loading and transport.

10. How Moon Junk Removal Helps Colorado Springs Recycle Responsibly

At Moon Junk Removal, we believe removing unwanted items should be convenient without ignoring opportunities for responsible disposal.

Our services include household junk removal, donation pickup, cardboard removal, scrap metal hauling, electronics removal, and property cleanouts.

Our process is straightforward:

Step 1: Tell us what you have. Call, send pictures, or schedule a pickup.

Step 2: Get a quote. We’ll evaluate your items, volume, accessibility, and removal requirements.

Step 3: Let us handle the loading. Our crew removes the eligible items and loads the truck.

Step 4: Appropriate material handling. We look for practical reuse, donation, or recycling options when suitable and available. Materials that cannot be recovered are disposed of appropriately.

We do not guarantee that every item can be recycled or donated, but we believe considering those options is an important part of responsible junk removal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recycling in Colorado Springs

Is recycling free in Colorado Springs?

Some recycling options are available without a drop-off charge to eligible residents, while other facilities charge depending on the material, size, or quantity. Contact the recycling provider to verify fees.

Can I recycle cardboard boxes?

Yes. Clean, dry, flattened corrugated cardboard is accepted by many recycling programs, including the El Paso County household recycling bins.

Can I recycle old furniture?

Some furniture can be reused or donated if it’s in acceptable condition. Other furniture requires disposal or specialized material recovery. Regular curbside recycling generally isn’t intended for bulky furniture.

Where can I recycle old electronics?

Use an appropriate electronics recycling provider. Contact the facility first to confirm device types and applicable fees. Remember to erase personal data from computers and phones.

Does Moon Junk Removal recycle everything it collects?

No. Not every item is recyclable. We evaluate appropriate reuse, donation, recycling, and disposal options based on material type, condition, and available recipients or facilities.

Does Moon Junk Removal provide recycling pickup?

Moon Junk Removal offers paid pickup and hauling for a range of eligible materials, including cardboard, scrap metal, electronics, and household items. Contact us to confirm acceptance for your specific load.

Make Recycling and Junk Removal Easier

You don’t need to figure out how to transport a garage full of cardboard, old furniture, electronics, and metal on your own.

Whether you’re moving, remodeling, downsizing, cleaning out a rental property, or simply trying to reclaim your space, Moon Junk Removal can help.

Moon Junk Removal — Colorado Springs, Colorado

Call (719) 453-8211 for a pickup quote.

Visit Moon Junk Removal to learn more about our services and schedule your next cleanup.

Recycling programs, accepted materials, prices, and hours can change. Verify requirements with local facilities before visiting.