NOVEMBER 30, 2016 BY 

Written by Anne Mudgett, Program and Development Director with YVSC

Since 2013, it has been illegal in Colorado to dispose of electronic devices in the landfill. There are several options locally for recycling electronics.

Yampa Valley Sustainability Council (YVSC) offers free collection boxes for electronics recycling at several locations throughout the community for small electronics only. Boxes are located at the Steamboat Springs middle and high schools, the Wells Fargo bank lobby, and at YVSC’s office at 141 9th Street. Items accepted must be tablet-size or smaller and are limited to tablets, cell phones, cell phone batteries, charging cords, MP3 players, digital cameras and ink jet and laser printer cartridges.

Larger electronics, such as laptops, computers, monitors, televisions, VCRs, desktop phones, printers, fax machines, etc., can be recycled locally for a fee through the following businesses. (Call first for items accepted, fees, location and drop-off hours.):

  • G & S Mountain Recyclers (970-736-2364)
  • Waste Management (970-879-2400), Mogil’s On the Mountain (970-879-9333)
  • D & D Enterprises (970-870-1767)

Options for electronics recycling outside of Routt County include the following:

  • Summit County Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP) located in Dillon (two miles north of Keystone) accepts electronic waste from out-of-county residents. Please check the website for fees and facility hours: co.summit.co.us/531/Electronic-Waste
  • Best Buy stores throughout the Front Range accept many electronics for free, but for some items a $25 fee applies. Please check the website for fees and call the specific store to confirm drop-off details: bestbuy.com.
  • Eco-Cycle’s Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) in Boulder accepts electronics for recycling. Please check the website for fees and facility hours ecocycle.org/charm.

Below are resources for other common hard-to-recycle items. Please call the specific business directly with any questions about materials accepted and fees associated.

Scrap metal and Appliances:

  • Axis Steel of Craig (970-824-3256) now offers a free, public scrap metal collection bin at American Towing & Automotive at 1386 13th Street in Steamboat Springs. No electronics, appliances with Freon or trash is allowed and all materials must be placed inside the bin, not beside it.
  • Steamboat’s Sears Hometown Store (970-879-4604) accepts appliances for both Freon removal and metal recycling for a fee from the general public.
  • D & D Enterprises accepts scrap metal and appliances without Freon for a fee.
  • Waste Management accepts scrap metal and appliances without Freon for a fee.
  • Twin Enviro Landfill (970-879-6985) accepts all metal appliances for a fee. Those with Freon must have the sticker or paperwork certifying that Freon has been removed.

Political yard signs:

  • Plastic bag-like signs can be recycled with plastic grocery bags at Safeway, City Market or Walmart.
  • Sears is collecting the metal political sign frames for recycling as scrap metal at no charge.
  • Sign frames can also be recycled at the Axis Steel bin at American Towing & Automotive. Please remove all plastic or cardboard signs from the frames before recycling. 

Paint:

Ace Hardware (970-879-8014) and Sherwin-Williams (970-879-6166) accept 5 gallons of paint per customer per visit at no charge. Collection capacity may be limited. Please call first to ensure they can accept your paint. 

Holiday lights:  

Ace Hardware is collecting holiday lights for recycling by G & S Mountain Recyclers. The bin is located at the front of the store. No need to remove bulbs in the light string.

Christmas trees:

After the holidays, residents can recycle trees at the Howelsen Ice Arena at 285 Howelsen Parkway from December 25 – January 31. Please remove all lights, decorations and wire.

For more information about additional hard-to recycle items and an A – Z Recycling Location Guide (in Spanish or English), go to www.yvsc.org/recycling-guidelines.