5 Things You May Not Know You Can Recycle In Boulder

BOULDER, CO — This Friday marks America Recycles Day and the City of Boulder has published a list of 'five things you may not know you can recycle.' City officials said many items needlessly get sent to the landfill.

These items can go into your regular, single-stream recycling, which is what gets taken to the Boulder County Recycling Center:

1. Milk cartons: Milk cartons and other 'aseptic containers,' such as juice boxes and rice milk containers, that are sometimes referred to by a brand name, e.g. 'Tetra Pak.' Give them a rinse and put them in with the recycling.
2. Aluminum foil: You can gather clean, dry foil into at least a two-inch ball and drop it in your bin.
3. Paperback books: Fear not, eco-conscious book lovers! Torn, stained or otherwise unreadable paperback books can be added to the recycling bin. Paperback books in good condition can be donated to the public library, your neighborhood book swap, a local thrift store or the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM facility .
4. Berry boxes: Though it’s important to avoid plastic as much as possible, you can recycle plastic berry boxes and similar clamshell containers along with your other single-stream recycling items. Note: take out the plastic absorbent sheet that sometimes lines these containers.
5. Plastic lids: Close the lid on the trash can and put these in your recycling bin. Flat, plastic tub lids like the ones from yogurt and deli containers are acceptable for single stream.

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This list is far from complete, the city said. If you’re unsure about whether to recycle something, you can find out where it belongs on the Eco-Cycle A-Z Recycling Guide, which is also available as an app.

Not sure what to do with hardcover books, fire extinguishers or mattresses? These, as well as bubble envelopes, window panes and many more items can be taken to facilities like the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) and other waste drop-off centers.

A Circular City of Boulder: Community Visioning Event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks, 2520 55th Street. Visit the event website for more information.