Estes Park Residential Recycling Center

About

This is the Residential Recycling Center out on Elm Road, at the site of the old landfill. It takes the basics, and it's free. Sort things right and you'll be in and out in minutes.

The center is at 640 Elm Road. Larimer County's page lists what it takes: metal cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, jars, jugs and tubs only, and newspaper, office paper, magazines and paperboard. Cardboard has to be flattened and cut down to pieces smaller than 18 by 18 inches. The county says there's no fee for recycling here. Open days are limited, so check the county page for current hours before you go.

Here's where people get tripped up. Plastic bags and film, clamshell containers, Styrofoam and dirty recyclables are all no. A greasy pizza box ruins the load, so rinse what you bring. The county also says not to take recyclables to the Estes Park Transfer Station. This is the place for them. Shredded paper is a different story and goes to the transfer station for a fee. Visiting for a week and renting a cabin? Stash your cans and bottles and drop them here before you leave. It's a small thing, and the town is better for it.