Recycle Right

• Pitkin County Solid Waste Center is the hub for all your recycling needs. 
• Residential recycling. If you pay for trash service, you pay for recycling (including cardboard). Contact your hauler for assistance. 
• Yard waste, clothing, household batteries, glass bottles, and scrap metal can be recycled at the Rio Grande Recycle Center.  

The City of Aspen does not offer waste services. Please contact your waste hauler. Every hauler must include charges for recycling services within their trash fees, even when recycling services are not being used per the City's Recycling Ordinance (PDF).

For general recycling questions, email waste@aspen.gov. 

Only specific plastics can be recycled in Aspen. The arrow and numbers on the bottom a container does not indicate its recyclability. 

The only plastics accepted for recycling in Aspen are:

• bottles
• tubs
• jugs
• jars

NO plastic take-out containers, coffee cups, berry containers, or black plastics.

In partnership with the Pitkin County Landfill, we offer free soft plastic recycling to our community at the following places:

• Aspen City Hall receptacles located inside on the first and third floors and outside of the first floor main entrance door. 
• Pitkin County Landfill  

Plastic bags and plastic film are a tricky material to recycle and require specialized processing. This flimsy material should never go in the single stream recycling.

What can be recycled?

• plastic grocery bags
• bread bags
• produce bags
• bubble wrap and plastic shipping envelopes
• dry cleaning bags
• newspaper sleeves
• ice bags
• Ziploc and other closable food storage bags
• case over-rap from things like paper towels and cases of water

Household Hazardous Waste is not trash and must be taken to the Pitkin County Landfill for safe disposal. Do not put these materials in your curb side recycling. 

Pitkin County residents qualify for a coupon book from Pitkin County to dispose of these materials at a discounted price. Please ask for the coupon book at the Pitkin County Solid Waste Center

This includes products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive substances such as the following:

• Batteries: Household batteries can be dropped off at the Rio Grande Recycle Center, or at the Pitkin County Landfill for recycling.  Lead and car batteries must be taken to the Pitkin County Landfill for recycling.  
• Electronic Waste including cell phones, computers, and monitors.
• Smoke detectors
• Cleaners, Solvents, Paints and Stains
• Thermostats, CFLs (Devices that contain mercury)
• Fertilizers, Pesticides, and Insecticides
• Motor Oils and Fuels
• LED lightbulbs: LED lightbulbs can be thrown away as household trash
• Mercury lightbulbs: Mercury lightbulbs are hazardous waste and must be brought up to the landfill for proper disposal

If you are interested in improving or adding recycling to your property or business, the City of Aspen can provide:

• Postcards and stickers
• On site visit/audit
• Recycling indoor containers
• Training and education for workers/residents

Contact waste@aspen.gov or call 970-920-5039 for more information