What do you want from your curbside trash collection service?#
Fort Collins City Council has adopted several priorities to reach sustainability goals, one of which explores creating a communitywide contract for household trash and recycling collection. This would mean that rather than each household selecting their own trash hauler, the City would contract with one hauler to service single-family homes in a neighborhood. There would be fewer trucks on each street, which would mean less wear and tear on roads and less emissions. If a household wanted to select a different hauler, they could pay an opt-out fee.
The City is currently looking for community input on the following questions related to this topic.
- What is most important when selecting a trash and recycling hauler?
- What concerns do community members have when considering creating a community-wide contract for these services?
- What potential benefits would community members prioritize?
Disposable Bag Ordinance#
On February 16, 2021 City Council passed a disposable bag ordinance that will ban plastic bags and put a 12-cent fee on paper bags at large grocers starting May 1, 2022. City Council also passed a resolution referring the bag ordinance to the April ballot on the same day. On April 6th, 2021, Fort Collins voters approved the ballot measure.
On March 1st, 2022, City Council passed the Disposable Bag Ordinance with the new amendments. Including aligning with the State at a 10-cent fee per paper bag.
Community Recycling Ordinance#
As of June 30, 2021, all trash / recycling haulers in Fort Collins city limits are required to charge all customers for baseline recycling service including businesses and multi-family customers (apartments and condos).
This provides businesses and residents in apartment / condo complexes the same level of access to recycling that single-family homes have.
Do You Know What Goes In The Recycle Bin?#
Putting the wrong things in the recycle bin can mean an entire load of recyclables gets landfilled! Incorrect items harm recycling equipment and slow down the recycling process, making recycling less efficient and more expensive.
Check out our updated Curbside Recycling Guidelines Poster for an easy to follow guide to what belongs in the bin.
Many items not accepted in curbside recycling can be recycled elsewhere. Find out more by visiting our A-Z list of where to recycle.
A to Z Recycling List#
The A to Z Recycling List has been updated and expanded to incorporate more items, including those that can and cannot go in your curbside recycling bin. This interactive tool also includes items that can be donated or reused, rather than thrown away. Explore and share this resource to answer all your burning recycling questions!
Timberline Recycling Center (TRC)#
The Timberline Recycling Center, located at 1903 S. Timberline Rd., accepts cardboard, paper, glass, and mixed bottles/cans, 7 days a week during daylight hours. A separate area of the Timberline Recycling Center is expanded to accept certain hard-to-recycle items and is open Tuesday - Saturday.
Plastics Recycling#
Which types of plastics are and are not currently recyclable in Fort Collins.
Due to changes in international recycling markets, local recycling guidelines do not include low-value plastic containers. The primary way to know whether a plastic can be recycled curbside or at the drop-off center is by its shape. The only plastics that can be recycled curbside in Fort Collins are plastic bottles, jugs and tubs.
Fort Sort Recycling Game#
Ready to test your knowledge of what can and cannot be recycled locally? Learn what belongs in your recycling bin with our brand new waste sorting game!