Skip to main content

Recycling

 Contact Information

Dept Head: Susie Gordon
Recycling Contact

 Recycling Updates Newsletter

 Recycling A to Z

Timberline Recycling Center

TRC Sculpture
 

Location and Hours of Operation

1903 S. Timberline Rd., Fort Collins CO 80525

Take a Virtual Tour

Everyday Recycling Drop-off site (no charge):

  • Seven days/week, 365 days/year, during daylight hours

Hard-to-Recycle Materials Yard:

$5 per visit, open Tuesday - Saturday

  • Regular Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Winter Hours (Nov 1 – Mar 30): 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Holidays Observed: Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (Closes at Noon), Christmas Day, New Year’s Day

Recycling Ambassadors

Volunteers are available - in the general recycling area only - with the following schedule to help with unloading or answer any questions you might have unless there is inclement weather (below freezing, blowing snow or high winds).

View volunteer schedule (Last updated:  )

Everyday Recycling Drop-Off Site: Materials & Guidelines

The City accepts common recyclables like cardboard, paper, mixed bottles/cans, and glass at the everyday recycling drop-off site for no charge.

Containers

Container #1: Mixed Low Grade Paper

Accepted

  • Cereal, cracker boxes
  • Paper egg cartons
  • Six- or twelve-pack beverage cartons
  • Food-free pizza boxes
  • Soft-bound books
  • Brown paper bags, packaging and envelopes
  • Gift, shirt, shoe, tissue boxes
  • Phone books
  • Paper bags
  • Wrapping, tissue paper, packing paper
  • Paper tubes (paper towel roll tubes, etc.)
  • If it’s not listed here, please don’t put it in this bin

NOT Accepted

  • Posterboard
  • Milk/juice cartons (they go in Commingled Containers #6 & #7)
  • Rigid paper or cardboard (carpet roll tubes, etc.)
  • Frozen food packaging
  • Plastic/foil lined boxes/bags
  • Lined pet food bags
  • Charcoal or fertilizer bags
  • Used tissues
  • Napkins or paper towels
  • Waxed paper or boxes
  • Styrofoam
  • Plastic bags
  • Trash
  • Single-use paper beverage cups (sleeves are OK)
Containers #2 & #3: Corrugated Cardboard ONLY

These bins have rectangular openings four inches tall for accepting flattened cardboard. Please cut down large boxes to fit into a 4' X 4' X 6" slot, so they will not jam the machinery.

Have a large load? You can now bring larger loads of flattened cardboard to the hard-to-recycle materials yard for recycling. The hard-to-recycle materials yard is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is option is perfect for commercial loads or anyone with a large amount of boxes.

Accepted

  • Flattened Corrugated Cardboard ONLY

NOT Accepted

  • Soiled, waxed or single-layer cardboard (paperboard)
  • Pizza boxes
  • Plastic bags
  • Styrofoam
  • Trash
Containers #4 & #5: Mixed Paper

Accepted

NOT Accepted

  • Foil-backed paper
  • Paper bags
  • Packing paper
  • Brown or tan envelopes
  • Styrofoam packing materials
  • Gift wrapping paper
  • Phone books
  • TYVEK envelopes
  • Plastic bags
  • String
  • Boxes
Containers #6 & #7: Commingled Containers (Bottles/Cans)

Accepted

Please avoid crushing any of these items:

  • Tetra Pak, aseptic and paper cartons (containing milk, juice and broth)
  • Steel/tin cans
  • Empty aerosol cans
  • Aluminum cans
  • Plastic food and beverage containers labeled #1, #2, #4, or #5:
    • Until further notice plastic containers labeled with a  #3, #6, or #7 in the chasing arrows will be landfilled. Learn more
    • Jugs, bottles, tubs
    • Leave lids on plastic bottles and jars, after rinsing and drying

If it’s not listed here, please don’t put it in this bin.

NOT Accepted

  • Glass
  • Styrofoam
  • Catering trays over 2' in diameter
  • Plastic bags
  • Motor oil/anti-freeze bottles
  • Plastic containers labeled #3, #6, or #7
  • Compostable "plastic-like" containers (often labeled #7 PLA)
  • Rigid plastic containers larger than 2.5 liters
Containers #8 & #9: Glass Only

Accepted

  • Clean glass bottles and jars (rinsed, no dirt or rocks)
  • All colors ok
  • Labels ok
  • Remove metal lids from bottle or jar and place in bin separately
  • If it’s not listed here, please don’t put it in this bin

NOT Accepted

  • Ceramics
  • Bake-ware
  • Pyrex
  • Drinking glasses
  • Window glass
  • Mirrors
  • Light bulbs
  • Fish tanks or other durable glass items
  • Non-glass containers
Container #10 Sorted White Office Paper

Accepted

  • White office paper
  • White envelopes/mail
  • Shredded white paper (loose)
    • While this site accepts paper that has already been shredded, PLEASE NOTE - THIS SITE DOES NOT OFFER SHREDDING SERVICES
  • If it’s not listed here, please don’t put it in this bin

NOT Accepted

  • Newspaper
  • Colored Paper
  • Newspaper Inserts & Ads
  • File Folders
  • Foil-backed paper
  • Paper bags
  • Packing paper
  • Brown or tan envelopes
  • Styrofoam packing materials
  • Gift wrapping paper
  • Phone books
  • TYVEK envelopes
  • Plastic bags
  • String
  • Boxes
Containers for Plastic Bags and Film

This pilot program is highly dependent on the good quality of items residents place in the specially labeled bins; if there are too many problems with “contaminants” being placed in the plastic-film recycling bins, it could jeopardize the success of the program.

Please place ONLY the following clean and dry materials inside the specially-marked bins:

  • grocery, produce, bread, dry-cleaning, and newspaper bags
  • industrial shrink-wrap, plastic wrapping (e.g. plastic coverings for bulk paper towels and toilet paper), air pillows and bubble wrap
  • Polyethylene film labeled with a resin identification code as #2 HDPE or #4 LDPE

Materials that are NOT accepted include:

  • Pet food bags (woven plastic material)
  • Packaged/fresh produce bag (breathable plastic that’s non-recyclable)
  • Cereal box liner bags (wax-like appearance)
  • Crinkly chips bags
  • Wood Pellet Bags (generally contain residue and wood debris)
  • Vinyl bedding/quilt bags
Mulch

City Forestry Department deposits shredded tree mulch in a bunker in the general recycling area when it is available. There is no set delivery schedule, and our office is not informed of deliveries. Since the site is unmanned, It is first come, first served.

Hard-To-Recycle Materials Yard ($5 Facility Use Fee)

Regular Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

     Winter Hours (Nov 1 - Mar 30): Tuesday - Saturday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Closed on Sunday and Monday

Printable List of Accepted Items

No Entry Fee

Antifreeze

Antifreeze must be free of contaminants. The containers are not recyclable and should be disposed of in the trash (Trash services are not provided at the Timberline Recycling Center).

For quantities larger than 30 gallons, contact Waste-Not Recycling at 970-669-9912. Commercial generators are welcome and may be required to provide additional generator information at the gatehouse.

***Pilot Project: Accepted quantities subject to change in 2019***

Batteries

Rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries are accepted. Includes all batteries ranging from small watch batteries to car batteries.

For quantities larger than a one-gallon Ziploc bag, contact Waste-Not Recycling at 970-669-9912. Commercial generators are welcome and may be required to provide additional generator information at the gatehouse.

***Pilot Project: Accepted quantities subject to change in 2019***

Corrugated Cardboard

Large amounts of corrugated cardboard can be recycled in the Hard-to-Recycle Materials Yard for no charge. Smaller loads of corrugated cardboard can also be recycled seven days a week during daylight hours in the everyday recyclables yard.

Accepted

  • Flattened Corrugated Cardboard 

NOT Accepted

  • Soiled, waxed or single-layer cardboard (paperboard)
  • Pizza boxes
  • Plastic bags
  • Styrofoam
  • Trash
Paint

For quantities larger than 50 gallons, contact Waste-Not Recycling at 970-669-9912. Commercial generators are welcome and may be required to provide additional generator information at the gatehouse.

***Pilot Project: Accepted quantities subject to change in 2019***

Accepted

  • Oil-based paint and enamel
  • Latex paint (interior/exterior architectural paints)
  • Various other coverings (deck coating, varnish, floor paint, primer, sealer, stains)

NOT Accepted

  • Aerosol paints (spray cans)
  • Art and craft paint
  • Paint thinners
  • Mineral spirits
  • Solvents
  • Paint additives
  • Colorants
  • Tints
  • Resins
  • Adhesives
  • Leaking/empty/unlabeled containers
Plastic Bags & Film

Large amounts of plastic bags & film can be recycled in the Hard-to-Recycle Materials Yard for no charge. Smaller loads of plastic film can also be recycled seven days a week during daylight hours in the everyday recyclables yard.

Accepted:

  • grocery, produce, bread, dry-cleaning, and newspaper bags
  • industrial shrink-wrap, plastic wrapping (e.g. plastic coverings for bulk paper towels and toilet paper), air pillows and bubble wrap
  • Polyethylene film labeled with a resin identification code as #2 HDPE or #4 LDPE

NOT Accepted: 

  • Pet food bags (woven plastic material)
  • Packaged/fresh produce bag (breathable plastic that’s non-recyclable)
  • Cereal box liner bags (wax-like appearance)
  • Crinkly chips bags
  • Wood Pellet Bags (generally contain residue and wood debris)
  • Vinyl bedding/quilt bags
Used Motor Oil

Motor oil must be free of contaminants. The containers are not recyclable and should be disposed of in the trash (Trash services are not provided at the Timberline Recycling Center).

For quantities greater than 30 gallons, contact Waste-Not Recycling at 970-669-9912. Commercial generators are welcome and may be required to provide additional generator information at the gatehouse.

***Pilot Project: Accepted quantities subject to change in 2019***

Accepted

  • Used motor oil

NOT Accepted

  • Gear oil
  • Mixed gas/oil
  • Transmission fluid

$5 Entry Fee

Aggregates

Accepted

  • Concrete (no rebar)
  • Asphalt
  • Brick
  • Ceramics
  • Tile
  • Porcelain
  • If it’s not listed here, please don’t put it in this bin

NOT Accepted

  • Rebar
Baling Twine

The majority of baling twine used in rural areas ends up in the landfill or accumulates on a landowners’ property. Wildlife and livestock can become seriously ill or die if baling twine is ingested, and birds are especially at risk for getting tangled up in it. However, 100% of baling twine is recyclable and can easily be properly disposed of in the hard-to-recycle materials yard.

Bulky Rigid Plastic

Bulky Rigid Plastic is a term to describe plastic containers and items with a #2 (HDPE) and #5 (PP) on them that are larger than, or manufactured differently than, what is acceptable in curbside recycling.    

For the purposes of this pilot program, the acceptable items are strictly limited to help ensure their marketability. You can do your part in making this pilot program a success by carefully adhering to the important requirements below.

Accepted

  • 5-gallon Buckets (metal handles removed)
  • Laundry Baskets
  • Milk/Beverage Crates
  • Plastic Outdoor Furniture
  • Children’s Play Sets (outdoor Jungle Gyms, Slides, Forts, Playhouses, etc.) (metal parts removed)
  • “Little Tike” Push Cars (metal parts removed)

NOT Accepted

  • PVC pipe or materials
  • Foam of any kind
  • Inflatable furniture and pools
  • Flower pots
  • Small toys, cars, action figures
  • CD cases
Cooking Oil
Electronic Waste (additional fees apply)

Accepted

  • Desktops, computers, CPU's and hard drives (includes external hard drives or hard drives that have already been removed) – $5
  • Compact printers/fax machines/scanners – $10
  • Standing floor copiers – $50
  • Microwave ovens – $10
  • Reader devices (Kindle, Nook, etc.) – $5
  • Laptops – $10
  • Televisions:
    • Smaller than 19" – $20
      • Sony Trinitron – $60
    • 19" to 27" – $30
      • Sony Trinitron – $90
    • 27" to 34" – $40
      • Sony Trinitron – $120
    • Larger than 34" – $50
      • Sony Trinitron – $150
  • Console televisions – $50
  • Projection televisions – $40
  • Flat screen monitors/televisions – $15
  • LED/Plasma televisions (any size) – $20
  • Computer peripherals (cables, keyboards, mice, speakers, and external floppy drives) – $0
  • Cell phones and landline phones – $0
  • UPS (will be counted as a battery) and power supplies – $0
  • Cameras – $0
  • Most tape players (DVD, VCR, cassette), unless attached to a television – $0

NOT Accepted

  • Fire, smoke, and carbon monoxide alarms
Organic Debris (additional fees apply)

Accepted

  • Yard trimmings - $4.75/yard
    • Branches less than 2" diameter
    • Leaves
    • Grass clippings
  • Branches larger than 2" diameter – $6.50/yard
  • Lumber (untreated and unpainted)/scrap wood (NO plywood or composite boards) – $5.75/yard

Commercial users and individuals with large quantities of organics debris (3 cubic yards or large truck and trailer loads) are encouraged to consider private sector alternatives that may offer better pricing for large loads. Look here for complete lists of local business accepting yard waste and wood waste.

NOT Accepted

  • Rebar
Scrap Metal

Accepted

  • All types of small metal items (must be made of at least 50% metal)
  • Non-refrigerant type appliances
  • Lawn mowers and other small engine-containing items, if fluids are drained
  • If it’s not listed here, please don’t put it in this bin

NOT Accepted

  • Refrigerators
  • Freezers
  • Air conditioning units
  • Fluids
 

Give the gift of recycling! Purchase an entry certificate to the Timberline Recycling Center's Hard-to-Recycle Materials Yard for just $5. Certificates are available for purchase at the gatehouse at the entry to the Yard. 

TRC FAQs, Volunteer Opportunities And Informative Video

Close
 

Recycling