Recycling strong in the Springs despite closure of popular drop-off center

Recycling in Colorado Springs is strong, despite the closure of a popular free drop-off site.

Waste Management Recycle America stopped taking residential recyclable materials at its location on Fourth Street near Fillmore Street last month. A company spokesperson said because the location is unstaffed, some recycled materials would be left at the gate and would get blown into the neighborhood. And that people were also mixing up their recycled materials, contaminating the full load, and making it unrecyclable.

“That was disappointing, but I understood why,” said Jim Illian, who used the center. “That’s just the way it is sometimes.”

Illian and others now use El Paso County’s drop-off location at 3255 Akers Drive. The amount of recycling it gets has more than doubled in the last month. There used to be nine large recycling bins which were dumped once a week. Now there are 11 bins, dumped twice a week.

“We’re really excited about that, and we’re really excited about the opportunity to teach the citizens how to properly recycle,” said Kathy Andrew, El Paso County Community Services Department, Environmental Division manager.

Andrew said it’s important to prepare the recyclables in the way they are required, otherwise the whole load gets contaminated and ends up in the landfill. For instance, plastic and glass containers must be rinsed and their lids taken off. Lids must also be taken off food and beverage containers. And the paper must be removed from cans.

Andrew said there could be new recycling drop-off locations coming to the county this year.

Here is a link to the El Paso County recycling directory.

Here is a link to the Pueblo County recycling directory.

Here is a link to more information about companies that offer curbside recycling in Colorado Springs.