Safely Place Your Waste
If you’ve recently painted your house, changed your car’s oil, or spruced up your lawn, proper disposal of the related hazardous materials will keep your family and our community safe. Check out the local resources below.
Together, we can safeguard our families, protect water quality, conserve landfill space, and reduce illegal dumping.
Household Pickup for Hazardous Waste
In place of a one-time annual event, the Douglas County Health Department is partnering with Waste Management to provide Douglas County residents with a low-cost service for hazardous waste removal year-round. Get details by calling 303-663-6284. The cost is $30 for Douglas County residents.
Safe Storage
It is important to read the product labels to safely store, use, and dispose of chemicals. When these chemicals are not used up entirely, they become household chemical waste. Find safe handling tips by visiting the EPA’s Household Hazardous Waste webpage.
Toxic household products can be harmful to pets, wildlife, sanitation workers, our health, and the environment if poured down the drain, toilet or storm sewer, or put in the trash. You can properly dispose of and recycle toxic products from your home with Douglas County’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program. Douglas County residents are eligible for one collection appointment per calendar year.
Please note a $30 co-payment is required from the resident for each appointment.
The County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program cannot accept:
Due to the possible health risks associated with handling materials containing asbestos (such as linoleum tiles), please consult the Air Pollution Control Division Asbestos Unit to learn more about safe handling and disposal for asbestos. State of Colorado info on asbestos removal and disposal or 303-692-3150.
If you have any of these other materials listed and have questions about proper disposal methods for them, then please contact the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Customer Technical Assistance Line 303-692-3320.
Please call 303-663-6284.
Only one collection kit bag is provided per appointment, so it is important to prioritize your materials in order to maximize your collection. The collection kit is a large heavy-duty clear plastic bag that holds about 10 to 12 cans or bottles of material.
Rocky Mountain Recycling
6510 Brighton Blvd.
Commerce City, CO 80022
303-288-6868
Accepts all major appliances, and most small (non-plastic) appliances for recycling. Refrigerated units must be drained of all chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) and tagged before delivery. Capacitors in the air conditioner must also be removed. Call for further information.
Clear Choice Antifreeze Recycling 303-227-9900
Call to find a drop-off location near you. Clear Choice Antifreeze is remanufactured from reclaimed antifreeze.
Bud’s Warehouse
4455 East 46th Avenue
Denver, CO 80216
303-296-3990
Website
Notes: A nonprofit organization that accepts usable and working building and renovation materials such as cabinets, appliances, tile, carpet, hardware, light fixtures, doors, windows, bathtubs, and sinks for reuse. Call for details or to arrange a free pick-up for your donation.
Ecoprojex
3750 Dacoro Lane Suite 155
Castle Rock, CO 80109
720-733-8700
Website
Notes: Provides pickup for all major working appliances less than seven years old, including A/C units, swamp coolers, and water heaters. Certified to remove chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs). Call for fees and schedules.
Front Range Recycling Services LLC
17255 East Wyoming Place
Aurora, CO 80017
720-588-0268
Website
Notes: Offers free pickup of metal goods including those that contain refrigerants. EPA certified to evacuate refrigerants at no additional cost.
Reliable Appliance
988 Dayton Street
Aurora, CO 80010
303-344-4014
Website
Notes: Accepts major kitchen and laundry appliances for refurbishing or recycling. Licensed to recycle freon. Drop off (free), or pick up is also available. Will also pay cash for late model appliances.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore Home Improvement Outlet
1640 S Abilene St.
Aurora, CO 80012s
720-904-6739
Website
Notes: Available for drop-off or pick up. The pick-up service is free, but a donation is very helpful in offsetting transport costs.
Resource Area For Teaching (RAFT)
3827 Steele Street, Unit C
Denver, CO 80205
720-242-8833
Website
Notes: RAFT transforms surplus materials into hands-on learning activities for students. RAFT has a reputation for knowing what teachers need to create meaningful learning experiences that are filled with the joy of discovery. RAFT accepts donations during its regular business hours.
LAF Lines
1-800-561-0922
Website
Notes: Accepts crayons by mail and re-manufactures them into Crazy Crayons which are sold through their website. Call or visit the website for instructions.
Used batteries can be a fire hazard and contain toxic chemicals like lithium, cadmium, sulfuric acid and lead. Here are several options for proper disposal:
Interstate All Battery Center
5801 East County Line Place #2
Highlands Ranch, CO 80216Recycl
303-771-1107
Accepts car batteries, rechargeable, and alkaline. Contact Interstate Battery Center with other questions and fees.
Batteries Plus
8202 S University Blvd.
Centennial, CO 80122
303-771-7112
Accepts rechargeable batteries and lead-acid batteries. No fees for small quantities. Call for fees and details.
Batteries Plus
8601 W. Cross Drive
Littleton, CO 80123
303-973-4000
Accepts rechargeable batteries and lead-acid batteries. No fees for small quantities. Call for fees and details.
Batteries Plus
11355 S. Parker Road
Parker, CO 80134
303-805-5822
Accepts rechargeable batteries and lead-acid batteries. Call for fees and details.
Carpets, Inc.
4975 Paris Street
Denver, CO 80239
720-621-1006
720-252-7731
Website
Darling International Inc.
5701 York St.
Denver, CO 80216
303-295-7551
Keep your personal information safe by shredding documents. Contact your local UPS or Office Depot store to see if they offer document shredding services.
Green Disk
Technotrash Pack-IT Service
1-800-305-DISK (3475)
Website
Douglas County residents may recycle their electronics for free and year-round through Dec. 30 at Techno Rescue, 3251 Lewiston St., Suite 10 in Aurora, Monday through Friday from a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and on one Saturday each month from 10 am. to 2 p.m. Learn more.
Blue Star Recyclers
953 Decatur Street
Denver, CO 80204
303-534-1667
Website
Best Buy Stores
Website
Notes: Takes back electronics for a fee. Acceptable Tube TVs: 32 inches or less. Call your local store or visit the website for more information.
Electronic Recyclers International Inc.
3250 Abilene Street
Aurora, CO 80011
1-800-374-3473 (ERI-DIRECT)
Website
Gone for Good
101 Kalamath Street
Denver, CO 80223
303-736-2387
Website
Notes: Hours are Monday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm. Available for pickup service or see the website for drop-off fees.
Metech Recycling
500 W 53rd Pl
Denver, CO 80216
720-377-7700
Website
SustainAbility (Denver Location)
1270 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 80223
303-424-1719
Website
Techno Rescue
797 Peoria Street Unit #15
Aurora, CO 80011
303-482-2207
Website
Notes: Drop-off for most electronics is free. Pickup services are available for a charge. Call or visit the website for more details and fees.
Techno Rescue
3251 Lewiston Street
Aurora, CO 80011
303-482-2207
Website
Notes: Disposal is free for Douglas County residents with proof of residency.
Curie Environmental Services
Website
SustainAbility (Denver Location)
1270 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 80223
303-424-1719
Website
Notes: Accepts fire detectors for a fee.
Cintas Fire Protection
3745 E. 50th Ave.
Denver, CO 80216
303-321-0345
Accepts fire extinguishers for recycling and recharging for a fee. Call first
Sentry Fire and Safety
1294 S. Inca St.
Denver, CO 80223
1-800-479-2712
Recycles fire extinguishers-Fees apply.
Simplex Grinnell Fire Extinguishers
6240 Smith Rd.
Denver, CO 80207
303-355-0500
Recharges fire extinguishers for a fee. There is no fee for recycling fire extinguishers if dropped off. Commercial customers call for pricing for recycling and pick-up.
Facility Solutions Group
5050 Osage Street
Denver, CO 20221
303-295-1800
Website
Notes: Light bulbs must be boxed. Fees apply for Florescent tubes and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL).
Home Improvement Stores – Examples are Home Depot, Lowes, and Ace Hardware stores
Notes: Look for the CFL bins at the front of the store. *Bulbs only, not tubes.
Batteries Plus
8202 S University Blvd
Centennial, CO 80122
303-771-7112
Website
Notes: Do not accept 8-10ft bulbs. Fees apply.
Batteries Plus
994 S. Abilene St.
Aurora, CO 80012
303-745-3333
Website
Notes: Do not accept 8-10ft bulbs. Fees apply.
Batteries Plus
8601 W. Cross Dr.
Littleton, CO 80123
303-973-4000
Website
Notes: Do not accept 8ft-10ft bulbs. Fees apply.
Batteries Plus
11355 S. Parker Road
Parker, CO 80134
303-805-5822
Website
Notes: Do not accept 8ft-10ft bulbs. Fees apply.
Clean Harbors
303-371-1100
Website
Notes: Clean Harbors will pick up waste like 55-gallon drums. Contact Clean Harbors for fees and scheduling
Rooney Road
303-316-6262
Website
Notes: Only open by appointment. Visit the website or call to schedule an appointment in advance. Ask for a fee schedule.
Veolia
9131 E. 96th Avenue
Henderson, CO 80640
303-526-8155
Website
Notes: Only open by appointment. Visit the website to schedule an appointment in advance. Priced per the weight of the materials.
Spring Back Colorado Inc.
3875 Steele Street
Denver, CO 80205
720-515-1328
Website
Notes: Spring Back Colorado recycles mattresses and box springs. Call for more information about dropping off at their location or to schedule a pick-up.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) – Medication Take-Back Program
303-692-2903
Website
Notes: Only select law enforcement agencies and Walgreens locations can accept medication/pharmaceutical waste. Please visit the CDPHE website to find a list of drop-off locations. Find more information about the proper disposal of medication from this Pharmaceutical Fact Sheet (PDF) or the CDPHE website.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Drug Take Back Program
Don’t flush it! Minor amounts of medication can enter the environment and contaminate our drinking water.
Check with your local auto parts stores such as AutoZone, O’Reilly, Napa, etc.
Colorado thermostat recycling program
Website
Visit the website to find a drop-off location near you
Or see H for Household Hazardous Waste.
Oil-based paints are flammable and cannot be thrown away or stored in a garage. Dispose of it at one of these locations, which also take Latex paint:
Latex paint can also be mixed with kitty litter and allowed to dry out, then disposed of with your regular trash.
PaintCare
Website
Notes: Effective July 1, 2015 paint stewardship Senate Bill 14-029 became law to provide drop-off locations for Colorado residents. Less than 10 gallons: Visit the PaintCare website and type in your zip code to find the most current paint drop-off sites in your area. Greater than 10 gallons: Call (720) 854-8722 to see if you qualify for a free pickup.
GreenSheen
1281 W. Dartmouth Ave.
Englewood, CO 80110
303-718-4094
Website
Notes: GreenSheen only accepts latex paint for recycling. Pricing is by weight. Call GreenSheen for more details.
AAA Propane
7405 W 44th Ave
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
303-425-7623
Website
Metro Gas
790 W 64th Ave
Denver, CO 80221
303-428-3036
Notes: $0.25/canister fee for cylinders up to 20lbs., $1.00/canister for larger cylinders
Colorado Medical Waste Inc.
3131 Oakland Street
Aurora, CO 80010
303-794-5716
Website
HOW TO PACKAGE YOUR SHARPS/NEEDLES (PDF)
Notes: Sharps need to be contained in an HDPE #2 stamped plastic container with a lid securely closed (see the following pictures for examples of the #2 stamp and acceptable containers). Unused pharmaceuticals in sharps cannot be accepted. Sharps must be empty. Please dispose of unused liquid at one of these locations: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/colorado-medication-take-back-program
MedPro
1(888) 641-6131
Website
Notes: MedPro offers a compliant sharps and pharmaceutical mail-back service for residents throughout Colorado and meets all state and federal regulations.
Colorado Tire Recycling, LLC
5101 Columbine Street
Denver, CO 80216
303-853-0789
Notes: Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 am-4:30 pm and Closed on Saturdays & Sundays
Front Range Tire Recycle
5765 N. Peterson Rd.
Sedalia, CO 80135
303-660-0090
Website
Notes: Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday: 8 am-4:30 pm and Saturday by appointment only
Go Green Tires
2660 South Federal Blvd. (at Federal and College)
Denver, CO 80219
303-935-1831
Website
Notes: The fee assessed is $2.00/tire.
J&B Auto Crusher
4980 Brighton Blvd.
Denver, CO 80216
303-295-2445
Notes: Monday-Friday 7:00am-3:00pm, Saturday 7:00am -11:00am, Closed Sundays.
