November 15th is America Recycles Day: Do Your Part!
Friday, November 15th, is America Recycles Day, a day that celebrates and promotes thoughtful recycling to keep America beautiful. On this day, people are encouraged to spread the word about the benefits of recycling and learn about specific ways they can do their part. In Colorado, there are a variety of resources available so all residents can take part in preserving the planet.
Recycle Compost and Trash
Leaves set out for extra trash collection are taken to the landfill, and therefore do not get composted. Denver Leafdrop has sites around the city where the leaves can be dropped off and are turned into Denver’s Own EcoGro Compost™. Bring leaves to drop-off sites in paper bags which can also be composted, saving time and reducing plastic waste. For more information, visit: Denver Leafdrop.
Recycle Unwanted Paint
PaintCare, a non-profit organization, makes it easy for Colorado residents to turn in unwanted paint for free. The organization turns old paint into recycled-content paint and wherever possible, is used as fuel, made into other products, or dried out and properly disposed. For more details, visit: Getting Rid of Unwanted Paint.
Buy Environmentally Responsible, Natural, Chemical-Free Products
Homefill at Modern Nomad is a bulk retail store specializing in household cleaners, laundry, personal care products, premium soaps, pet shampoos, and treats. It also carries quality lifestyle goods that support zero-waste living. Most of its merchandise is made in Colorado by companies dedicated to creating all natural and organic products safe for customers and the planet. For more information, visit: Homefill at Modern Nomad.
Safely Dispose of Electronics and Other Hard-to-Recycle items
Sustainability is a recycling company committed to filling unmet recycling
needs in the Denver Metro area by working in partnership with cities, residents, businesses and hospitals to divert valuable resources from landfills. It manages two drop-off locations in the metro area (Denver and Arvada). It accepts business and residential electronics, #6 Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) in the form of white, block packing Styrofoam, paint, three types of batteries, common recyclables, and hard-to recycle items. For more details, visit: Sustainability Recycling.
Donate Books to Colorado Prison Libraries
In Colorado, the Department of Corrections and other institution libraries accept book donations. The libraries serve as the central information center for the facility. They offer residents the best materials to meet their informational, educational, recreational, cultural needs and interests.
The libraries have limited space to collect and store materials and are strict about what they accept through purchase or donation. To find out what material these libraries need and how to donate, visit: Institutional Library Guidelines for the Public.
Recycle Used Mattresses
Spring Back Colorado is a local business that recycles post-consumer mattresses and box springs. Mattress recycling reduces the huge, expensive, toxic, and unnecessary demand on critically over-burdened landfills. Its mattress recycling process breaks down over 90% of each mattress into individual components (steel, foam, ticking, cotton, wood) and recycles or re-purposes them. For details on how to schedule a pick up, visit: Spring Back Colorado.
For more ideas on how you can do your part on America Recycles Day, refer to Denver Parent Magazine’s Eco-Friendly Page.
