Help Denver Recycles Keep Your Recyclables Flowing Smoothly

Setting your purple cart out for collection every-other-week is just the beginning of the recycling process. After collection, Denver Recycles trucks and crew members transport your recyclables to a recycling processor for sorting and distribution to remanufacturing outlets. This transportation component in the recycling process is no small undertaking when you consider that more than 1,000,000 pounds of recyclables are collected from Denver homes each week. Each truck and driver collect upwards of 1,000 carts every day.These speedy and efficient collections are made possible by a fleet of special automated collection trucks and a crew of skilled drivers. The automated recycle trucks utilized by Denver Recycles’ crews feature a hydraulic arm mechanism that is able to lift the recycle carts off the ground, turn the carts upside down to dump recyclables, and then return the carts back to the ground. The driver uses a joystick located in the cab of the truck to control the movement of the hydraulic arm. The automated recycle trucks enable a greater number of carts to be collected each day while also helping to prevent worker injuries.Help keep Denver’s recycling program smooth and efficient by following these simple guidelines:

1. Give Them Room! Provide at least 2 feet of space on either side of your cart when setting it out for collection. With the job of collecting more than 1,000 recycle carts each day, the driver doesn’t have time to get out an adjust carts.
2. Place All Recyclables Inside Your Purple Carts. Since the automated arm can only collect and empty recycle carts, extra items such as cardboard stacked on the ground next to your cart will not be collected. If you sometimes have extra, consider asking a neighbor if you can top off their recycle cart prior to collection day.
3. Set Your Cart Out Facing the Correct Direction. The lid to your cart should open out to the street or alley with the wheels against your property or curb.

For more information about recycling, please contact Denver Recycles at 311 (720-913-1311) or visit DenverGov.org/DenverRecycles.