Recycling Information
The City of Thornton is proud of its one-container recycling program, making it easier for city residents to do the right thing for our shared environment.
3 Easy Steps to Be a Pro Recycler -
English version
3 Easy Steps to Be a Pro Recycler -
Spanish version
Special Recycling
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL), those squiggly new light bulbs that are gaining popularity, should not be placed in your recycling or trash collection. Read our brochure.
Recycling Drop-off Locations
Recycling drop-off bins are located in the parking lot areas at these locations. Locations are subject to change without notice.
- Thornton Municipal Service Center – 88th Avenue & Colorado Boulevard, open Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Infrastructure Maintenance Center - 12450 Washington Street. Use the north entrance with access on 126th Avenue, east of Washington Street, open Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Items accepted for recycling at these drop-off locations include:
- Flattened cardboard
- Magazines
- Office paper
- Junk mail
- Phone books
- Paper board (cereal boxes, soda boxes, paper towel rolls, etc.)
- Brown paper bags
- Newspapers and inserts
- Glass bottles and jars
- Aluminum cans
- Steel cans
- Empty aerosol cans
- Plastic containers 1-7
- No Plastic Bags
- No Trash
- Only Eligible Items
-
NO Styrofoam
Household Hazardous Waste
The Veolia Colorado Recycling Center is available to Adams County residents year-round by appointment only. Fees may apply. Visit the Veolia website for more information on what Veolia can accept, hours of operation, and fees, or to make an online appointment.
If you are trying to dispose of a mattress and/or box spring, please check out Spring Back Colorado Mattress Recycling. They make disposing of your mattress easy and simple. Drop your end-of-life mattress and/or box springs at the Denver warehouse or schedule a home pick-up. Visit the Spring Back website, or for more information, please call 720-515-1328. Fees do apply.
Recycle Cooking Oil
The city of Thornton and Recycoil offer a cooking oil recycling program that is easy to use, environmentally friendly and is offered year-round. This type of recycling is critical to our community because the recycled oil is used in the production of biofuels, keeping it out of area landfills and Thornton’s sewer system.
Residents can drop off used cooking oil in one-gallon, sealed plastic containers only at Thornton’s Infrastructure Maintenance Center, 12450 Washington Street, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding major holidays. Please use the front door entrance to the IMC building just off Washington Street.
This service is for residents only, and cooking oil from businesses and restaurants will not be accepted. Commercial businesses can contact Recycoil at 303-544-1500.