Uncluttering and tidying up our homes, closets, garages, and yards is an American rite of spring. And apparently for good reason. Organizational experts have attributed reducing clutter with benefits that range from the practical, like saving time, increasing income and reducing stress, to the sublime, such as increased vitality, a sense of rejuvenation and renewed confidence in the future.

So if this time of year finds you inspired to clear out some space, our community has a host of excellent local resources to help you get your belongings into the reuse stream, recycled or if necessary, disposed of responsibly. Some items are accepted at no charge, for others there may be a fee. Clicking on underlined words will open links for hours, locations and additional information.

Clothing and Household Items
Consider donating for a cause. Thrift stores including Goodwill, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore and the Humane Society Thrift all accept clothing and household items in resale condition. Donations may be tax deductible.

Cardboard, Paper and Commingled Containers
All of these materials are recyclable and can be put out with your curbside recycling service or dropped off at Western’s Trash and Recycling Center.

Architectural Salvage and Building Material
ReSource Yard is a facility operated by the non-profit Center for ReSource Conservation. It is a community treasure chest accepting and reselling primarily construction, remodeling and landscaping material but furniture, appliances and lighting are also accepted. Shopping here is an adventure so be careful, you may leave with more than you dropped off!

Tools
Have tools that you rarely or never use? You’re not alone. Donate them to the Boulder ReSource Tool Library and not only will they be available for the rest of the community to use, but you can borrow them back anytime for FREE.

Hard to Recycle Materials
Think it CAN’T be recycled? Think again. The City of Boulder’s Center for Hard to Recycle Material (CHarM) accepts a dizzying list of items for recycling from hard durable plastics like lawn chairs and buckets, to shoes, books, textiles, porcelain fixtures, block foam, appliances and yoga mats.

Household Hazardous Material
Residents of Boulder County, the City and County of Broomfield and the Town of Erie can drop off  paint and household chemicals at the county Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF) at no charge. Located just west of the Boulder County Recycling Center on 63rd St., the HMMF is open Wednesday through Saturday year-round.

Electronics
As of July 2013, electronics are no longer accepted at landfills and must be brought to a collection center for recycling. This legislation has many benefits including the opportunity to reclaim valuable metals, properly dispose of harmful substances, channel more plastics into the recycling stream, and creating jobs in the process. Western Disposal is certified for proper electronics disposal management. Click here for price information.

Yard Waste
If you don’t have curbside pickup, bring your yard waste to Western Disposal. City of Boulder residents can drop for free, and residents in Boulder County receive a 40% discount. Western makes compost and mulch out of material dropped at our site. If you’d like to see how it’s done, sign up for a tour.

Trash
Even with all these terrific resources, you are likely to wind up with some material that simply cannot be reused or recycled. Save yourself time and fuel and bring this material to Western’s Trash and Recycle Center. If you are a Western customer, you can arrange for us to pick up extra or large items curbside. Call 303-444-2037 for pricing and to arrange collection.