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Cardboard Recycling in Thornton, CO

Thornton’s two recycling drop-off sites (88th Ave & Colorado Blvd and 12450 Washington St) take flattened cardboard on weekdays. New residents on city trash service can book a one-time free curbside pickup of moving boxes.

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Stacked brown cardboard boxes
Illustrative item photographKadarius Seegars / Unsplash (opens in new tab)

Checked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check

2 ways to get rid of a cardboard in Thornton

Tap an option to see the address, hours, cost and rules.

  1. CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · ThorntonNo haulingWe recycle it for youFrom $80.00
    How it works

    Book online, set out your cardboard and we’ll pick it up and recycle it for you. You see your price before you book and pay only after pickup.

    Book a pickup →

  2. Thornton recycling drop-off sitesCity service · ThorntonConditions applyCost not listed
    How it works

    Recycling drop-off bins in the parking lots of the Thornton Municipal Service Center (88th Ave & Colorado Blvd) and the Infrastructure Maintenance Center (12450 Washington St, north entrance at 126th Ave & Ogden St), open Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–5 p.m.

    Cost & rules
    • Cardboard must be flattened; no plastic bags or trash.

    Official page (opens in new tab)

Before you go

  1. Check whether you have corrugated boxes, coated packaging or mixed materials.
  2. Remove foam, plastic and other packing inserts.
  3. Flatten boxes and check quantity limits for your program.
More about cardboard

Colorado rules

More Colorado rules (15)
Where this information comes from (19)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

  • City of Thornton: Recycling (opens in new tab) · City of Thornton
    • Flattened cardboard is accepted at the drop-off locations. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Thornton offers new residents who are city trash customers a one-time free curbside pickup of moving boxes, by appointment. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • CDPHE: Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (opens in new tab) · Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
    • Packaging covered by the program includes paper, plastic, glass, metal, cartons and other packaging materials. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Secondary or grouped packaging, including boxes and cartons, is covered material (not exempt) even for regulated drugs and medical devices. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • According to CDPHE's FAQ (updated August 2026), Circular Action Alliance began implementing the program plan in June 2026. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • When residents see changes depends on where they live and local recycling infrastructure; CDPHE says the rollout is gradual ("a dial, not a switch"). Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Waste haulers may not charge consumers a collection fee to recoup their costs for recycling services provided under the program. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • If a resident's municipality does not participate, the resident can contact a participating waste hauler serving the area for recycling service at no cost. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Waste haulers are not required to provide recycling under the program; haulers that opt out are not reimbursed. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • The program plan must describe how recycling will expand to applicable nonresidential locations (such as small businesses and schools), beginning no later than 2028. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • RecycleOn Colorado (Circular Action Alliance): Free Recycling Service, From Peaks to Prairies (opens in new tab) · Circular Action Alliance
    • Colorado's statewide curbside recycling guide from Circular Action Alliance lists flattened cardboard, egg cartons, and food and beverage cartons as recyclable. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • The statewide list is a guide for curbside (mixed) recycling and not all communities have the same services yet, so residents should check with their local program. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Circular Action Alliance says residents will no longer be charged for recycling services that it pays for. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Circular Action Alliance says the program begins with residential recycling and adds schools, government buildings and more by 2030. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • CDPHE: Producer Responsibility program (opens in new tab) · Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
    • Colorado's 2022 Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act requires companies that sell packaging and paper products to fund a statewide recycling system for those materials. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • CDPHE approved Circular Action Alliance's program plan in December 2025, and the alliance must begin implementing it by summer 2026. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Colorado General Assembly: HB22-1355 Producer Responsibility Program For Recycling (opens in new tab) · Colorado General Assembly
    • The program plan initially covers recycling services only for homes (residential covered entities). Checked October 26, 2026.
    • The program provides recycling services to covered entities: residences, public places, small businesses, schools, hospitality locations, and state and local government buildings. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • CDPHE press release: New statewide recycling plan paves the way for free recycling access (opens in new tab) · Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment · effective December 10, 2025
    • CDPHE projects the approved plan will bring no-cost recycling to an estimated 700,000 more Colorado households. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.

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