Cardboard Recycling in Ouray, CO

Cardboard goes in the City of Ouray's single-stream recycling, which Bruin Waste collects on Thursdays; flatten boxes and set them under the 18-gallon bin if they don't fit.

See all 3 options

Illustrative item photographKadarius Seegars / Unsplash

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

3 ways to get rid of a cardboard in Ouray

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

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · OurayNo 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 →
Ouray County Transfer and Recycle Station (Ridgway)County service · Ouray County$8
How it works
County transfer and recycle station at 111 Mall Road, Ridgway, operated with Bruin Waste Management; open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Charges per bag or cubic yard for trash, scrap metal and cardboard, and per pound for electronics.
Cost & rules
Fees
Cardboard $8
- $8.00 per cubic yard.
Official page (opens in new tab)
City of Ouray Residential Trash & Recycling (Bruin Waste)City service · OurayCost not listed
How it works
City-contracted weekly residential trash and single-stream recycling collected by Bruin Waste on Thursdays, with a 64-gallon waste cart and an 18-gallon recycling bin.
Cost & rules
- Before you go: Break down boxes and place them flat underneath the recycling bin if they do not fit.
Official page (opens in new tab)

Fees
Cardboard	$8

Before you go

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

More about cardboard

Colorado rules

Packaging covered by the program includes paper, plastic, glass, metal, cartons and other packaging materials. Source: CDPHE: Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (opens in new tab)
Secondary or grouped packaging, including boxes and cartons, is covered material (not exempt) even for regulated drugs and medical devices. Source: CDPHE: Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (opens in new tab)

More Colorado rules (15)

Colorado's statewide curbside recycling guide from Circular Action Alliance lists flattened cardboard, egg cartons, and food and beverage cartons as recyclable. Source: RecycleOn Colorado (Circular Action Alliance): Free Recycling Service, From Peaks to Prairies (opens in new tab)
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. Source: RecycleOn Colorado (Circular Action Alliance): Free Recycling Service, From Peaks to Prairies (opens in new tab)
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. Source: CDPHE: Producer Responsibility program (opens in new tab)
According to CDPHE's FAQ (updated August 2026), Circular Action Alliance began implementing the program plan in June 2026. Source: CDPHE: Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (opens in new tab)
When residents see changes depends on where they live and local recycling infrastructure; CDPHE says the rollout is gradual ("a dial, not a switch"). Source: CDPHE: Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (opens in new tab)
Circular Action Alliance says residents will no longer be charged for recycling services that it pays for. Source: RecycleOn Colorado (Circular Action Alliance): Free Recycling Service, From Peaks to Prairies (opens in new tab)
Waste haulers may not charge consumers a collection fee to recoup their costs for recycling services provided under the program. Source: CDPHE: Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (opens in new tab)
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. Source: CDPHE: Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (opens in new tab)
Waste haulers are not required to provide recycling under the program; haulers that opt out are not reimbursed. Source: CDPHE: Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (opens in new tab)
The program plan initially covers recycling services only for homes (residential covered entities). Source: Colorado General Assembly: HB22-1355 Producer Responsibility Program For Recycling (opens in new tab)
CDPHE approved Circular Action Alliance's program plan in December 2025, and the alliance must begin implementing it by summer 2026. Source: CDPHE: Producer Responsibility program (opens in new tab)
CDPHE projects the approved plan will bring no-cost recycling to an estimated 700,000 more Colorado households. Source: CDPHE press release: New statewide recycling plan paves the way for free recycling access (opens in new tab)
The program plan must describe how recycling will expand to applicable nonresidential locations (such as small businesses and schools), beginning no later than 2028. Source: CDPHE: Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (opens in new tab)
Circular Action Alliance says the program begins with residential recycling and adds schools, government buildings and more by 2030. Source: RecycleOn Colorado (Circular Action Alliance): Free Recycling Service, From Peaks to Prairies (opens in new tab)
The program provides recycling services to covered entities: residences, public places, small businesses, schools, hospitality locations, and state and local government buildings. Source: Colorado General Assembly: HB22-1355 Producer Responsibility Program For Recycling (opens in new tab)

Where this information comes from (19)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

City of Ouray: Trash & Recycling Service Information (opens in new tab) · City of Ouray
- Recycling is single stream; break down cardboard boxes and place them flat underneath the bin if needed. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ouray County: Transfer and Recycle Station (opens in new tab) · Ouray County
- Rates: scrap metal $28 per cubic yard; cardboard $8 per cubic yard. 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.

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