Kitchen and bathroom remodels, home systems upgrades, decluttering, and other home improvements will not only up the value of your home and improve your living experience but will also provide a competitive edge of desirability should you choose to sell. This year, take your improvements one step further and prioritize keeping reusable, recyclable, and toxic materials out of the landfill. This article supports three Boulder facilities dedicated to helping you do just that.

Resource Central - Located on the edge of town (6400 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder), Resource Central is essentially a gigantic thrift store of reclaimed building materials priced 75% lower than retail. Not only can you shop here for your next home project but you can also donate your unwanted materials. Door knobs, single pane vintage windows, double pane windows (no broken seals), five feet long de-nailed pieces of unstained/unpainted lumber, low flow toilets, uncracked sinks, tubs, and kitchen cabinets (doors attached, in good condition) are just a few of the items you may consider donating to Resource Central. Additionally, they offer tool rentals, donation pickup, and free Sustainable Deconstruction Assessments.

Ecocycle CHaRM - Connected to Resource Central is CHaRM, Center for Hard to Recycle Materials. CHaRM collects consumer discards that are commonly difficult to divert from the landfill. Because the cost to recycle many of these materials exceeds their value on the secondary materials market, CHaRM requires a fee to recycle select items. CHaRM can accept a growing list of materials from books, scrap metal, printer cartridges, mattresses, electronics, freon devices such as refrigerators, certain types of styrofoam and plastic bags, ceramics and concrete, bikes, fire extinguishers, bagged textiles, pairs of shoes, and much more. If Resource Central won’t accept it, chances are CHaRM will.

Boulder County’s hazardous waste drop off - Ever wondered what to do with unwanted cans of stain and lacquer, fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, gasoline, cleaning chemicals, lawn fertilizers, etc.? Luckily, in Boulder County we have the Hazardous Waste Management Facility (HWMF) where you can schedule an appointment and simply drop off your unwanted hazardous materials. HWMF, located across the street from Resource and CHaRM, has an extensive list of hazardous waste that they collect far beyond what I’ve mentioned here.

Resource Central, CHaRM, and the Hazardous Waste Management Facility offer invaluable services to our community. With Spring inching nearer, use the energy of new beginnings and a fresh start to cleanse your home and dispose of unwanted items and chemicals properly. For each of these facilities, make sure to check the website and call ahead before making the trip to ensure your items will be accepted and what fee may be associated.

EcoCycle’s CHaRM and Resource Central- Ecocycle.org, 303-444-6634

Hazardous Waste Management Facility - https://bouldercounty.gov/ environment/hazardous-waste/, 720- 564-2251.

Emma Quarterman can be reached at 303-506-5218 or by email at emma@livewestrealty.com. Check out her website at emmaskycolorado.com/.