What Cheyenne Homeowners Need to Know About Recycling

Did you know that nearly 80% of Cheyenne residents recycle? That’s an impressive number — but many homeowners don’t realize what actually happens once their bin is rolled to the curb. Since every household pays a $195 yearly recycling fee, it’s worth knowing how the system works and how to make the most of it.

Recently, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle published a behind-the-scenes look at Cheyenne’s recycling process, riding along with city sanitation crews to see where our recyclables really go. Here’s a summary of what they found — and what it means for you as a homeowner.

The Journey of Your Recycling

Here’s a simplified look at where your recyclables go once they leave your driveway:

1. Pickup – City sanitation crews collect recycling every other week. Each driver has about 900–1,000 stops per day, and trucks typically haul in 12–14 tons of material daily.
2. Transfer Station – Trucks unload at Cheyenne’s transfer station, where recyclables are compacted and weighed.
3. Transport – Semi-trailers haul loads twice a day to the Larimer County Waste Diversion facility in Fort Collins, Colorado.
4. Sorting – At the facility (also known as a Material Recovery Facility, or MRF), recyclables are separated by magnets, conveyors, and specialized machines.
5. Processing – From Fort Collins, the materials are sent to Denver, where they’re broken down and sold to manufacturers to become new products.

How You Can Help as a Homeowner

Since you’re already paying for the service, here’s how to ensure your recycling efforts count:

• ✅ Stick to acceptable items – paper, cardboard, plastics #1–7, aluminum, and tin cans.
• ❌ Avoid “wishcycling” – items like plastic bags, styrofoam, or greasy pizza boxes can contaminate loads.
• ♻️ Rinse containers lightly – they don’t need to be spotless, but removing food debris keeps the process efficient.
• 📅 Know your schedule – pickup happens every other week for residential bins.

Why It Matters

Recycling isn’t just about reducing landfill waste. It’s about investing in Cheyenne’s future, keeping our neighborhoods clean, and doing our part in a larger system that stretches from Wyoming to Colorado and beyond.

So the next time you set out your bin, you can take pride in knowing your recyclables are taking a road trip — and eventually coming back as something brand new.

This post is based on reporting by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. You can read their full article here!

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