That dead TV in the garage is not free to get rid of, and it cannot go in your trash can either. Durango handles old electronics and old mattresses through two different doors, and which one you use depends on the day of the week. This page covers both, with the fees the city and county publish.
Where do I recycle electronics and TVs in Durango?
The City of Durango takes them at the Recycle Center, 710 Tech Center Drive, on Saturdays only, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The city's electronics page says it will accept up to six large items from a household or business per visit, plus smaller items alongside them.
Clearing out a whole office or a dead relative's house? Past six large items, or 15 items in total, call (970) 375-5004 and book a slot. Appointments run Friday mornings only, and you bring a written inventory showing how many of each item you have.
How much does the Recycle Center charge per item?
Every item has a price. The city contracts with a certified electronics recycler, and the fees below come straight from its published fee list.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Computer tower, desktop printer, scanner, fax | $5 |
| Monitor, laptop, or TV up to 27 inches | $15 |
| Old tube (CRT) TV or monitor | $15 |
| TV 27 inches and larger, flat-panel projection | $25 |
| Large office equipment (copiers, multi-function printers) | $35 |
| Vacuum, microwave, iPad, other consumer electronics | $5 |
| Game consoles, DVD player, stereo, router | $3 |
| Phones, cameras, chargers, small gadgets | $1 |
| Household batteries (AA, AAA, 9-volt) | $2 per pound, one pound minimum |
So the answer to "can I get rid of my TV for free" is no, not at the city's site. A 40-inch flat panel runs $25. Household dry-cell batteries have their own Tuesday-through-Saturday hours at the same address.
Is it legal to throw electronics in the trash in Colorado?
No. The city points to Colorado's Electronic Recycling Jobs Act, in effect since July 1, 2013, which bars residents and businesses from tossing most electronic waste in the trash. The city's collection rules go further and call putting electronics in your trash or recycling a violation of both city code and state law. The household hazardous waste event does not take big electronics like TVs and computer towers either, per the city's HHW page.
How do I get rid of a mattress in Durango?
The city and county publish four routes:
- Spring Cleanup. The city's neighborhood sweep takes furniture and mattresses for residents who pay the cleanup fee on their utility bill, so there is no extra charge at the curb. In 2026 it ran March 30 through April 30 by zone, and you set the mattress out the day before your zone's week. Fall Cleanup does not take them.
- Bulk pickup. The city charges $175 per truckload, plus $10 per appliance, and you schedule and pay online.
- The Durango Transfer Station. It sits at 790 Tech Center Drive, is run by a private contractor and takes bulky items for a fee. Call 970-259-2915 for the price and hours first.
- A county transfer station. La Plata County's rate sheet lists mattresses and box springs at $32 per cubic yard. The Bayfield station is on County Road 223 and the Marvel station is on County Road 134.
For the cheapest route, time it with Spring Cleanup. The cleanup page posts the neighborhood schedule once the city sets it. County residents outside city limits cannot haul items into town for the city sweep, so they use the county stations.
What about old appliances and other awkward items?
Refrigerators and air conditioners are the usual trouble, since the city sweep skips them and the HHW event refuses anything with refrigerants. The city names Southwest Appliance as certified to dispose of items with refrigerants. Wet paint goes to a participating PaintCare store, not the curb.
Garbage that is not on any of those lists follows the weekly routine we describe in how trash and recycling pickup works in Durango.