Dear Action Line,
I’m trying to be environmentally friendly, but recycling is confusing. Where does our recycling in Durango go, and why can’t we recycle glass bottles along with plastic and paper? Signed, Endless Cycle
Dear Endless Cycle,
Something must be in the water. You’re not the only one to write into Action Line recently to inquire about recycling and all that goes into it. Recycled minds think alike. We just hope the “something” in the water isn’t microplastics, which have been shown to be in the water and, well, everything.
As for the recycling questions, we thought it would be pertinent to reach out to Joey Medina, assistant public works director, who could tell us about the Durango Recycling Center.
Once recyclable material is dropped at the Recycling Center in the Tech Center, Medina said that staff members check and remove contamination from the material. They then prepare and process the material into bale form for shipment to the city’s recycle vendor, who then ships the bales to other locations.
“We ask the public to help keep recycle material clean from contamination to help speed up the process and allow for a clean product to be shipped out,” he said.
It’s the bales and vendors that make recycling a bit complicated.
“Keeping glass out of our normal stream allows for a cleaner product,” Medina said.
You don’t want glass in your bales of plastic, for example, or glass in your bales of paper. Furthermore, glass can easily damage the machinery at the Recycling Center.
“Since the city bales its material for shipment, glass can be very abrasive once broken down,” Medina said. “(It) acts like sandpaper and can damage equipment to the point of where is not able to be maintained and must be replaced before its end-of-life cycle.”
Next time you’re thinking about throwing a glass bottle in with your plastic milk jugs or discarded paper junk mail, think again. You don’t want to be the sandpaper that grinds the gears at the Durango Recycling Center.
*****
On the subject of the city of Durango, Action Line also received a question about why there’s no public restroom at Buckley Park. It’s a pretty dang good question, considering the park’s prime location in downtown Durango and the large amount of special events the plot of land holds each year.
We asked the Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Schmidt for her input.
“I don’t know about an intentional or historical reason why there isn’t a bathroom in Buckley,” she said.
As Action Line’s dear readers may remember, Buckley Park used to be owned by Durango School District 9-R and was leased by the city. Last year, the city purchased the park from the school district and now owns it.
Schmidt said that in 2026 the city will complete a master plan for Buckley Park as well as the future city hall that will sit just east of the park. This plan currently calls for a public restroom at the park.
Be sure to watch for that master planning process from the city in the next year or so. Until then, you’ll have to find a different restroom.
Submit un-recycled questions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail questions to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
