DISCOVER. PLAY. BE INSPIRED.

Have you ever wondered how a landfill works? Or what gets made from all that stuff we recycle? At the Garbage Garage Education Center, located at the Larimer County Landfill, you will find out! We host scheduled tour groups and drop-in visitors Tuesday - Friday from 10am - 2pm. Other hours may be arranged by appointment - call us at (970) 498-5772 or email gcohen@larimer.org. Check our events calendar to see if there are scheduled events of interest. If you are going to drop by, please be aware that there may be an event or tour happening at that time. 

The adventure begins by entering the “Mountain of Trash,” a tunnel-like hallway covered in discards from the landfill. Visitors learn just how much trash they create, where it goes, and alternatives to throwing it all away. The various displays attract interest from a wide range of age groups, from preschoolers, elementary to college students, and senior adults. The Garbage Garage is an accessible facility.

We offer the following free, fun activities where visitors of all ages will learn about waste issues and the environment:

Tours / Field Trips

Tours and groups of 4 or more must be scheduled in advance. We can comfortably accommodate groups of up to 30. Larger groups up to 60 can be organized into two groups if scheduled during open hours. View  GG tour information for important details and requirements. Call (970) 498-5772 or email gcohen@larimer.org. 

A Garbage Garage Education Center field trip (30 minutes) includes:

• Introduction to the Garbage Garage
• Guided navigation through displays
• Learning about the landfill, the 3R's (reduce, reuse, recycle), and composting
• 'I Spy' activity / individual exploration

Available upon request:

• Indoor Activities - Puppet show/story time with craft (preschool), decomposition skit with worm viewing (15 minutes - grades 2 - 3), decomposer hunt (30 minutes - grades 2-3), learn with the worm (30 minutes - grades 2 - 3), natural resources matching/bingo (30 minutes - grades 3-5), landfill model (15 minutes - grades 4-5)
• Patio Games (weather permitting) -  Reuse Olympics (30 minutes), Trash Bag Relay (15 minutes), Carbon Game about Climate Change (30 minutes - grades 4-5/middle school)
• Added Tour - Recycle Center Observation Room - additional 30 minutes, Landfill Tour (30 minutes - must have bus or van, and space in vehicle for tour guide - weather permitting)

Birthday Parties

You are invited to a birthday party at the Garbage Garage! Schedule a birthday party with us for your child and up to five guests. Guests will explore the Garbage Garage, followed by a fun activity or game of your choice, and wrap up with refreshments and gifts (to be provided by the parent or guardian). Dates available: Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays with occasional Saturday availability. Times available: 10am - 11:30am or 12pm - 1:30pm (mornings best for younger guests). Detailed descriptions of the games and activities available upon request.

Preschool: Recycle Truck Craft/Activity, Recycling Puppet Show/Story/Coloring, Race Car Activity, The Lorax Story/Mustache Craft
Elementary-Age: Trash Bag Relay/Reuse Olympics (weather permitting), Recycled Art
Elementary-Age to Tween: Face Painting/Coloring, Canvas Painting Class (allow an hour - guardian's assistance requested)

Workshops and Special Events

The Garbage Garage staff will occasionally host workshops or special events. Check our events calendar or facebook page for special events and register today!

Drop-in Visits

Families and individual visitors are encouraged to drop by the Garbage Garage Education Center during our open hours Tues-Fri, 10am - 2pm. (Groups of 4 or more must call ahead at (970) 498-5775 or (970) 498-5772 to make sure they can be accommodated.) Visitors will be given an introduction and guided through the exhibits. We'll have a craft available for artistic visitors. This month we're making turkeys from pinecones and k-cups.  Discover new information about waste and recycling, and try some of our hands-on activities. We hope your visit will foster curiosity about the dynamic between human perception and environmental protection.