The article discusses the process of recycling in Teller County, Colorado, where recyclables are transported to facilities that process recycled materials. The Courier was given access to APEX Waste, which partners with state-of-the-art facilities to keep valuable materials in the domestic supply chain and out of landfills. The recycling process begins with Teller residents who participate in the recycling program, which carries an additional cost due to legislative changes in Colorado's Extended Producer Responsibility Law shifting this cost from consumer to producer within a year. The Materials Recovery Facility in Colorado Springs processes cardboard and paper waste, which is operated by Waste Management. Non-paper recyclable material is then transported to North American paper mills where it is processed into new cardboard, paperboard and paper products. Metal is used for sheeting and new products, some of which is produced in Denver. Despite global demand for recycled metals, much of what’s collected in Colorado stays here. The article also notes that recycling is a significant step forward in American ingenuity and engineering, despite environmental challenges and potential economic upsides.