You Are Here : Home / Government/ Agencies, Departments, and Offices / Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency / Cutting Denver's Carbon Pollution / Zero Waste

Zero Waste

Denver has progressive goals to reduce waste in the city. This goes beyond recycling and composting. Our work is to reduce waste in the first place and develop a thriving circular economy in Denver.

Bring Your Own Bag Program

Denver’s Fee on Disposable Bags requires retail stores to charge 10 cents for each disposable bag provided to customers at checkout.

Denver Reuse Business Directory

Find where to repair, rent, or buy used items while supporting local businesses. In 2023, these Denver reuse businesses employed over 3,000 people and contributed $540 million to the economy annually. There’s no need to buy new when you could repair it, rent it, or buy it used — it’s just as good.

Refuse and Reuse

The number one way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place. Let’s put an end to single-use waste.

Reuse Denver Incentives

Retail food establishments get technical support and up to $600 worth of reusable service ware when switching from disposable to reusable food service ware for onsite dining.

Recycle, Compost & Trash

Find information about recycling, compost, and trash services in your neighborhood.

Skip the Stuff, Say No to Single-Use Condiments & Service Ware

Denver requires all restaurants and third-party delivery services to only provide single-use condiments and service ware if a customer requests them.

Sustainable Resource Management Plan

The primary vision of this plan is to divert 50% of all solid waste away from the landfill and to recycling or composting by 2027 and to increase that rate to 70% by 2032.

Waste No More

This ordinance requires apartment complexes, restaurants, office buildings and other businesses in Denver to offer recycling and composting services. The city formed a task force to assist in enforcing, clarifying requirements, and overseeing recommendations for this ordinance.