The Waste No More ordinance continues to move forward. On March 19, City Council’s Business, Arts, Workforce, Climate & Aviation Services Committee reviewed a proposal that would require both recycling and composting at all events starting in April 2026.
At the January Special Event Forum, a phased rollout was under consideration. While this approach is no longer part of the proposal, the Office of Special Events worked hard to represent the needs of the events community and strongly advocated for a more gradual implementation. Although those efforts are not reflected in the current draft, our advocacy continues. We are now proposing possible exceptions to help ease anticipated challenges—such as for smaller events or those where composting and recycling services may not be financially feasible.
The committee is expected to vote on the proposed ordinance revisions on May 7. To have your concerns heard, we encourage you to share your feedback with your City Council representative before then. Your input helps ensure the voice of the events community is part of this important conversation.
Background: On November 8, 2022, 70% of Denver voters approved the Waste No More ordinance, which requires events to provide three-stream waste collection, clear signage, education for attendees and vendors, and a waste management plan. While the ordinance was passed with strong public support, no dedicated funding was identified to help implement these requirements. As a result, the Office of Special Events continues to advocate for practical solutions and support to help organizers meet these new requirements.
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