Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is adjusting solid waste collection schedules in 2025 to further Denver’s goals of Resiliency, Vibrancy, and Great Government and to streamline services to achieve operational efficiencies.
These changes will accelerate compost service delivery citywide and align service demand with available resources to increase recycling and compost diversion rates, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve customer service and service delivery.
Beginning January 2025, Solid Waste will modify service collection schedules. Find your schedule here or by downloading the free Denver Trash and Recycling App.
- weekly trash collection
- weekly compost collection
- bi-weekly recycling collection
- every-9-week large item pickup
- Leafdrop program
- Holiday Treecycle drop sites
- Holiday lights recycling
- Annual Mulch Giveaway
Additionally, beginning January 6th, 2025, Cart Maintenance requests will be serviced Tuesday - Friday. For open cart maintenance requests, place cart at curb for 24 hours after scheduled collection services, regardless of set-out location.
Click "next" below to learn get the status on the compost rollout.
All Denver Solid Waste Management customers can request a compost cart now!
Residents that have not yet had compost service available in their area (collection districts 1, 6, 7, and 9) were sent a letter with information and instructions to select a cart size for delivery.
Residents are given the option to “opt-in” to compost service by selecting their cart size via Denver Utilities Onling, 311 or return mail. Or residents can participate in a “come and get it” event to allow for self-service. All requests received by January 10 will be delivered by the end of March. Should a resident miss the initial deadline, they are still able to opt in and will receive their preferred cart size beginning in March after the accelerated delivery initiative is complete. If you live in districts 2, 3, 4, 5, or 8 and missed the initial rollout in your area, you can still request a cart using the same instructions, and those will continue to be delivered on a rolling basis.
Learn more about the Compost Rollout and how to compost here!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's changing with the compost rollout?
Instead of rolling compost out one district per quarter through the end of the year, DOTI will roll service out to all remaining customers in Q1 2025, nine months ahead of schedule.
When will residents get their compost carts?
Residents that have not yet had compost service available in their area were sent a letter with information and instructions to select a cart size. Residents are given the option to “opt-in” to compost service by selecting their cart size via Denver Utilities Onling, 311 or return mail. Or residents can participate in a “come and get it” event to allow for self-service. All requests received by January 10 will be delivered by March 15.
Should a resident miss the initial deadline, they are still able to opt in and will receive their preferred cart size beginning in March after the accelerated delivery initiative is complete. If you live in districts 2, 3, 4, 5, or 8 and missed the initial rollout in your area, you can still request a cart using the same instructions, and those will continue to be delivered on a rolling basis.
Residents can go to Denvergov.org/CompostRollout for more information and instructions to select their cart!
What if residents have an open cart maintenance or exchange request?
DOTI is working hard to fulfill all existing cart maintenance requests and will continue to do so in 2025. Beginning January 6th, 2025, Cart Maintenance requests will be serviced Tuesday - Friday. For open cart maintenance requests, place cart at curb for 24 hours after scheduled collection services, regardless of set-out location. Requests for second recycle carts will be prioritized starting in April, as well as requests that impact billing as we finish rolling out compost city-wide.
Why are we moving to every other week for recycling collection?
DOTI is moving to every other week recycling collection to make better use of its resources. It found that offering weekly collection in 2023 and 2024 did not result in a significant increase in recyclables collected, while trucks circled the city twice as often.
Why are we moving to every-nine-week Large Item Pickup?
Large item pickup service has been offered in an every-eight-week rotation in the past. While providing a high measure of convenience, offering more frequent LIP collection service works city against diversion goals, incentivizing waste and de-incentivizing efforts to find alternative options to throwing items in the landfill.
What other services are included in the fees?
In addition to trash, compost, recycling, and large item collection, customers should also take advantage of our seasonal diversion events and hard-to-recycle programs. Learn more at Denvergov.org/CartSmart.
What if residents run out of room in the recycling cart?
We encourage residents to maximize the space of their recycling carts by breaking down boxes. We are happy to provide second recycling carts to residents who are consistently filling up their carts on a bi-weekly basis. Please submit a request on your Denver Utilities Online account or by calling 311, starting in Q2. Note that these requests will be fulfilled after the compost rollout is complete.
How can I keep track of my collection days?
Solid Waste will be mailing out schedules in the annual Wastewise newsletter at the end of the year. Additionally, we encourage all residents to sign up for collection reminders on the Denver Trash and Recycling App or web platform, so you never miss a collection day. Get started at Denvergov.org/TrashSchedule.
What goes in the recycle cart?
Cans, bottles, jars, boxes, paper, and plastic containers. Learn more at Denvergov.org/recycle.
How can I reduce my waste?
There are many ways to reduce household waste. We strongly encourage residents to Refuse, Reuse, Reduce and then Recycle and Compost:
Donate: Give ‘stuff’ another chance by donating instead of trashing it. Learn more here and search the Recycling Directory for donation options near you.
Recycle: For waste that can’t be prevented in the first place, recycling is a great option. Find the full recycling program guidelines.
Compost: Almost 50% of what Denver throws away is compostable material including food scraps, yard debris, and non-recyclable paper such as paper towels and napkins. Check the Denver Composts guidelines for a complete list of acceptable materials.
Not sure what items should go in what container? Test your sorting skills virtually with the Denver Recycles Waste Sorting Game!
When you are ready to downsize your cart, visit your account online to request one.
I live in an apartment, what options do I have?
Solid Waste Management, a department of the City & County of Denver, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, is only authorized to provide services to residential homes of seven or fewer units and our own municipal facilities. Solid Waste Management cannot provide services to commercial properties such as businesses and apartment communities.
Visit the Waste No More page to learn more about recycling and composting for businesses and apartment communities.
Visit our Hauler Licensing page< for information on other trash/recycle/compost services in Denver.
Access your Denver Utilities Online account
Billing questions?
Please submit billing questions through your Denver Utilities Online account or by emailing swmbillinginquiries@denvergov.org. Please report any issues using your Denver Utilities Online account. Sign up for service notifications on the Denver Trash and Recycling App or visit denvergov.org/trashschedule.