Expanded Waste Collection Services

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.

Solid Waste will send a letter to customers that do not yet have compost service available with information and instructions to select a cart size. Residents will be given the option to “opt-in” to service by selecting the cart size they want via Denver Utilities Online account, 311 case, or return mail. Solid Waste will also offer “come and get it” events 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.

Residents can go to Denvergov.org/CompostRollout for more information, and should look out for a letter in December with instructions to select their cart.

DOTI is working hard to fulfill all existing cart maintenance requests and will continue to do so in 2025. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Food scraps and yard debris! Learn more at devergov.org/compost

Cans, bottles, jars, boxes, paper, and plastic containers. Learn more at Denvergov.org/recycle.

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. 

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.