Trash & Recycling in Longmont, CO: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Longmont or are thinking about moving there, trash & recycling are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Longmont has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of trash & recycling, and some of them might surprise you.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Longmont Waste Services is a city-operated utility regulated by LMC Chapter 14.12 (Solid Waste). Service is structured as Pay-As-You-Throw: a small 48-gallon yellow-lid cart on every-other-week pickup runs $7.10/month, a medium 48-gallon weekly cart is $14.10/month, and a large 96-gallon weekly cart is $26.30/month. Recycling (blue lid) is included at no extra cost and picked up every other week; composting (green lid) is optional at $9.90/month. A $2.96/month Waste Management Fee appears on every utility bill.

Key details: Governing Code: LMC Chapter 14.12 (Solid Waste). Operator: City of Longmont Waste Services (municipal). Trash Rates: Small $7.10 / Medium $14.10 / Large $26.30 per month. Recycling: Included free with all trash subscriptions, every other week. Composting: $9.90/month optional, every other week.

Service violations are enforced under LMC Chapter 14.12. Setting out a cart with the lid open will (effective 2026) result in skipped collection. Repeated illegal dumping or non-payment can result in service termination, lien-based collection against the property's utility account, and Municipal Court prosecution at up to $999 and/or 180 days under LMC Title 1 general penalty. Mandatory recycling means a customer cannot decline recycling service while keeping trash service. Use of unauthorized private haulers in residential areas where city service is provided is prohibited.

Bulk Item Disposal

Longmont Waste Services runs a Large Item Collection program from February through October each year. Fees are $60 for one to two items and $75 for three items (the maximum), billed to the utility account. Items must not be set out earlier than the Saturday before scheduled pickup, which falls on the customer's regular trash collection day. Schedule by calling Waste Services at (303) 651-8416. Many common bulk items are excluded — including all major appliances, electronics, refrigerators, freezers, and contractor construction debris.

Key details: Program: Large Item Collection (LMC Chapter 14.12). Season: February through October. Fee: $60 for 1-2 items; $75 for 3 items (max). Billing: Charged to utility bill. Set-Out Window: No earlier than Saturday before pickup.

Setting out a large item earlier than the Saturday before pickup violates LMC Chapter 14.12 and the Waste Services Guidelines and can be cited by Code Enforcement. Putting excluded items (appliances, electronics, construction debris) into the large-item set-out will result in the items being left and the customer being charged a return trip plus, in some cases, an abatement charge if they remain in the right-of-way. Illegal dumping of bulk items is a separate offense under LMC and is prosecutable in Longmont Municipal Court at up to $999 and/or 180 days under LMC Title 1 general penalty, plus restitution for cleanup.

Bin Placement Rules

Longmont Waste Services requires carts to be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. Place containers in the street in front of the curb near the corner of your driveway with the handle side facing your home and the lid arrows pointing toward the street or alley. Maintain at least 3.5 feet of clearance from cars, mailboxes, and hydrants, and at least 2 feet between each cart when multiple are out.

Key details: Governing Code: LMC Chapter 14.12 + Waste Services Guidelines. Set-Out Time: By 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Placement: In street at curb, near driveway corner. Lid Arrows: Point toward street or alley. Handle: Faces toward the house.

Improperly placed carts may be skipped at the driver's discretion. Carts left in the right-of-way after collection, blocking sidewalks, or staged before the Saturday-before window for special collections violate LMC Chapter 14.12 and can be cited by Code Enforcement. Municipal Court general penalty under LMC Title 1 applies: up to $999 and/or 180 days. Damaged or city-owned carts that go missing while improperly stored may be charged to the customer's utility account. Effective 2026, overstuffed carts (lid not closing) will be skipped without refund.

The Bottom Line

Longmont's trash & recycling rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Longmont is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Longmont can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.