Trash & Recycling in Boulder County, CO (2026)

4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Boulder County, Colorado.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Boulder County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Boulder County uses private licensed haulers, not county trucks. Ordinance 2019-3 requires all haulers to be licensed and to offer Pay-As-You-Throw trash pricing plus curbside recycling and, in many regions, organics collection. Services vary by hauler region.

Trash Pickup & Hauler Rules in Unincorporated Boulder County

Some Restrictions

Boulder County Waste Hauler Ordinance 2019-3

Boulder County Ordinance #2019-3 requires licensing of all hauling companies operating in Boulder County that collect, transport, or dispose of discarded materials (trash, recyclables, compostables, construction and demolition materials, aggregate, or landscaping materials).

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Bin Placement Rules

Uncontained trash, junk, and garbage on unincorporated land can be a nuisance violation under Land Use Code Article 14. Waste haulers licensed under Ordinance 2019-3 supply the pay-as-you-throw carts; larger trash carts cost more to discourage waste.

Trash Container Rules in Unincorporated Boulder County

Some Restrictions

Boulder County Hauler Ordinance 2019-3 (PAYT)

Pay-As-You-Throw ... The larger your trash bin the more you pay for collection service, incentivizing waste reduction / diversion.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Recycling Requirements

Under the Waste Hauler Ordinance (2019-3), haulers must provide curbside single-stream recycling in many regions and, in denser areas, curbside organics (food and yard waste) collection. Boulder County's Zero Waste goal (Resolution 2005-138) drives these mandates.

Recycling & Composting Requirements in Unincorporated Boulder County

Some Restrictions

Boulder County Hauler Ordinance 2019-3 (Region 1)

In this region, haulers must provide pay-as-you-throw trash service and unlimited recycling. Starting Jan. 1, haulers are required to provide 32-gallons of organics collection service, either weekly or every other week.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Illegal Dumping

Dumping trash on public or private land is illegal statewide under Colorado's littering law (C.R.S. 18-4-511), a class 2 petty offense with mandatory fines from $20 up to $1,000. On unincorporated county land, dumped rubbish is also a nuisance abatable under Land Use Code Article 14.

Illegal Dumping & Littering Penalties in Boulder County

Some Restrictions

C.R.S. 18-4-511

Littering ... is a class 2 petty offense punishable, upon conviction, by a mandatory fine of not less than twenty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars upon a first conviction, by a mandatory fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars upon a second conviction, and ... not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars upon a third or subsequent...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Trash & Recycling by City in Boulder County

2 cities in Boulder County have their own trash & recycling rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

BoulderPop. 108,250

11 verified rules • Bin Placement Rules, Bulk Item Disposal

LongmontPop. 98,885

9 verified rules • Bin Placement Rules, Bulk Item Disposal

All Boulder County ordinances

See every category we cover for Boulder County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

Boulder County Ordinance Hub →