Trash & Recycling in Mesa County, CO (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Mesa County, Colorado.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Mesa County's Rubbish, Refuse and Garbage Rule does not set a fixed pickup day, but it does require garbage to be removed often enough that it does not pile up or smell. Rule 4.04 requires removal at a frequency that reduces offensive odors and prohibits excessive accumulation, backed by a container-capacity requirement in Rule 4.03.
Mesa County Garbage Removal Frequency Rule
Light RestrictionsMesa County Rubbish, Refuse and Garbage Rule No. 2018-01-02, § IV, Rules 4.03-4.04
4.03 The total capacity of all provided garbage cans, rubbish cans, and/or bulk storage containers shall be sufficient to meet the needs of all of the occupants of the dwelling or dwelling units and from one scheduled collection time until the next scheduled collection time. 4.04 Garbage and rubbish shall be removed from the premises at a frequency that reduces offensive odors and prohibits ex...
Bin Placement Rules
Mesa County's Rubbish, Refuse and Garbage Rule makes every occupant of a dwelling responsible for keeping garbage cans and rubbish containers clean and sanitary. Section IV requires containers to be rodent-proof, insect-proof, water-tight and fitted with tight covers, and bars using a plastic bag alone, without a container, to store garbage or rubbish on-site.
Mesa County Garbage Can Storage Rules
Some RestrictionsMesa County Rubbish, Refuse and Garbage Rule No. 2018-01-02, § IV, Rules 4.01-4.02
4.01 Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall store and dispose of all rubbish, garbage, and other organic waste that might provide food or harborage for insects and/or rodents in a clean, sanitary, and safe manner. The occupant shall be responsible for the cleanliness of garbage cans and rubbish containers. 4.02 All garbage cans and rubbish containers shall be rodent-proof, insect-...
Illegal Dumping
Mesa County Ordinance No. 15 requires all rubbish to go to an approved disposal site and specifically bans using county trash receptacles on streets, in parks or at public buildings to dump household or business waste. Law enforcement can open suspicious rubbish left in public receptacles to identify who dumped it.
Mesa County Illegal Dumping and Disposal Rule
Some RestrictionsMesa County Ordinance No. 15, § 3.4
3.4 Disposal of rubbish. Rubbish must be disposed of only by depositing the same in or at an approved disposal site. Papers, and other combustibles, but excluding wet rubbish, may be burned in incinerators in conformity with the regulations of the State Department of Health and Mesa County. The use of county trash receptacles on streets, in parks and at public buildings for disposal of rubbish ...
Dumpster Rules
Commercial and multi-family dumpsters in unincorporated Mesa County cannot sit wherever is convenient. Section 8.05.A.2 of the Land Development Code requires outdoor trash collection and compaction areas to be placed in the rear yard, or the side yard if the rear will not work, and keeps them at least 20 feet from any public street, sidewalk or pedestrian walkway.
Mesa County Commercial Dumpster Placement Rule
Some RestrictionsMesa County Land Development Code § 8.05.A(2), (7)
2. Areas for outdoor storage, trash collection or compaction, loading, or other such uses shall be located in the rear of the lot. If that is not feasible, then the side yard may be used, but in no case shall such areas be located within twenty (20) feet of any public street, public sidewalk, or internal pedestrian walkway. ... 7. All developments, including multi-family housing, shall provid...
Collection Schedule
Mesa County doesn't run municipal trash collection in the unincorporated county, but Ordinance No. 15 sets the outer limit on how long rubbish can sit: residential properties must clear accumulated rubbish at least once a week, and food or product-based businesses must do it at least twice a week so waste never sits more than three and a half days.
Mesa County Weekly Rubbish Removal Requirement
Some RestrictionsMesa County Ordinance No. 15, § 3.3
3.3 Removal of rubbish. Any owner, occupant, person in control, or manager of any property must remove, or cause to be removed, from property, all accumulated rubbish not less than once each week. Business establishments that deal in food or any other product that results in the accumulation of rubbish on the premises must remove such rubbish, rejected or waste food, or cause it to be removed, ...
All Mesa County ordinances
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