Arvada, CO Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

Section 90-31 governs how residential waste and recycling containers must be handled once they leave the yard. Subsection (c) is the operative placement rule: carts must be kept off the street, curb, sidewalk and all other public ways, and may only occupy that space on the scheduled day of collection, for a maximum of 12 hours before and 12 hours after the scheduled collection time. Outside that 24-hour window, a cart left curbside is out of compliance even if it is empty or collection already occurred.

The same section requires that waste and recyclables set out for pickup be drained of liquid before collection (§ 90-31(a)) and bars leaving loose waste, recyclables or bulky items anywhere in the right-of-way or on private property unless it is fully contained in a proper cart or the resident has made separate arrangements with the hauler for bulky items (§ 90-31(b)); any accumulation that violates the chapter is declared a public nuisance. Hazardous waste is excluded from the container-and-curb scheme entirely and residents must take it to an authorized disposal facility rather than setting it out (§ 90-31(d)).

The city's own collection provider places containers under § 90-33(c) in the street or alley adjacent to each residence, or on the street if there is no adjacent alley, on the schedule the city establishes.