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

Cart placement rules are published in the Waste Services Guidelines under the framework of LMC Chapter 14.12 Solid Waste. The set-out window is 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. Place containers in the street in front of the curb (not on the sidewalk and not blocking the sidewalk), near the corner of the driveway, with the handle of the cart facing toward the house and the directional arrows on the lid pointing toward the street. Alley-collection customers place carts on the designated alley side. Spacing requirements: at least 3.5 feet of clearance around each cart away from parked vehicles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, and other obstructions; at least 2 feet between trash, recycling, and composting carts when more than one is staged. On windy days the city allows carts to be turned sideways with the handle facing into the wind. Effective in 2026 the city is enforcing a rule that cart lids must close completely for the cart to be serviced — overstuffed carts will be skipped and the customer pays for an extra service request to resolve. Carts should be returned out of the public right-of-way the same day after collection. For special collection items (large items, branches, leaves), LMC § 14.12 prohibits placing the items out before the Saturday preceding the scheduled collection day. The Longmont Waste Services mobile app sends set-out reminders and route-change alerts.