Denver, CO Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing agency
- Dept. of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Small container fee
- $9/month (35-gallon)
- Medium container fee
- $13/month (65-gallon)
- Large container fee
- $21/month (95-gallon)
- Billing cycle
- Quarterly
Summary
The city collects trash, recycling, and compost from eligible properties under a plan set by the manager of transportation and infrastructure, with residents billed quarterly under volume-based pricing tied to container size.
(a)Collections of trash, recyclable material, and compost material shall be made in accordance with the plan of the manager of transportation and infrastructure from categories of eligible properties designated by regulations promulgated under authority of this article.(b)Collections shall be affected only from those premises where trash, recyclable material, and compost material are prepared and stored in accordance with the regulations promulgated under authority of this article.(c)It shall be the duty of any person from whose premises trash, recyclable material, and compost material collections are not designated to be made pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the authority hereof to prepare and store all such materials in a sanitary manner and to be responsible for the frequent private collection and removal of such materials.(d)An association shall not prohibit an owner or occupant of eligible property from using the public right-of-way for collection of trash, recyclable material, or compost material in accordance with the regulations promulgated under authority of this article. (Code 1950, § 352.5; Ord. No. 39-20, § 75, 2-3-20; Ord. No. 685-22, § 2, 6-27-22)
Sec. 48-42.5. - Volume-based trash pricing service fee for collections.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Denver's manager of transportation and infrastructure sets the collection plan for trash, recyclable material, and compost, covering categories of eligible properties designated by regulation. Properties whose collections are not designated under that plan must arrange and pay for their own private hauling and store materials sanitarily in the meantime. Eligible properties on the city plan pay a volume-based quarterly service fee tied to the trash container size selected: nine dollars a month for the 35-gallon container, thirteen dollars for the 65-gallon, and twenty-one dollars for the 95-gallon; properties that never select a container default to the minimum (small-container) fee.
Violations & Fines
Violating rules and regulations adopted under this article, including improper container use or failure to prepare materials as required, is unlawful and can draw an administrative citation from the manager of transportation and infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Denver collect trash from every property?
How is the collection fee set?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
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