Denver's Waste No More / Climate Action Recycling Ordinance (Ordinance 22-1305, effective 2024) requires all single-family homes to receive recycling and compost service through Denver Solid Waste Management's volume-based pricing program. Apartments and businesses phase in 2024-2026.
Denver voters passed Initiated Ordinance 306 (Waste No More) in 2022 and city council passed Ordinance 22-1305 implementing volume-based pricing. Effective January 1, 2024, all single-family and small multi-family residences served by Denver Solid Waste Management receive recycling carts and weekly compost service automatically, paid through tiered trash fees ($9-$21/month based on cart size). Apartments and businesses phase in by 2026 under Waste No More requiring haulers to bundle recycling and compost with trash service. Denver Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency oversees enforcement. Goal is 50% diversion by 2027 from a 2020 baseline of about 26%. Compost accepts food scraps, yard waste, food-soiled paper.
Haulers failing to provide bundled recycling/compost under Ordinance 22-1305 face administrative penalties up to $999 per day per violation under DRMC Β§1-13. Residents are not personally fined, but contamination repeated after warnings can mean cart removal.
Denver, CO
Denver provides curbside trash, recycling, and composting collection through Denver Solid Waste Management under DRMC Chapter 48 (Solid Waste). Residential p...
Denver, CO
Denver mandates recycling for residential and commercial properties under DRMC Chapter 48 and the Denver Solid Waste Management program. Denver provides sing...
See how Denver's mandatory organics recycling rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.