Boulder County, CO Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Collection model
- Private licensed haulers
- Ordinance
- Boulder County 2019-3
- License renewal
- Annual, per hauler
- Required pricing
- Pay-As-You-Throw tiers
- Service varies by
- Hauler ordinance region
Summary
Boulder County uses private licensed haulers, not county trucks. Ordinance 2019-3 requires all haulers to be licensed and to offer Pay-As-You-Throw trash pricing plus curbside recycling and, in many regions, organics collection. Services vary by hauler region.
Boulder County Ordinance #2019-3 requires licensing of all hauling companies operating in Boulder County that collect, transport, or dispose of discarded materials (trash, recyclables, compostables, construction and demolition materials, aggregate, or landscaping materials).
Full Breakdown
Under the Waste Hauler Ordinance (2019-3), any company that collects, transports, or disposes of discarded materials in unincorporated Boulder County must hold an annually renewed county hauler license. The ordinance's core policies are Pay-As-You-Throw disposal pricing tiers, curbside single-stream recycling collection, and curbside organics (food and yard waste) collection. Exactly which services a hauler must offer depends on the Waste Hauler Ordinance Region for the customer's address; denser regions get more required services. In Region 1, haulers serving single-family homes must provide pay-as-you-throw trash and unlimited recycling. Residents choose and pay their own hauler.
Violations & Fines
Operating as an unlicensed hauler, or a licensed hauler failing to provide the required PAYT tiers, recycling, or organics service for its region, violates Ordinance 2019-3 and can jeopardize the annual county hauler license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the county pick up my trash?
Why do required services differ by neighborhood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boulder County
Compare Boulder County to another location·View the Colorado trash & recycling overview
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