Denver provides curbside trash, recycling, and composting collection through Denver Solid Waste Management under DRMC Chapter 48 (Solid Waste). Residential properties receive weekly trash collection and every-other-week recycling collection using city-issued carts. Denver expanded composting collection citywide in 2022.
Trash is collected weekly in purple carts. Recycling is collected every other week in green carts using single-stream recycling (no sorting required). Composting collection is available in city-issued green carts on alternating weeks with recycling. Collection days vary by neighborhood. Items must be placed in the designated cart with the lid fully closed. Bulky items and large trash require scheduling through Denver 311 or use of Extra Trash stickers. Hazardous waste is not accepted in regular collection and must go to designated drop-off facilities. Holiday collection schedules are published annually.
Placing prohibited items in carts (hazardous waste, electronics, construction debris) may result in the cart not being collected and a tag indicating the violation. Contaminated recycling loads are rejected. Persistent misuse of carts may result in service warnings from Denver Solid Waste Management.
Denver, CO
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See how Denver's pickup rules & schedules rules stack up against other locations.
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