Fort Collins, CO Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Who is responsible
- Owner and occupant, jointly and severally
- Hauler requirement
- Must be licensed under § 15-417
- Self-haul allowed to
- Larimer County Landfill or state-approved site
- Plastic bag rule
- Sealed, leakproof, tear-resistant under normal handling
- Violation classification
- Civil infraction, § 1-15(f)
Summary
Every owner and occupant in Fort Collins whose property produces refuse must arrange collection service sufficient to keep the property clean, and can only hire a solid waste collector licensed by the City under Section 15-417. Section 12-18 lets residents haul their own trash to the Larimer County Landfill or another state-approved site instead, but using an unlicensed hauler is not allowed.
(a)The occupant and the owner of any premises wherein any refuse or rubbish is produced or accumulated shall be jointly and severally responsible to provide for collection service and removal of refuse and rubbish to the degree of service necessary to maintain the premises in a clean and orderly condition. They shall not contract or arrange for such collection and removal except with solid waste collectors licensed by the City under § 15-417 and, if applicable, as required by §§ 12-28 through 12-33 of this Article. An individual may dispose of his or her own refuse and rubbish, provided that it is properly disposed of at the Larimer County Landfill or at any other disposal site which is approved by the State, in conformity with all City and county regulations.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 155 | Transitional Land Use Code (for project before May 17, 2024): Supplement 61 | Traffic Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Municipal Code Section 12-18(a) makes the occupant and the owner of any premises jointly and severally responsible for arranging enough collection service to keep the property clean and orderly whenever refuse or rubbish accumulates there. The Article limits who can be hired for that service: collection and removal arrangements must go through a solid waste collector licensed under Section 15-417 of the City Code, and, for anyone drawing service through the City's residential or dumpster programs, the additional requirements of Sections 12-28 through 12-33 apply.
The Section carves out one exception to hiring a licensed hauler: an individual may dispose of his or her own refuse and rubbish, provided the material is properly disposed of at the Larimer County Landfill or another disposal site approved by the State, and provided the self-haul still complies with all City and county regulations. Subsection 12-18(c) sets material standards for anyone using plastic bags instead of a rigid container: bags must be securely tied or sealed against odor, made of a material liquids and greases cannot penetrate, and thick and strong enough to hold the load without tearing under normal handling.
Subsection 12-18(d) addresses ownership: once refuse is loaded into the collector's truck, the collector takes title to all non-hazardous waste accepted at a processing or disposal facility, while hazardous waste or anything a facility will not accept stays the legal responsibility of whoever generated it. The rule sits in Division 1 of Chapter 12, Article II, which the City Council enforces using its police powers under the stated purpose of preventing fire, health and safety hazards, pest harborage, and unsightly conditions in neighborhoods.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Section 12-18 is a civil infraction under Section 1-15(f) of the Municipal Code. Owners remain liable for these violations even where a tenant has separately agreed to handle collection, per Section 12-25, and the City can pursue a civil penalty of up to $2,650, since each day of an uncorrected violation can count separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I haul my own trash in Fort Collins instead of hiring a collector?
Who is on the hook if my tenant does not arrange trash pickup?
What happens if I use plastic bags instead of a trash can?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Collins
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Pickup Rules & Schedules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Larimer County handle pickup rules & schedules.