Arvada, CO Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Section 90-57 is the operative mandate behind Arvada's curbside recycling program. Subsection (a) requires every hauler that provides solid waste collection to residential customers to also provide curbside recycling collection to every one of those same customers, with a carve-out only for multi-family buildings of eight units or more; a hauler cannot lawfully offer a solid-waste-only service to an eligible residential customer. Subsection (d)(1) sets the minimum frequency: curbside recycling must run at least twice a month and fall on the same day as the customer's solid waste collection, so residents are not left guessing at a separate recycling calendar.

Multi-family and commercial accounts are handled differently, subsection (b) makes recycling optional for those customers, and subsection (d)(2) requires haulers serving them to set a frequency sufficient to prevent recycling containers from overflowing rather than a fixed schedule. Subsection (c) rounds out the requirement with hauler duties: a hauler may not dispose of properly prepared recyclables in a way that defeats recycling, must set policies for orderly collection and material preparation, remains responsible for any subcontractor's compliance, and only takes ownership and responsibility for set-out recyclables once they are actually collected.