Longmont, CO Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LMC § 14.12.091 (multifamily)
- Companion rule
- § 14.12.092 (commercial)
- Minimum frequency
- Every other week
- Compliance deadline
- Jan. 1 or June 1, 2024
- Exemption term
- 2 years if approved
Summary
Since 2023, Longmont requires multifamily and commercial properties to contract for dedicated recycling collection matched to their waste volume, with signage and tenant education, unless they qualify for a narrow exemption under § 14.12.091.
The owner of any multifamily dwelling that contracts with a licensed hauler for removal of solid waste per 14.12.090 shall subscribe to and pay for recycling collection service at a level that accommodates the total amount of recyclable materials generated by the dwelling units, with the frequency of collection at least every other week.
Full Breakdown
Section 14.12.091 requires owners of multifamily buildings using a licensed hauler for trash to also subscribe to recycling service sized to the building's recyclable volume, collected at least every other week, with bilingual waste-diversion signage and tenant education. Buildings of 75 or more units had to comply by January 1, 2024; smaller buildings by June 1, 2024. Section 14.12.092 imposes a parallel mandate on commercial properties. Both sections allow the director to grant a two-year exemption for de minimis volume, self-hauling, space constraints, or documented waste-diversion innovation, appealable to the city clerk under chapter 2.98.
Violations & Fines
Failing to contract for required recycling service without an approved exemption is a public nuisance under § 14.12.110.D, and contaminating a recycling container with non-accepted materials is a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my Longmont apartment building have to recycle?
Can a Longmont business skip recycling service?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Longmont
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Recycling Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Boulder County handle recycling requirements.