Denver, CO Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Effective date
- September 1, 2026
- Covered buildings
- Multi-family (8+ units) and non-residential
- Responsible party
- Building owner or license holder
- Penalty range
- $150 to $999 per citation
- Variances allowed
- None
Summary
Starting September 1, 2026, Denver requires multi-family buildings with eight or more units, non-residential properties, and food waste producers to give tenants, employees, and customers on-site access to recycling and organic waste diversion services.
On or after September 1, 2026, the responsible party for a non-residential premises shall ensure that tenants, customers, employees, and contractors have access to on-site recycling services described under this article.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Denver Revised Municipal Code Article X of Chapter 48, added by Ordinance No. 628-25 in September 2025, makes recycling access mandatory rather than optional citywide. The 'responsible party', generally the building owner, or the license holder for licensed rentals, boarding homes, and trailer parks, must arrange collection, post bilingual (English/Spanish or picture-only) signage, and maintain a written waste diversion plan on-site for inspection. Enforcement is shared by the director of excise and licenses, the manager of community planning and development, the manager of transportation and infrastructure, the manager of aviation, and the office of climate action, sustainability and resiliency, and the ordinance states plainly that no variances are allowed.
Violations & Fines
Violating any Article X requirement is unlawful and draws administrative citations under the city's standard schedule: $150 for a first citation, $500 for a second, and $999 for a third or later, with no variances permitted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Denver require apartment buildings to offer recycling?
What happens if a Denver business skips recycling access?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
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