Denver Trash, Recycling & Compost Pickup Schedule (2025)
Complete guide for Denver, CO: weekly trash, every-other-week recycling, weekly compost (citywide rollout), large item pickup every 9 weeks, holiday changes, drop-off & HHW options, and how to report missed service.
Updated:
Frequencies
Trash: weekly · Recycling: every other week · Compost: weekly (rollout accelerated in 2025).
Set-out Time
Place carts by 6:00 a.m. on collection day; lids closed; 2 ft clearance around carts.
Large Items
City collects every 9 weeks (limit: up to 5 large items + 10 bags; same weekday as trash).
📍 Address Lookup & Service Calendar (Official)
See your exact trash, recycling (A/B week) and compost days, get holiday adjustments, and add reminders in the City’s schedule tools.
Open Schedules & Reminders — Denvergov
Denver moved to **6:00 a.m. set-out** and adjusted routes in 2025; check your calendar before putting carts out.
🗓️ Weekly Service & Set-out Rules
- Frequencies: trash weekly; compost weekly; recycling every other week.
- Set-out: place carts by 6:00 a.m.; keep lids closed; allow ~2 ft clearance on all sides; don’t block alleys/driveways.
- Cart sizes & fees: PAYT rates based on trash cart size (35, 65, 95 gal). Recycling & compost are included to cut landfill waste.
- Extras: use your next Large Item week for overage, or visit a transfer/drop-off site (see below).
- Weather: during storms, crews may run late—leave carts out until serviced and check alerts in the calendar.
♻️ Recycling — Accepted & Not Accepted
Accepted (Purple Cart)
- Paper & cardboard (flatten)
- Glass bottles & jars
- Metal cans, foil & trays
- Rigid plastics (bottles, jugs, tubs)
- Cartons (juice/soup)
Not Accepted
- Plastic bags/film; tanglers (hoses, cords)
- Food/liquids; foam foodware
- Batteries, electronics, propane tanks
Collection is every other week. Check your week in the City tool or app and use the Waste Directory for tough items.
🌿 Compost — What Goes In & 2025 Rollout
- Weekly pickup: food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard debris (no plastic bags; see City rules).
- Denver accelerated the compost rollout to remaining customers in **Q1 2025** (citywide).
📦 Large Item Pickup — Every 9 Weeks
- Collection occurs every 9 weeks on your regular trash weekday, up to 5 large items plus 10 bags per set-out (see the City page for prep rules).
- For appliances/electronics or HHW, use the specific City programs instead of curbside (see below).
🏗️ Drop-off & Household Hazardous Waste
| Site / Program | Address / Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry Creek Recycling & Compost Drop-off | 7400 Cherry Creek S Dr, Denver, CO — Tue–Fri 9:00–12:00 & 13:00–16:30; Sat 8:00–12:00 & 13:00–15:00 (closed Sun/Mon & city holidays) | Free for Denver residents (ID required). Extra single-stream recycling + compost (yard/food). Branch size limits apply. |
| Household Hazardous Waste Program | City service for HHW (batteries, chemicals, etc.) — schedule via Denvergov | Proper disposal for toxics; not accepted curbside. |
| Private Transfer Stations (fee) | North Denver & metro area (see list on City page) | Public drop-off for extra trash/large loads; call ahead for hours/fees. |
🎉 Holiday Schedule (One-Day Delay)
- During observed City holidays, collections are delayed one day for the rest of the week (e.g., Mon→Tue).
City adjusted some 2025/26 routes and set-out times—always re-check your calendar near holidays.
🚚 Missed Pickup — What to Do
- Recheck set-out (by 6:00 a.m.), lids closed, access/spacing; verify you had the right A/B recycling week.
- If still missed, **leave carts out** and report via Denver Utilities Online or call **311 / 720-913-1311**.
📞 Contacts (City & County of Denver)
- Solid Waste Management: program hub, schedules, large item, compost rollout.
- Customer Service / 311: (720) 913-1311 — missed pickup, cart issues, billing via Denver Utilities Online.
🔗 Data Sources
- Trash, Recycle & Compost — frequencies & large item
- Schedules, reminders, set-out rules
- Expanded Waste Collection (2025 changes)
- Fact sheet: 2025 service shift (bi-weekly recycling; weekly compost)
- Recycling page (every other week; Waste Directory)
- Trash page (cart sizes & PAYT)
- Large Item Pickup (every 9 weeks)
- Cherry Creek Recycling & Compost Drop-off
- Household Hazardous Waste program
- Recycling/Compost/Trash hub; report missed pickup