Trash Pickup Schedule Day • Colorado

Denver, CO Trash, Recycling & Compost Pickup Schedule (2026) — The Complete Guide

Complete guide for Denver, CO: weekly trash, every-other-week recycling,
weekly compost (green cart), large item pickup every 9 weeks, holiday delays,
drop-off & household hazardous waste options, and how to report missed service.

Denver in 10 seconds: Trash is weekly. Recycling is every other week (purple cart).
Compost is weekly (green cart). Large item pickup happens every 9 weeks on your trash weekday.
Use the City’s schedules & reminders tool to confirm your exact dates and any holiday shifts.

📍 Address lookup (official) & reminders

Find your exact trash day, recycling week, compost day, large item weeks, and holiday adjustments using Denver’s official schedule tool.

  1. Open Denver’s schedules tool: Trash / Recycle / Compost Schedules & Reminders
  2. Enter your address to see your next collection dates and large item week.
  3. Set reminders and check alerts during storms or holiday weeks.
Note: Denver emphasized a 6:00 a.m. set-out and adjusted routes—always follow your address calendar.

🗓️ Weekly service & set-out rules

Denver Solid Waste uses automated collection. Put carts out on time, keep lids closed, and leave clearance so trucks can service your carts.

Frequencies

  • Trash: weekly
  • Recycling: every other week (purple cart)
  • Compost: weekly (green cart)

Set-out basics

  • Place carts out by 6:00 a.m. on collection day
  • Keep lids closed and avoid overflow
  • Leave about 2 ft of clearance around carts

Tips

During snowstorms, routes may run late—leave carts out until serviced and check your online calendar for alerts.

♻️ Recycling — accepted & not accepted (purple cart)

Recycling is every other week. Keep recyclables empty, dry & loose (no bagged recyclables).
If you want a quick “what goes where” explainer too, see:
Trash vs. Recycling (US).

Accepted (typical curbside)

  • Paper & flattened cardboard
  • 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

Reminder: Check your recycling week in the City schedule tool (A/B style scheduling).

🌿 Compost — what goes in (green cart)

Compost is collected weekly. Use the green cart for food scraps and approved compostables to reduce landfill waste.

  • Food scraps (fruits/vegetables, meat, bones, dairy) and food-soiled paper (when accepted by City rules)
  • Yard debris (leaves, grass, small trimmings)
  • No plastic bags (use approved alternatives per City guidance)

📦 Large item pickup — every 9 weeks

Large item pickup occurs every 9 weeks on your regular trash weekday. Limits and prep rules apply (confirm in the City tool).

  • Occurs every 9 weeks on the same weekday as trash
  • Common limit: up to 5 large items plus 10 bags per set-out (verify on the City page)
  • Use dedicated programs for HHW, appliances, and certain electronics

🏗️ Drop-off & household hazardous waste

For extra recycling/compost and hazardous materials, use Denver’s drop-off and HHW programs. Always confirm hours and requirements before you go.

🎉 Holiday schedule (one-day delay)

On observed City holidays, collections are typically delayed one day for the rest of the week (e.g., Monday service moves to Tuesday).
Always confirm on your schedule calendar near holidays.

Schedule & alerts: Schedules & Reminders

🚚 Missed pickup — what to do

If your trash, recycling, or compost wasn’t collected:

  1. Confirm set-out (by 6:00 a.m.), lids closed, and proper spacing/clearance.
  2. Verify you are on the correct recycling week using the City schedule tool.
  3. If still missed, leave carts out and report through Denver 311 / the City service channels.

FAQ — Denver trash, recycling & compost

What day is trash pickup in Denver, CO?

Denver collects trash weekly. Use the City’s Schedules & Reminders tool to look up your exact collection day and see holiday adjustments by address.

How often is recycling collected in Denver?

Recycling is collected every other week (purple cart). Check your address in the City schedule tool to confirm your next recycling date.

How does the compost program work in Denver?

Compost is collected weekly (green cart). Put food scraps and approved compostables in the green cart and follow City rules (no plastic bags).

When is Large Item Pickup in Denver?

Large item pickup happens every 9 weeks on the same weekday as your trash pickup. Check the City schedule tool to see your next large item week and the current limits and prep rules.

Do holidays delay collection in Denver?

Yes—on observed holidays, collections typically move one day later for the rest of that week. Always confirm on your online calendar near holidays.


☎️ Official links & contacts (Denver)