Trash and Recycling

Please flatten and break down cardboard boxes into pieces no larger than 2 ft. x 2 ft. before putting them in your recycling cart.  Breaking down your cardboard boxes will help maximixe the space in your cart and our trucks and prevent cardboard from getting jammed in your recycling cart.  If you prefer, you may lay cardboard flat in a stack across the top of your recycling cart and then close the lid on top. Just be sure that the lid closes to at least a 45-degree angle and that it is not an extremely windy day.  Cardboard left outside of your recycling cart will not be collected for recycling, as the automated arm on the recycling truck can only pick up and empty recycling carts.

Denver Recycles reserves the right to remove recycling carts that are improperly used. Improper use includes trash in carts, carts left in the public right-of-way (including the alley), abuse or destruction of carts outside of normal wear and tear, and uses deemed inappropriate by the City.

Your purple recycling cart must be stored on your property, out of public view as best as you can.  Do not store your cart in the alley or on the street.  Store your purple cart in your garage, breezeway, side of house, shed, or other location.  Carts continually left in alleys or on the street may be removed.

The time a driver arrives to empty your recycling cart depends on many factors and may not always be  the same. This is why it is important to set out your cart by no later than 7 AM, as it ensures your cart will be ready for collection no matter what time in the day the driver comes. You may set your cart out for collection the night before your service day.

We provide every other week collection.  Please call 3-1-1 or visit Pickup Schedules  to determine your recycling collection schedule.

In order for Denver Recycles automated truck to be able to empty your cart, it must be set out in the correct location.

To learn where to set your cart on your service days, look up your address under Pickup Schedules or call 3-1-1.  If you have a curb set out, then place your cart in the street with its wheels up against the curb and the front of the cart facing the street.  If you have dumpster-side alley set out, then place your cart on the same side of the alley that the trash dumpsters are located and at least four feet away from the dumpster.  If you have even-sided alley set out, then place your cart on the side of the alley wth even numbered addresses and at least 4 feet from any obstructions, including your garage.   If you have odd-side alley set out, then place your cart on the side of the alley with odd numbered addresses and at least 4 feet from an obstructions, including your garage . Make sure the front of your cart faces the alley and does not block access to your neighbors' driveway, gate or garage.

Maximize space in your cart by flattening all cardboard boxes and then lay them flat across the top of the rest of your recyclables and then close the lid.  This will help ensure that cardboard doesn't get stuck in your cart and will enable you to fit more cardboard in your cart.

 If you still regularly have significant amounts of extra recycling that will not fit in your cart, then call 3-1-1 or e-mail denverrecycles@denvergov.org to see if you can get a larger cart.

If your cart is lost or damaged, please call 3-1-1 or e-mail  denverrecycles@denvergov.org  to request a replacement or repair.  

Recycling carts are the property of the City and County of Denver.  Each cart is assigned by serial number to an exact address.  If you are moving, you must contact us to transfer service or return your cart. You may also opt to leave the cart for the next resident.

Please do not place any plastic bags in your recycling cart. The equipment that sorts the recyclables is incredibly sophisticated. Plastic bags are the one item that can get tangled around this equipment and cause damage. Please don't put plastic bags in your recycling container.  Most supermarkets in Denver take back their own bags for recycling, so check with your local store to find out if they accept plastic bags for recycling.  Also, consider reusing your plastic bags. Many stores will give you a 5 cent credit for each bag reused.

Place only items listed on our What Can Be Recycled  list in your recycling cart.

Please do not overfill your cart or stack materials on or around it, as this can cause litter.  Materials left ouside the cart, including cardboard, will not be collected for recycling, because the mechanical arm on our truck can only grab and lift recycling carts.