Zero Waste

Bring Your Own Bag Program

Denver seeks to reduce the number of disposable carryout bags used, littered, and landfilled. Denver’s Fee on Disposable Bags requires retail stores in Denver to charge 10 cents for each disposable bag provided to customers at checkout starting on July 1, 2021.

Refuse and Reuse

The number one way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place. Let’s put an end to single-use waste. Incorporate durable, reusable items into your daily routine to protect our environment, save money and prevent litter.

Recycle, Compost & Trash

Find information about recycling, compost, and trash services in your neighborhood.

Skip the Stuff, Say No to Single-Use Condiments & Service Ware

Denver requires all restaurants and third-party delivery services to only provide single-use condiments and service ware if a customer requests them. The #SkipTheStuff program encourages customers to use what they already have at home. By reducing waste, you help restaurants save money and prevent litter.

Sustainable Resource Management Plan

The primary vision of this plan is to divert 50% of all solid waste away from the landfill and to recycling or composting by 2027 and to increase that rate to 70% by 2032. Achieving a 70% diversion rate will create a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that would be comparable to taking more than 600,000 cars off the road.

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