Trash Service Frequently Asked Questions

• Group loose branches into bundles weighing no more than 50 pounds per bundle. Branches can be no longer than 4 feet in length or larger than 4 inches in diameter.
• A maximum of 10 branch bundles per household will be collected per scheduled Extra Trash Collection (every 4 weeks).
• Place bundles at least 2 feet away from any service carts when setting out for collection.
• Leaves and yard clippings must be in bags or containers and weigh no more than 50 pounds each when full.  Learn when and where you can take leaves to be recycled with LeafDrop.
• Do NOT place branches in your city issued black trash cart or purple recycle cart.

Residents are responsible for the removal and disposal of tree stumps and all branches over 4 inches in diameter and/or 4 feet in length. There are a number of licensed haulers that are available to residents to hire for removal of this material.

Branches can be dropped off for composting at the Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-off located at East Cherry Creek Dr. South & Quebec St.

Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-off Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM, Saturdays 9 AM to 3 PM

• Denver residents only.
• No branches longer than 4 feet in length or larger than 4 inches in diameter.
• No pieces or bundles weighing more than 50 pounds.
• Maximum of 10 branch bundles per week.

For a quarterly fee of $29.25, the City and County of Denver will provide you with a green cart for organic materials (leaves, small branches, food scraps and non-recyclable paper) that is collected weekly. The organic material goes to a commercial facility where it gets turned into a high quality soil amendment known as compost. Sign up for Denver Composts today!

Property owners are responsible for cleanup of debris from trees on private property and from trees within the public right of way adjacent to their property.

Property owners are responsible for the pruning needs of private property trees and the pruning needs of trees within the public right-of-way adjacent to their property. 

• If you have general questions about the condition of a public-right-of way tree, contact Denver Forestry at forestry@denvergov.org.
• For trees on private property, citizens can visit DenverGov.org/Forestry for a list of licensed and insured tree care contractors. It’s a wise practice to make sure any tree care contractor is licensed and insured.
• If emergency removal of a fallen branch is needed to clear a street, the city can assist though an established on-call contract; however, the cost of the work will be billed to the responsible property owner. Call 311 (720-913-1311) if you have questions.

Denver Solid Waste Management collects extra trash bags and large items every four (4) weeks from your neighborhood. Please use the directions below and the calendar to ensure proper use of the program and to help keep your neighborhood clean.

1. Look up your Extra Trash Collection week. Review the list of accepted and not accepted items. 
2. A maximum of 10 bags of trash and 5 large items (furniture, etc.) will be collected from each home per Extra Trash collection (every four weeks).
3. Place your items out by 7 AM.
   • Cart and Manual Customers: Place items out on your normal day of trash service during your scheduled Extra Trash service week.
4. Make sure the items are visible and placed at least 2 feet away from your trash and recycling container, cars, poles and other obstructions.
5. Only set out large items during your scheduled Extra Trash Service week.  Setting items out on other times is considered illegal dumping.
6. Put trash in containers or bags no larger than 32 gallons and weighing no more than 50 pounds, or it cannot be collected.
7. Do not set trash out in cardboard boxes.
   

For dead animal removal in streets or alleys, please call  311 (720-913-1311) or visit Pocketgov.com.

Enforcement of Rules and Regulations - every attempt shall be made by an authorized agency representative to contact the violator and seek resolution of the violation.  Conflicts and disputes arising from the enforcement of the rules and regulations shall be resolved by the Manager or an authorized representative.  Repeated or gross violations may result in the issuance of a notice of violation up to and including a court summons.

• To report Illegal Dumping call 311 (720-913-1311).
• Do not confront person doing the dumping.
• Obtain as much information as possible, make/model of vehicle, license plate number and description of the person(s) involved.
• An inspector will follow up on this information.

If your service falls on or after a holiday, your collection will be delayed one day for the rest of that week.

For example, for a Monday holiday, collections will be on Tuesday, Tuesday's collection on Wednesday, etc., etc., with Friday's collections on Saturday for that week only.

2020 Holidays Observed:

• New Year's Day - Wednesday, January 1, 2020
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday, January 20, 2020
• Presidents' Day - Monday, February 17th, 2020
• Cesar Chavez Day - Monday , March 30, 2020 (observed)
• Memorial Day - Monday, May 25, 2020
• Independence Day -  Friday, July 3, 2020 (Collection NOT delayed)
• Labor Day - Monday, September 7, 2020
• Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 26, 2020
• Christmas Day - Friday, December 25, 2020

2021 Holiday Schedule:

• New Year's Day - Friday, January 1, 2021

Denver Solid Waste Management, a program of the City & County of Denver Public Works Department, is only authorized to provide services to residential homes of seven or fewer units and our own municipal facilites. Denver Solid Waste Management is not authorized to provide services to commercial properties such as businesses and apartment communities. 

Solid Waste Management is an agency of the City & County of Denver's Public Works Department.  The  Public Works Manager's Rules & Regulations for Trash Collection services only authorized Solid Waste Management to provide services to residential homes of seven or fewer units and municipal facilities.