Trash Service Frequently Asked Questions

Follow these guidelines when setting out branches and yard debris for removal:

• 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. 

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. Check the calendar and map to find your scheduled Extra Trash service week.
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.
   

   Do not set trash out in cardboard boxes.

    

Construction materials:

• Building materials, such as insulation or drywall
• Concrete or bricks
• Windows
• Wood boards or fencing

Automotive materials:

• Automotive parts or fluids
• Car tires or batteries

Yard debris:

• Dirt or sod
• Rocks
• Tree stumps
• Branches larger than 4 inches in diameter or  4 feet in length

Hazardous materials:

• Paints & chemicals
• Electronics (televisions, computers, etc.)
• Liquids
• Hot ashes
• Medical waste
• Propane tanks

Appliances:

• Freon-containing appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners
• Large metal appliances, such as stoves, dryers and washers
• Tubs, hot tubs or spas

Other:

• Commercial or industrial waste

Visit the Recycling Directory to find collection or drop-off alternatives for these materials.

Denver residents serviced by Solid Waste Management may schedule a FREE appliance collection by appointment. Appliance collections are done by the city's contractor (EcoProjex) to ensure that metals are recycled and Freon gases from refrigerated appliances are handled in an environmentally safe manner. For more information on this program and to schedule an appliance collection appointment visit FREE Appliance Collection.

For  Non-SWM customers: Contact  EcoProjex or another private appliance recycler ( Recycling Directory) to set up a collection appointment   These are private companies and all fees are the responsibility of the resident

As of July 1, 2013, in accordance with Colorado’s Electronic Recycling Jobs Act (SB 12-133, 4/20/12) which bans the disposal of electronic waste in Colorado landfills, the City can no longer accept electronic devices in the trash.

Non-acceptable electronic devices set out for collection will have an orange sticker placed on them and left uncollected by service crews.  It is the resident's responsibility to remove the non-acceptable electronic material from set out and arrange proper recycling of the materials.

Denver Recycles offers resources like an E-cycle Coupon and special collection events to assist you with recycling your unwanted electronics. There are also free and low cost recycling options through local retailers and manufacturers.  For more details on properly recycling your old electronics visit Electronics Recycling.

Dead animal removal in streets or alleys, please call  311 (720-913-1311) or go to online to  311 Help Center.

• 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.

MOVING IN?

1. Find out your trash and recycling service information with the View My Service Schedule tool.
2. Sign up for recycling services with our New Customer Signup tool.  Be sure to check the box if you already have a recycling cart at your address and do not need one delivered.
3. There is no charge for trash and recycling services provided by Denver Solid Waste Management, with the exception of the composting collection service (green carts) which is a fee based program.
4. If you have a large amount of leftover moving boxes, please contact us to make arrangements for a special cardboard recycling collection.

MOVING OUT?

1. Contact us prior to your move so we can update the account information.
2. Leave any City issued containers behind.  Black trash barrels, purple recycling carts, and green composting carts are the property of the City & County of Denver.  Each barrel and cart is assigned by serial numbers to an exact address.
3. Bring all containers back onto your property before you move.  Do not leave containers in the street or alley.
4. Take any personal trash containers with you.

Please note that Denver Solid Waste Management only services residential homes of seven or fewer units that are located in the City and County of Denver.  If you reside in a larger apartment or condominium property, please contact your landlord or HOA for collection information.

Below is a list of the holidays observed by Solid Waste Management.

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.

2018 Holidays:

• New Year’s Day - Monday, January 1, 2018
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Monday, January 15, 2018
• Presidents' Day - Monday, February 19, 2018
• Cesar Chavez Day - Monday, March 26, 2018 (observed)
• Memorial Day - Monday, May 28, 2018
• Independence Day - Wednesday, July 4, 2018
• Labor Day - Monday, September 3, 2018
• Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 22, 2018
• Christmas Day - Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Residents are responsible for:

• Maintaining a minimum height clearance for our trucks of 13 feet for tree branches and wires stretching out from your property into the alley or street.
• Resolving tree branch clearance issues contact the City’s Forestry Division for a list of licensed contractors at 720-913-0651 or online.
• Resolving downed or low-hanging wires and lines contact:
  • Power lines, Xcel at 1-800-628-2121
  • Phone lines, Qwest at 1-800-573-1311
  • Cable lines, Comcast at 303-930-2000
• Properly disposing of unacceptable items. For a list of registered hauling companies, call 311 (720-913-1311) or visit online at Registered Trash Haulers.
• Dead animal removal in streets or alleys, please call 311 (720-913-1311).

Public Works and Parks and Recreation Departments remind homeowners that they are responsible for trees on the public right-of-way. If a Public Right-of-Way (PROW) tree or tree part is blocking a roadway, it must be removed immediately. Removal can occur one of three ways:

1. Homeowner removes the obstruction on their own;
2. Homeowner contracts for the removal of the obstruction; or
3. The City contracts for the removal of the obstruction and the homeowner is then responsible for any associated costs incurred by the City.

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. A list of registered haulers is available on this page. These are private companies and fees are charged.

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.