City guide · Colorado

Denver Trash Pickup Schedule

This Denver trash pickup schedule reflects a system that changed completely in 2023, when the city moved from free, unlimited trash collection to a Pay-As-You-Throw model billed by cart size. The goal was straightforward: give residents a financial reason to throw away less and recycle or compost more.

Here's how Denver's garbage, recycling, and compost collection actually works today, what it costs by cart size, and how to find your exact pickup day among the city's 9 service districts.

How often is trash picked up in Denver?

Denver Solid Waste Management runs weekly trash collection, weekly compost collection, and every-other-week recycling collection for every household on city service. All three streams typically go out on the same collection day.

Denver reorganized its collection districts effective January 3, 2026, so a route that used to run on Friday may now fall on a Monday through Thursday. Recheck your Denver garbage pickup day for this address even if you've had the same collection day for years.

Find your exact pickup day

Denver is split into 9 collection districts, and your specific day depends on your address, not your neighborhood name:

Look up your Denver pickup schedule →

You can also use the Solid Waste Service Locator map, call 311 (720-913-1311), or install the free Denver Trash and Recycling mobile app for day-before reminders.

Bin placement rules

• Set carts out between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. on your collection day
• Leave 2 feet of clearance on each side of every cart
• Keep cart lids fully closed, not propped open by overfilled trash
• Store carts on your property between collection days, not on the curb

Denver Trash Holiday Schedule

Denver observes 12 city holidays, but only 6 of them actually shift the collection calendar. On an affected holiday week, that day's route and every remaining route for the rest of the week are pushed back one day.

Si Se Puede Day (Cesar Chavez Day) is also a city holiday but does not affect collection. Denver's own page is the source of truth if a date ever looks off - confirm through the Solid Waste Service Locator before assuming a delay.

What goes in each cart

How much does trash service cost in Denver?

Denver's Pay-As-You-Throw program bills residents by trash cart size rather than a flat citywide fee. Recycling and compost carts are included in that price at no additional charge, including the roughly 70,000 compost carts that used to cost $9 a month before the city made compost service free.

Bills are issued quarterly. You can request a smaller or larger cart at any time through Denver Utilities Online or by calling 311, and income-eligible households can apply for a rebate covering 50% to 100% of the charge.

Large Item Pickup

Denver's Large Item Pickup service is free for residents with city trash service and runs every 9 weeks on your regular trash collection day. Each cycle covers up to 5 large items plus 10 bags of additional waste.

Appliances are excluded from the standard Large Item Pickup cycle. Instead, Denver runs a separate free appliance collection by appointment - schedule it through denvergov.org or by calling 311. Look up your exact Large Item Pickup dates the same way, by searching "large item pickup" on denvergov.org or using the Denver 311 app.

Apartments & multifamily buildings

Denver's cart-based trash, recycling, and compost service is built around single-family and small multifamily properties. Larger apartment and condo buildings more commonly use dumpster service through a private hauler arranged by the property, rather than individual city-issued carts.

Denver Housing Authority properties provide dumpsters for household trash only - residents are asked to bag all trash in heavy-duty bags and keep the dumpster area clear.

Reporting illegal dumping

Report illegal dumping or a missed collection by calling 311 (720-913-1311) or by submitting a report on denvergov.org. If you witness dumping in progress, the city advises against confronting anyone directly - note a vehicle description and license plate if you can do so safely, and report it instead.

Frequently asked questions

More Colorado guides

City contact & resources

Bookmark this Denver garbage and recycling schedule and check back whenever a holiday shifts the calendar or you change cart sizes.

Need more than curbside pickup? Compare local bulk & junk removal quotes. Browse all Colorado cities or the full state directory.