Zero Waste Denver
Denver has one of the worst recycling rates in the country! Join our campaign to turn Denver into a Zero Waste Leader.
This push is part of our Zero Waste Colorado campaign.
Denver, we can do A LOT better than 24%!
Denver recycles and composts only 24% of its waste, far behind the national average of 35%. Curbside recycling is available only to most single-family residents--not to multi-family properties or businesses--and only 15% of Denver residents have composting collection.
Denver is falling behind on the basics of recycling at a time when major cities, including San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, have set Zero Waste goals. Even Denver's peer cities, such as Salt Lake City, UT; Charlotte, NC; and Austin, TX, recycle twice as much as Denver. See how Denver compares on recycling to its peers.
It's time to speak up and make better recycling and composting a priority for Denver! Get involved by sending a letter to your City Councilor.
Get the facts on why Denver lags behind on recycling and how to transform the city into a Zero Waste leader
Recycling in Denver—How to Make the City a Sustainability Leader
Composting: How Denver Can Achieve Sustainability from the Ground Up
What Residents Can Do to Increase Recycling in Denver
Become a Denver Eco-Leader!
Stay in touch about the latest Zero Waste Denver updates and learn how you can make a difference where you live, work, and play in the city.
Learn more about Volume-Based Pricing for Trash in Denver
Sign up for recycling and composting services
Make sure you have your purple recycling cart, then enroll in Denver’s compost program to get your green cart. For less than $10/month, you will be making a huge, positive impact on our future. Call Denver Recycles at (720) 913-1311 to get your carts.
Demand Services
If you live in an apartment building that does not have recycling or composting, talk to your landlord and ask for the service. In addition, contact your City Council member and the Mayor so they know how many of their constituents are being left behind.
Recycle Right
While recycling is a feel good activity, it also operates as a business. The better job you do putting materials in the correct bin, the better materials can be recycled, making more money for the city and improving the programs the City can deliver to residents. Review these guidelines to make sure you only recycle what the city accepts and know the most important materials to keep out of your bin. See Figure 4 in this document.
Reduce and Reuse
To get started reducing your waste, check out this guide for the top five single-use, disposable items to avoid.
Check these sites for information about local thrift stores, donation sites and tool libraries:
