Denver’s Waste No More Ordinance Is Already in Effect
Denver’s Waste No More ordinance was passed by voters in 2022 and has been rolling out in waves since 2024. It requires apartment buildings, restaurants, hotels, large food events, and construction projects to divert organic waste, recyclables, and construction debris from the landfill. As of January 1, 2026, all multi-family residential buildings with 8 or more units are required to comply.
Below is the current rollout as of 2026. Because the city occasionally updates compliance details, always confirm specifics on the denvergov.org Waste No More page before making infrastructure decisions.
Who Does the Waste No More Ordinance Affect?
The ordinance covers four categories of property, each with its own compliance deadline.
Multi-family residential buildings (8+ units)
- Buildings constructed in 2018 or later: compliance required by July 1, 2025
- Buildings constructed before 2018: compliance required by January 1, 2026
Non-residential food-handling buildings
- Restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, cafeterias, hospitals, and schools — compliance required by July 1, 2024
Large outdoor food events
- Outdoor events serving food must provide composting and recycling alongside trash — in effect since January 1, 2024
Construction projects
- New construction over 500 sq ft and remodels over 2,500 sq ft must divert wood, metal, drywall, and cardboard for recycling — in effect since January 1, 2024
Single-family homes and smaller multi-family buildings (under 8 units) are not directly required to comply, but Denver offers a voluntary curbside compost program for single-family residents.
What the Law Requires
Affected properties must:
- Provide composting bins alongside trash and recycling
- Contract with a licensed hauler for organic waste collection
- Educate tenants and employees about composting requirements
- Keep records of waste diversion for city inspection
What counts as organic waste:
- Food scraps (fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, coffee grounds)
- Food-soiled paper (napkins, paper towels, pizza boxes)
- Yard waste (leaves, grass, small branches)
What Does This Mean for Property Managers?
If you manage an apartment building with 8 or more units, you should already be compliant or actively setting up. Here’s what that looks like:
- Bin infrastructure — You’ll need compost bins in trash rooms or common areas. Budget $500-$2,000+ for bins and signage depending on building size.
- Hauler contract — Contact waste haulers that offer organic collection. Expect $200-$500/month depending on volume and pickup frequency.
- Tenant communication — Distribute instructions, post signage, and plan for Q&A sessions. Contamination (non-compostable items in compost bins) is the #1 challenge.
- Trash room cleanout — Many buildings need to reorganize or expand their trash rooms to fit a third bin type. This often means clearing out stored junk, old furniture, and debris that’s accumulated over the years.
Need to clear out your building’s trash room, storage areas, or common spaces to make room for composting infrastructure? Call Junk Same Day at (720) 902-8408. We work with property managers across Denver to handle building cleanouts quickly and affordably.
What Does This Mean for Restaurants?
Denver restaurants generate an estimated 40% of the city’s food waste. Under Waste No More:
- Kitchen composting stations — Train staff to separate food scraps during prep and plate scraping
- Dumpster area changes — You’ll need a dedicated compost dumpster alongside trash and recycling
- Hauler coordination — Organic waste pickup must be frequent enough to prevent odor (minimum weekly in summer)
Many restaurants use this transition as an opportunity to do a deep cleanout of back-of-house areas, storage rooms, and alley spaces. Old equipment, broken furniture, and accumulated junk often need to go before new waste infrastructure can be installed.
Denver’s Composting Options for Homeowners
While single-family homes aren’t required to compost, Denver offers two voluntary programs:
Curbside Composting
- Cost: $9.75/month (added to your Denver trash bill)
- What’s included: 65-gallon bin, weekly curbside pickup
- Accepted: Food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard waste
- Sign up: Through Denver’s Recycle & Compost website
Drop-Off Composting
- Cost: Free
- Locations: Several Denver drop-off sites accept food scraps
- Best for: Residents who don’t generate enough waste for weekly pickup
How This Connects to Junk Removal
The Waste No More rollout is driving demand for:
- Building cleanouts — Property managers clearing storage rooms and trash areas for new infrastructure
- Restaurant cleanouts — Back-of-house reorganization before new waste stations go in
- Old dumpster enclosure cleanup — Clearing space for additional containers
- General decluttering — The ordinance has many Denver residents rethinking their relationship with waste and clutter
At Junk Same Day, we recycle and donate over 60% of what we pick up through our GreenHaul™ program. We’ve been practicing responsible waste diversion since day one — the same principles Denver is now making citywide policy.
Key Compliance Dates
- January 1, 2024: Construction projects (>500 sq ft new build / >2,500 sq ft remodel) and large outdoor food events required to comply.
- July 1, 2024: Non-residential food-handling buildings (restaurants, grocers, hotels, hospitals, schools) required to comply.
- July 1, 2025: Multi-family buildings of 8+ units constructed 2018 or later required to comply.
- January 1, 2026: All remaining multi-family buildings of 8+ units (including pre-2018 construction) required to comply.
Always confirm the latest enforcement details on the denvergov.org Waste No More page before making compliance plans for your property.
Questions About Building Cleanouts?
If you’re a property manager preparing for Waste No More and need to clear out space for composting infrastructure, call (720) 902-8408 or book online. We offer same-day commercial cleanouts across the Denver metro.