What Is Denver’s Pay-As-You-Throw Program?
Denver uses a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) trash system, which means you pay based on the size of your trash cart. Smaller cart = smaller bill. Bigger cart = bigger bill. The idea: reduce waste and save money.
Here’s how it works and how to use junk removal to keep your cart size (and bills) small.
Denver Trash Cart Sizes and Costs (2026)
| Cart Size | Monthly Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 35-gallon (Mini) | ~$9.75/month | 1-2 person households, minimal waste |
| 65-gallon (Small) | ~$13.75/month | Small families, moderate waste |
| 95-gallon (Medium) | ~$17.75/month | Average family of 3-4 |
| 150-gallon (Large, if available) | ~$21.75/month | Large families, high waste volume |
Savings example: Downsizing from a 95-gallon to a 35-gallon cart saves ~$96 per year. Over 5 years, that’s $480.
All Denver residents also get:
- Recycling: Free 65-gallon recycling cart (included in every household)
- Composting: Optional $9.75/month add-on for a 65-gallon compost cart
How to Downsize Your Cart
To switch to a smaller (cheaper) cart:
- Call Denver 311 or visit Denver’s Recycle & Compost website
- Request a cart size change
- Denver delivers the new cart and picks up the old one within 1-2 weeks
- Your bill automatically adjusts
The Problem: What Doesn’t Fit in Any Cart
PAYT works great for regular household waste. But it creates a problem when you have items too large for any cart:
- Furniture — Couches, mattresses, tables, dressers
- Appliances — Fridges, washers, dryers
- Electronics — TVs, computers, monitors (these are e-waste and can’t go in the trash anyway)
- Yard debris — Large branches, stumps, bulk leaf bags
- Renovation debris — Drywall, flooring, lumber
- Boxes and packaging — Post-move or post-holiday cardboard mountains
These items don’t fit in a 35-gallon cart (or even a 150-gallon one). You need a different solution.
Complement PAYT With These Options
1. Denver Large Item Pickup (Free)
Free pickup for up to 4 large items per 9-week cycle. Good for occasional furniture or appliance disposal, but the long wait times are frustrating.
2. Recycling (Free)
Your free 65-gallon recycling cart accepts:
- Cardboard (broken down flat)
- Paper, magazines, mail
- Plastic bottles and containers (#1-#5)
- Glass bottles and jars
- Metal cans
Maximize your recycling to keep your trash cart small. Cardboard is the #1 reason people think they need a bigger cart. Break it down flat and put it in recycling instead.
3. Composting ($9.75/month)
Adding a compost cart diverts food scraps, coffee grounds, yard waste, and food-soiled paper from your trash. This can reduce your trash volume by 30-40%, making it easy to downsize to a smaller (cheaper) cart.
4. Junk Removal (Starting at $99)
For big cleanouts — garage purges, basement decluttering, post-renovation debris — that would overflow any cart for weeks, a single junk removal visit handles everything in one trip.
Think of it this way:
- A garage cleanout would overflow a 95-gallon cart for 6-10 weeks
- That’s 6-10 weeks of extra bags sitting in your garage or driveway
- A junk removal service clears it all in one visit for $249-$399
The Smart PAYT Strategy
- Downsize your cart to 35 or 65 gallons (saves $48-$96/year)
- Add composting if you cook at home regularly (diverts 30-40% of waste)
- Maximize recycling — especially cardboard and packaging
- Schedule junk removal 1-2 times per year for big cleanouts instead of trying to cram everything into weekly trash over months
Annual cost comparison:
- 95-gallon cart all year: $213/year
- 35-gallon cart + one junk removal visit: $117 + $149 = $266/year (but you get a massive cleanout done in one shot instead of months of gradual disposal)
- 35-gallon cart + composting: $234/year (and you’re diverting waste from the landfill)
What Can’t Go in Denver Trash Carts
Regardless of cart size, these items are banned from Denver residential trash:
- Electronics (TVs, computers) — e-waste recycling required
- Batteries — Household hazardous waste
- Paint (liquid) — PaintCare drop-off
- Motor oil and chemicals — Hazardous waste events
- Tires — tire recycling
- Yard waste in plastic bags — Must use paper bags or the compost cart
- Construction debris — Not accepted in residential carts
Questions About Disposing of Large Items?
Call (303) 324-6014 or book online. We handle everything that doesn’t fit in a Denver trash cart — same-day service, 7 days a week, across the entire metro.
