Denver Trash Pickup Schedule 2026: Day, Recycling, Bulk & Holidays

✓ Denver, Colorado • Address-first 2026 resident resource

Denver Trash Pickup Schedule 2026: Exact Day, Recycling, Compost, Large Items & Holidays

Denver’s waste system is not one generic citywide calendar. Your exact service address controls the weekday, A/B recycling cycle, curb-or-alley location and Large Item Pickup date.

What Day Is My Trash Pickup?

Enter your ZIP code below — we'll take you straight to your city's official schedule. No searching, no confusion.

Find My Pickup Day

Examples: 10001 — NYC 60601 — Chicago 90001 — LA 37064 — Franklin TN 77001 — Houston

Can't find yours? Call 311 — works in most US cities to get your trash schedule instantly.

This guide connects those address-specific dates with Denver’s current cart rules, every-nine-week Large Item Pickup, free appliance collection, discounted e-waste program, household hazardous-waste collection, income-based waste rebate, Cherry Creek drop-off, cart-exchange facility and local resident savings.

Find My Exact Schedule Official Step-by-Step Links Denver Savings & Benefits

Denver Trash Pickup 2026: Quick Answer

Trash: weekly. Compost: weekly. Recycling: every other week. Large Item Pickup: every nine weeks.

Exact collection day: use Denver’s official address locator. Do not rely on ZIP code or a nearby neighbor because a service address also determines whether the cart belongs at the curb, alley or another assigned collection point.

Ready time: Denver’s current schedule guidance says to have carts out by 6:00 AM. The City says carts may be placed outside as early as the night before and trucks do not return for late set-outs.

Large items: maximum 5 large items plus up to 10 qualifying bags during the address’s scheduled Large Item Pickup.

Appliances: do not put refrigerators, washers or other appliances in the Large Item pile. Eligible Denver Solid Waste customers can schedule a separate free City appliance collection.

Need help paying the waste bill? Denver says eligible households can qualify for a 50%–100% Solid Waste bill rebate based on income and household size.

Complete Denver Resident Guide — Jump to Your Task

• Who gets City service
• Official action center
• Find schedule by address
• 2026 service frequencies
• Official Denver PDFs
• 2026 holiday rule
• Set-out rules
• Curb vs alley
• Street sweeping
• Recycling rules
• Compost rules
• Large Item Pickup
• Free appliance pickup
• E-cycle coupon
• Household hazardous waste
• Paint disposal
• Missed collection
• Cart repairs / exchange
• Denver Utilities Online
• 50–100% rebate
• Cherry Creek drop-off
• Local savings & benefits
• Seasonal programs
• Apartments / businesses
• Moving
• Tree / wire clearance
• Local map hub
• Item disposal checker
• Missed-pickup checker
• Colorado internal links
• FAQs
• Official resources

Does Denver Solid Waste Collect From Your Property?

Denver Solid Waste Management is part of the City and County of Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. The municipal program is authorized for eligible residential homes with seven or fewer units and municipal facilities.

Denver Official Links: Exact Steps After You Open Them

Each official link below solves a different problem. The instructions tell you what to do after the page opens so you do not have to search through the City website yourself.

1. Find the Exact Address Schedule

1. Open Denver’s official Trash, Recycle and Compost Schedules and Reminders page.
2. Open the Solid Waste Service Locator or use the schedule/address-search interface on the page.
3. Enter the complete service address, including house number and street.
4. Choose the exact property from the suggested results.
5. Record the weekly trash weekday.
6. Record the recycling cycle or next recycling date.
7. Record the compost date.
8. Look for Large Item in Calendar view and save the next date.
9. Note whether the City’s result indicates curb or alley placement.
10. Turn on reminders or use the Denver Trash and Recycling App for service alerts.

Open Official Denver Schedule

2. Check Large Item Pickup

1. Open Denver’s official Large Item Pickup page.
2. Find the Schedule section.
3. Enter the exact service address.
4. Switch to or review the Calendar view.
5. Look specifically for the Large Item entry.
6. Confirm that the material is accepted before creating a pile.
7. Count no more than five large items and no more than ten qualifying extra trash bags.
8. Keep everything on private property until the scheduled collection.

Open Official Large Item Pickup

3. Create a Denver Utilities Online Account

1. Find a recent Denver Solid Waste invoice before starting.
2. Locate the Parcel ID and account number on the invoice.
3. Open Denver Utilities Online.
4. Select Sign Up Now if you do not already have an account.
5. Enter your email address.
6. Retrieve the verification code Denver sends to that email.
7. Verify the email, enter your name and create a password.
8. Sign in to manage bills, cart requests, repairs, paperless billing, autopay and service-request history.

Open Denver Utilities Online

4. Search an Unusual Item

1. Open Denver’s official Waste Directory.
2. Search a simple material name such as battery, television, paint, Styrofoam, tire, mattress, propane or drywall.
3. Open the closest matching result.
4. Check whether Denver routes it to trash, recycling, compost, Large Item Pickup, a City appointment or a specialty drop-off.
5. Read preparation restrictions before loading the vehicle or placing the item outside.

Open Denver Waste Directory

5. Report a Missed Collection

1. Recheck the address schedule first.
2. Check whether an observed holiday delayed the route.
3. Confirm the cart was ready by 6:00 AM.
4. Confirm adequate clearance around the cart.
5. Check whether recycling or compost was rejected for contamination.
6. If none of those conditions apply, call 311 or 720-913-1311.
7. Alternatively, sign in to Denver Utilities Online and create a service request.
8. Save the service-request number and keep the cart accessible while following the City’s current instructions.

Open Utilities Service Requests

Denver Trash Pickup Day by Address

A Denver ZIP code cannot reliably tell you the collection day. Use the official property-level locator below.

Denver Solid Waste Schedule: What Is Weekly vs. Bi-Weekly?

Denver Official PDFs: What They Are Useful For

Denver publishes detailed WasteWise and sorting materials, but an older WasteWise calendar should not replace the live 2026 address lookup.

Current Sorting Reference

WasteWise Service-Change Newsletter

Denver Trash Holiday Schedule 2026

Denver’s published rule is simple: service falling on or after an observed Solid Waste holiday is delayed one day for the remainder of that week. Collection days before the holiday remain unchanged.

Working Holidays

Denver also identifies several City holidays as working Solid Waste days. Residents should not automatically slide collection simply because City offices observe a holiday. The live schedule remains the final check for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, César Chávez/Si Se Puede Day, Juneteenth, Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Veterans Day.

Denver Cart Set-Out Rules That Prevent Missed Collection

Cart Loading Rules

• Bag ordinary trash.
• Do not bag recycling.
• Keep cart lids closed.
• Do not overfill or stuff the cart.
• Do not make a cart excessively heavy.
• Keep construction/demolition/remodeling debris out.
• Use the Waste Directory when the material is questionable.

Curb vs. Alley Cart Placement in Denver

Trash Day and Street Sweeping on the Same Denver Day

Denver publishes three specific alternatives so residents do not have to choose between blocking a sweeper and missing cart collection.

Denver Recycling 2026: A/B Week + Sorting Rules

Denver recycling is collected every other week. Each address has an assigned pattern, so the correct workflow is: address → weekday → A/B cycle or actual calendar date.

Keep These Out of the Purple Cart

• Bagged recycling.
• Plastic shopping bags.
• Styrofoam.
• Diapers.
• Clothing/textiles.
• Scrap metal and cookware.
• Hoses, cords and chains.
• Fuel canisters.
• Construction debris.
• Trash.
• Pet waste.
• Compostable food-service packaging.

Denver Weekly Compost: What Goes in the Green Cart?

Denver says all Solid Waste Management customers can request a compost cart. The current system uses weekly compost collection.

Food Scraps

• Fruit and vegetable scraps.
• Prepared or spoiled food.
• Meat and bones.
• Dairy.
• Eggshells.
• Coffee grounds.
• Baked goods.

Yard Debris

• Leaves.
• Grass.
• Flowers and weeds.
• Pine needles and pinecones.
• Brush.
• Eligible branches no more than about 4 feet long and 4 inches in diameter.

Denver Large Item Pickup: The Full 2026 Workflow

Large Item Pickup occurs every nine weeks on the address’s assigned collection calendar. The City says it occurs on the same regular collection day shown for the address.

Accepted Examples

• Furniture.
• Large toys.
• Non-electric bicycles.
• Rugs.
• Exercise equipment.
• Properly bundled branches no more than 4 feet long and 4 inches in diameter.
• Mattresses and box springs when properly bagged/wrapped.

Not Accepted in Large Item Pickup

• Electronic waste.
• Concrete.
• Bricks.
• Fencing.
• Pallets.
• Automotive material.
• Unbundled branches.
• Stumps.
• Dirt or sod.
• Commercial/industrial waste.
• Paint.
• Batteries.
• Tires.
• Appliances.
• Loose trash.

1. Search the service address and find the Large Item entry.
2. Verify each item against Denver’s accepted list.
3. Store the material on private property until the scheduled collection.
4. Have items out by 6:00 AM.
5. Keep the pile visible and at least 2 feet away from carts, vehicles, poles and other obstructions.
6. Do not use cardboard boxes or non-City containers for the extra trash allowed under the LIP rules.

Free Denver Appliance Pickup: A Better Option Than Bulk Trash

Appliances are excluded from Denver Large Item Pickup, but eligible Denver Solid Waste customers can schedule a separate free appliance collection by appointment.

Denver Lists These Appliances

How to Schedule Denver Appliance Pickup

1. Confirm the address receives Denver Solid Waste service.
2. Identify each appliance and whether it contains refrigerant.
3. Call Solid Waste Management at 720-913-1311.
4. Ask for a free appliance collection appointment.
5. Give the complete service address and appliance type.
6. Write down the appointment date/instructions.
7. Keep the appliance on private property until Denver tells you when and where to place it.

Call for Appliance Appointment

Denver E-Cycle Coupon: Discounted Electronics Recycling

Denver Solid Waste offers Denver residents an E-cycle Coupon that substantially discounts recycling of televisions, monitors and other eligible electronics.

Examples of Electronics Listed by Denver

• Televisions.
• Monitors.
• Desktop computers.
• Laptops.
• Printers and scanners.
• Fax machines.
• Keyboards and mice.
• Phones.
• Stereos.
• External hard drives.
• Gaming consoles.
• Cameras.
• Some small electronics and appliances.
• Rechargeable batteries.
• Cords and cables.

How to Get the Denver E-Cycle Coupon

1. Open Denver’s official Electronic Recycling page.
2. Select the E-cycle Coupon request option.
3. Complete the household/address form.
4. Submit the request.
5. Denver says the code is normally emailed immediately; allow up to 12–24 hours.
6. Save the code on your phone or print it.
7. Bring proof of your Denver address and the code to the designated Blue Star Recyclers drop-off.
8. Verify that the exact device is eligible before driving there.

Official Denver E-Cycle Coupon

Denver Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Denver’s Household Hazardous Waste program provides an at-home collection route for qualifying residents. Hazardous products should not be put in trash, poured into drains or storm sewers, or abandoned at the curb/alley.

Examples Accepted

• Automotive fluids.
• Auto batteries.
• Bleach and cleaners.
• Corrosive chemicals.
• Drain openers.
• Fluorescent bulbs/tubes.
• Fertilizers.
• Gasoline.
• Herbicides and pesticides.
• Household batteries.
• Latex and oil-based paint.
• Mercury products.
• Motor oil and used filters.
• Paint thinner.
• Pool chemicals.
• Spray paint.
• Stains and varnishes.
• Wood preservatives.

Not Accepted Through Denver HHW Collection

• Asbestos.
• Explosives.
• Ammunition.
• Commercial chemicals or commercial quantities.
• Bio/medical waste.
• Sharps / needles.

Minimum Eligibility for an Appointment

Denver’s HHW instructions state that a pickup generally requires either at least three different accepted material types or roughly 25 pounds of one qualifying material. Paint-only appointments are not the preferred route because Denver directs residents to PaintCare drop-offs.

How to Schedule Denver HHW Collection

1. Group the household hazardous products you need to remove.
2. Check each material against Denver’s accepted list.
3. Call 1-800-449-7587 or use the WM At Your Door scheduling route linked by Denver.
4. Confirm eligibility and available appointment date.
5. Receive and follow the collection-kit instructions.
6. Label materials and prioritize the most hazardous products in the bag.
7. If you have more material than the standard bag permits, call before pickup because additional material may involve an extra charge.
8. Set out the prepared collection bag by 7:00 AM on the appointment day.
9. Include/pay the required $15 co-pay according to the appointment instructions.

Official Denver HHW Program

Denver Paint Disposal: Save HHW Bag Space

Denver specifically advises residents to consider leaving paint out of the HHW collection kit when space is limited because many architectural paint products can be recycled at no charge through PaintCare.

Denver Missed Trash, Recycling or Compost Pickup

1. Check the exact address. Make sure today was really the service day.
2. For recycling, check the A/B week. Purple carts are not collected weekly.
3. Check observed-holiday timing. An affected route can be one day late.
4. Check timing. Was the cart ready by 6:00 AM?
5. Check clearance. Look for vehicles, poles, fences, other carts, Large Item piles, overhangs or gutters.
6. Check the cart. An overfilled, excessively heavy or contaminated cart can be left.
7. Report only after those checks. Call 311 / 720-913-1311 or create the service request in Denver Utilities Online.
8. Save evidence. A photo showing the cart position, address and surrounding clearance can help you document the issue.

Denver Cart Repair, Size Change & In-Person Swap

Denver gives residents three practical options for changing a trash cart: Denver Utilities Online, 311 or an in-person exchange.

SWM Cart Maintenance Facility

What You Can Do Inside Denver Utilities Online

Other Denver Solid Waste Billing Contacts

Email: swmbillinginquiries@denvergov.org

Billing questions: 303-446-3733

Mail Payment Address

Denver Solid Waste Rebate: 50%–100% Bill Assistance

Denver says qualifying low-income households may receive 50%–100% off their Solid Waste bill, depending on household income and the number of people living in the household.

How to Apply for Denver Waste-Bill Assistance

1. Open Denver’s current rebate access through the Solid Waste / Utilities pages.
2. Review current household-size and income limits.
3. Confirm the property receives eligible Denver Solid Waste service.
4. Complete the DOTI affordability application.
5. Provide any documentation requested by the current form.
6. Save the application confirmation.
7. Watch Denver Utilities Online and email for the eligibility result.

Open Denver Rebate Information

Cherry Creek Recycling & Compost Drop-Off

Denver’s Cherry Creek facility gives Denver residents a free local option for accepted extra household recycling and compost.

Before You Drive There

• Denver residents only.
• Bring proof of residency.
• Maximum two visits per resident per day.
• Common residential vehicles only.
• No commercial vehicles.
• No aftermarket truck-bed side walls.
• No commercial landscaping material.
• No box trucks.
• No trailers.
• No paint or hazardous material.
• No dirt or sod.

Branch Limits

Branches may be no more than 4 feet long and 4 inches in diameter. Denver says accepted yard loads may reach approximately truck-roof height, subject to facility safety rules.

How to Use Cherry Creek Without a Wasted Trip

1. Search the material in Denver’s Waste Directory.
2. Confirm it is accepted in the residential recycling or compost stream.
3. Check the day and avoid the noon–1:00 PM closure.
4. Bring proof of Denver residency.
5. Use an eligible residential vehicle.
6. Keep recycling and compost separated.
7. If you have paint, chemicals, dirt, sod or general household trash, stop—Cherry Creek is not the correct facility.

Official Cherry Creek Drop-Off

Denver Local Waste Savings & Resident Benefits

These Denver-specific options can reduce cost or keep material out of the landfill.

Denver Seasonal Programs: LeafDrop, Treecycle, Lights & Mulch

Denver’s current service model includes several seasonal diversion programs in addition to normal carts.

Denver Apartment and Business Waste Service

Moving Into or Out of a Denver Property

1. Leave all City-issued carts at the property.
2. Sign in to Denver Utilities Online.
3. Complete the current Status / Transfer of Service process.
4. Check the final Solid Waste balance.
5. Use the billing email or 303-446-3733 if the account transition does not look correct.

Denver’s 13-Foot Truck Clearance Rule

Residents are responsible for maintaining at least 13 feet of overhead clearance for branches and wires extending from their property into a collection alley or street.

Low Utility Lines

• Power: Xcel — 1-800-628-2121.
• Phone-line contact listed by Denver: Qwest — 1-800-573-1311.
• Cable-line contact listed by Denver: Comcast — 303-930-2000.

Denver Waste Location Map Hub

Denver Waste Item Checker

Why Was My Denver Cart Not Collected?

Nearby Colorado Trash Pickup Guides

A Denver-area mailing address does not always mean the City and County of Denver is the collection authority. Use the correct municipality or private hauler.

Denver Trash Pickup Frequently Asked Questions

What day is trash pickup in Denver?

The day is address-specific. Enter the complete property address in Denver’s official Solid Waste Service Locator rather than using ZIP code alone.

Is Denver trash collected every week?

Yes. Denver’s current municipal service model uses weekly trash collection for eligible Solid Waste customers.

How often is Denver recycling collected?

Every other week. The exact A/B cycle or upcoming dates should be checked by address.

How often is Denver compost collected?

Weekly under Denver’s current expanded collection model.

What time should Denver carts be ready?

Current Denver schedule guidance says carts should be ready by 6:00 AM. The City also says carts may be set out as early as the night before.

Does Denver return if my cart was put out late?

Denver states that collection vehicles do not return for late set-outs.

How much space does a Denver cart need?

Ordinary carts need at least two feet of clearance around them. Alley-service instructions require at least four feet from certain containers, fences, vehicles and other obstructions.

How often is Denver Large Item Pickup?

Every nine weeks. The exact date must be found in the address’s calendar view.

How many items can Denver Large Item Pickup take?

Denver currently lists a maximum of five large items plus up to ten qualifying extra trash bags per service address during the scheduled Large Item Pickup.

Can Denver collect a refrigerator?

Yes, but not through normal Large Item Pickup. Eligible Solid Waste customers can schedule a separate free appliance collection by calling 720-913-1311.

Does Denver have discounted electronics recycling?

Yes. Eligible Denver County households can request one E-cycle Coupon per calendar year for discounted electronics recycling.

How much is Denver household hazardous-waste pickup?

Denver’s current HHW program lists a $15 resident co-payment and one appointment per calendar year, subject to availability and eligibility.

Does Denver offer a trash-bill discount?

Yes. Denver says eligible low-income households may receive 50%–100% off the Solid Waste bill based on household income and household size.

Can I pay the Denver Solid Waste bill by phone?

No. Denver states that Solid Waste payments cannot be accepted by phone. Use Denver Utilities Online or another official payment method.

Where can Denver residents take extra recycling and compost?

The Cherry Creek Recycling and Compost Drop-Off at 7400 Cherry Creek S Dr is free for Denver residents with proof of residency for accepted household recycling and compost.

Can I take paint to Cherry Creek?

No. Denver’s current Cherry Creek page says paint and household hazardous material are not accepted.

Where can I exchange a Denver trash cart?

The SWM Cart Maintenance Facility is at 2013 S. Osage St., Denver, CO 80223. Denver currently lists Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–2:00 PM, and residents must bring their current cart for the swap.

Does Denver City trash service include large apartment buildings?

Denver Solid Waste is authorized for qualifying residential homes with seven or fewer units and municipal facilities. Larger apartment communities normally use another hauler arrangement.

Should I take Denver carts when I move?

No. Denver instructs residents to leave City carts at the service location and complete the current transfer-of-service process.

Official Denver Resources Residents Actually Need

The Denver Resident Decision Plan

If you only need your pickup day: search the complete service address in Denver’s locator.

If it is recycling: confirm that the address is in the correct A/B or actual bi-weekly collection cycle.

If it is a normal cart: have it ready by 6:00 AM, preserve automated-arm clearance and follow the address’s curb/alley placement.

If it is furniture or a mattress: check the every-nine-week Large Item date and current item rules before creating a pile.

If it is an appliance: do not use the Large Item pile. Schedule Denver’s free appliance pickup.

If it is a TV/computer: check the Denver E-cycle Coupon before paying a normal electronics recycler.

If it is paint, chemicals or hazardous material: compare PaintCare with Denver’s annual HHW appointment.

If the waste bill is difficult: check the 50–100% income-based Solid Waste rebate.

If recycling/composting leaves your trash cart mostly empty: request a smaller paid trash cart.

If the purple cart is always full: request a second recycling cart.

If you can transport extra recycling or compost: compare the free Cherry Creek facility before paying for another disposal option.

Independent Guide Notice

Trash-Pickup.org is an independent resident-information website. It is not the City and County of Denver, Denver DOTI, Denver Solid Waste Management, WM At Your Door, Blue Star Recyclers, Xcel Energy or a collection contractor.

This website cannot access a private Denver Utilities account, dispatch a City truck, approve a rebate, schedule an official appliance/HHW appointment or guarantee a collection time.

Research review: August 31, 2026. The Denver service schedule, Large Item Pickup page, expanded waste collection program, Denver Utilities Online information, current electronics program, appliance program, hazardous-waste program, Cherry Creek facility page, WasteWise material and current recycling/compost guide were cross-checked during this regeneration. Address-specific dates, operational alerts, rebate eligibility and appointment availability should always be reconfirmed through the responsible official Denver service.