Waste Disposal Guidelines

 

In Denver, residents must use designated Black (trash), Purple (recycling), and Green (compost) carts for weekly waste collection. The following waste disposal guidelines apply to the vast majority of the Denver Metro Area.

 

Rockies Junk Removal & Recycling pickups and properly disposes of hazardous and oversized items not picked up in your city. We can schedule a pickup of these items from your home in less than 24 hours. The following items are prohibited from being placed in the Black, Purple or Green Carts:

•  Mattresses

• Large Appliances

• Automotive Fluids

• Motor Oil

• Gasoline

• Antifreeze

• Household Batteries

• Car Batteries

• Chemicals

•  Solvents

• Pesticides

• Cleaning Chemicals

• Flammable Materials

• Propane Tanks

•  Flammable Liquids 

• Explosives

• Fluorescent Bulbs

• Medical Waste

• Bio-medical Waste

• Infectious waste

• Mercury

• Thermometers

• Paint 

• Tires

• Construction Material 

• Demolition Debris

•  Household Chemicals

• Electronics

• E-waste 

• Televisions

• Computers

•  Monitors

• Cell phones

• Stereos

• Printers 

• Building Materials

• Bricks

• Concrete 

• Drywall 

• Fencing

• Pallets

• Large Wooden Items 

• Railroad Ties 

• Unbundled Branches larger than 4 feet in length or 4 inches in diameter

• Dirt

• Sod

• Rocks 

 

 

Carts & Waste Types

 

Black Cart (Trash): For general refuse, not hazardous materials. 

The following items are placed in the Black Cart:

• Food-Soiled Items

• Pizza Boxes

• Paper Napkins with Food or Liquid Residue

• Diapers 

• Pet Waste

• Cat Litter

• Non-Recyclable Plastics

• Chip Bags

• Snack Wrappers

• Takeout Containers. 

• Plastic Bags

• Plastic Wrappers

• Styrofoam

• Broken items: Dishes, Windows, and Mirrors. 

• Cigarette Butts

• Carpet

• Garden Hoses

 

Purple Cart (Recycling): Do not bag recyclables. Rinse food residue from containers and flatten cardboard. The following recyclable items are placed in the Purple Cart:

• Paper

• Newspapers

• Magazines

• Catalogs

• Junk Mail

• Cardboard

• Paper Bags

• Office Paper (white and colored)

• Envelopes (with or without windows)

• Phone Books

• Cereal Boxes (empty and rinsed)

• Paper Products

• Paper Milk Cartons (rinsed)

• Paper Juice Cartons

• Plastics

• Bottles and jugs (plastic #1 and #2) – rinse thoroughly

• Yogurt Containers (rinsed)

• Detergent Bottles (rinsed)

• Plastic Food Containers (#1-7) 

• Soda Bottles

• Water Bottles

• Shampoo Bottles

• Milk Jugs

• Cat Litter Jugs

• Sour Cream tubs

• Cottage cheese Tubs

• Butter Tubs

• Peanut Butter Jars

• Mayonaise Jars

• "To-go" or "take out" Plastic Drinking Cups

• Plastic Microwaveable Trays

• "Clam-shell" Container

• Metals

• Aluminum Cans (rinsed)

• Steel Cans (rinsed)

• Metal Food Containers (tin cans)

• Scrap Metal

• Glass

• Clear, Brown, and Green Glass Bottles and Jars (rinsed)

​

Recycling Plastics

Recycle rigid plastic bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, cups, trays and containers marked with the # 1 through #7 in the recycling symbols in the Denver Recycles program.  Please empty all liquids and food when possible. Remove plastic caps and lids and foil tops; they are not accepted for recycling.

 

Materials not accepted in Purple Carts:

• Styrofoam

• Shrink Wrap

• Toys

• Tues

• K-cups

• Coffee Creamers (ndividual)

• Plastics marked as “PLA”

• Plastic Containers larger than 3 Gallons in size

• Plastic Utensils

• Plastic Lids

• Plastic Caps

• Plastic Straws

• Food Waste

• Condiment Packets

• Electronics

• Batteries 

​

Green Cart (Compost): For food scraps and yard waste. Small, CMA certified compost bags are acceptable but not required. The following compostable items are placed in the Green Cart:

• Food Scraps

• Produce

• Meat

• Bones

• Dairy

• Bread

• Coffee Grounds

• Spoiled Food

• Yard Debris

• Leaves 

• Grass Clippings, 

• Flowers

• Weeds

• Small Branches (less than 4 feet long and 4 inches in diameter). 

• Food-Soiled Paper

• Food-Soiled Napkins and Paper Towels. 

• CMA-Approved Bags: Small, countertop bags (3 gallons or less) approved by the Composting Manufacturers Alliance (CMA) are permitted for collecting kitchen scraps. 

 

Do not put the following items in the Green Cart:

• Plastic

• Glass

• Metal

• Non-Soiled Paper

• Large Branches 

• Plastic Bags

• Plastic Packaging

​

Organic material like food, soiled paper and yard debris is the single largest item we throw away in our landfill, and it is 100% compostable. Participants in the compost collection program receive a large, green composting cart and weekly collection. Organic material such as yard debris, food and soiled paper are all accepted in the program.  Only material inside the green cart can be collected. Denver Compost is a fee-based service.

​

Tips For Effective Recycling

Rinse thoroughly: Rinse all containers to remove food residue, which can attract pests and contaminate other recyclables.

​

Remove lids: Remove lids from bottles and jars for easier recycling.

​

Break down boxes: Flatten cardboard boxes to save space and reduce the risk of them blowing away.

​

Keep it clean: Keep your recycling bin clean to prevent odors and attract pests.

​

Learn the guidelines: Familiarize yourself with the specific guidelines for your curbside recycling program and follow them closely.​

​

You can learn about Waste Disposal Guidelines in the Denver-Metro Area by visiting denvergov.org here:

​

https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Recycle-Compost-Trash/Trash-Recycle-Compost-Schedules-and-Reminders

Y

​

​