Is recycling and composting mandatory for multifamily apartment buildings in Denver, CO?

Mandate Type (Multifamily): Yes. Under Denver's Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance, often referred to as the Waste No More ordinance, multifamily residential buildings are required to provide both recycling and composting services on site. This is a mandatory recycling and mandatory organics (compost) requirement for covered properties. Applicability Threshold: The ordinance applies to apartment and condominium buildings with 8 or more dwelling units within the City and County of Denver.

Which multifamily properties in Denver must follow the Waste No More ordinance, and how are they classified?

Mandate Type (Service Classification): In Denver, city-provided Recycle Compost Trash services are generally limited to residential homes of seven or fewer units. Apartment communities and other multi-tenant buildings with more than seven units are treated as commercial customers and must arrange collection through private haulers. Applicability Threshold: Multifamily buildings with 8 or more units fall under the Waste No More ordinance.

What program requirements apply to Denver multifamily properties under the Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance?

Mandate Type (Program Requirements): For covered multifamily properties, Denver's Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance requires owners and managers to provide recycling and composting services, offer adequate and convenient collection containers, and ensure that signage and educational materials are posted. Properties must also develop and maintain a waste diversion plan.

How do Denver County and the State of Colorado support or reinforce apartment recycling and organics rules?

Mandate Type (Regional and State Framework): The City and County of Denver implements local waste, recycling, and composting requirements through ordinances like Universal Recycling and Composting, while the State of Colorado, through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), oversees solid waste and recycling regulations.

How can a valet trash, recycling, and organics program help Denver properties comply with Waste No More?

A structured valet trash, recycling, and organics program helps Denver multifamily properties comply with the Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance by giving residents simple, convenient access to all required streams at their doorstep. Valet service can standardize set-out rules, keep recycling and compost containers organized and contaminant levels lower, and ensure that required services are consistently available.

National Doorstep - The Valet Trash Service Experts

Valet Trash & Recycling Service for Denver, CO Apartments

Premium Doorstep Collection for High-Rises, Mid-Rises & Garden-Style Communities

Every Door. Every Night.® | Technology-verified valet trash operations.

Residents in Denver want convenience—not long walks to smelly, noisy, overflowing dumpsters or compactors. National Doorstep provides maintenance-free doorstep trash collection designed to improve resident experience and strengthen asset performance for Denver multifamily communities.

Eliminate apartment dumpster overflow
Reduce bulk-item illegal dumping with on-demand bulk-item removal
Maintain cleaner compactor areas with apartment compactor area cleanup services
Generate new NOI and support a 6–8% CAP rate lift

Denver Recycling Context

Aligned With Denver Solid Waste & Recycling Expectations

Denver multifamily properties must align with the city’s solid waste and recycling goals, pay-as-you-throw structure, and service requirements, even when collection is handled by private haulers under commercial contracts.

Local overview for apartments:
Denver Apartment & Multifamily Recycling Rules

Operations

How Our Valet Trash Service Works in Denver

Visual workflow:
How Valet Trash Works

GPS-Verified Routes

GPS-tracked porter tours
Proof of Pickup® technology
Amazon®-level verification

Tech overview:
Valet Trash Service Software

Leak-Proof Valet Trash Totes

Sanitary, leak-proof totes engineered to protect hallways and improve nighttime workflow.

5-Night Collection Standard

The national industry benchmark for multifamily valet trash.

Doorstep Waste SOPs

Set-out windows
Containment & sanitation rules
Recycling contamination prevention

Single-Stream Recycling Education

Delivered through your leasing packet addendum + onsite resident collateral.

Community Types

Designed for All Denver Multifamily Assets

Downtown & Union Station high-rises
Capitol Hill, Cherry Creek & Uptown mid-rises
Southeast Denver & Denver Tech Center garden-style communities

Add-On Services

Optional Add-On Services

Bulk-item removal
Pet waste station servicing
Common area trash pickup

New Construction Guidance

When building a trash room, incorporate the following:

Add a spigot for sanitation and wash-downs
Install a pitched floor to direct water flow properly
Include a floor drain for safe and efficient cleanup

FAQ

Denver Valet Trash & Recycling FAQ

Have questions about valet trash rules, resident instructions, or compliance expectations in Denver? Visit our comprehensive FAQ page:

View the Full Valet Trash FAQ

Request a Free Proposal

Get a tailored valet trash & recycling proposal for your Denver property.

Interested in talking about how we can work together? Here's our contact info.

National doorstep pickup

844-APT-TRASH | Click-To-Call