Lewisville, Grapevine, and The Colony property managers and community teams: your cities are at the front of Denton County’s apartment recycling curve. Mandatory or rate-backed recycling programs for multifamily communities in these markets mean you’re expected to provide real diversion options for residents – not just “trash only” dumpsters.
Layer on top of that the Commercial Diversion rules in the City of Denton, Frisco’s Universal Recycling Ordinance, and the City of Dallas multifamily recycling ordinance (which also applies inside Denton County city limits), and the result is a patchwork of expectations across the county. Other Denton County cities – from Argyle and Aubrey to Little Elm and Highland Village – generally rely on standard solid-waste contracts without a dedicated apartment recycling mandate, but resident expectations for recycling are still rising.
National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling service is built to align with these city-level mandates and franchise contracts, so you can lift NOI, keep enclosures clean, and stay code-clean across all your Denton County communities.
- NOI & Property Value Lift: Amenity-driven doorstep trash & recycling that supports rent premiums, renewals, and cleaner common areas.
- Resident Convenience: Doorstep service that keeps enclosures from overflowing and reduces trips to distant dumpsters, especially in garden-style and three-story walk-ups.
- Compliance Simplified: Container layouts, service levels, and documentation aligned with Lewisville, Grapevine, The Colony, Denton, Frisco, and Dallas ordinance language.
- Code-Backed Design: Inspector-friendly labels, color coding, and signage that support clean inspections and lower complaint volume.
At a Glance: Mandate Cities vs Other Denton County Cities
Denton County Cities with Strong Multifamily Recycling Requirements
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Lewisville
Mandate Type: City-franchised multi-family trash and recycling program with dedicated Multi-Family Recycling Rates in the fee schedule.
Applicability Threshold: Multifamily communities served under the city’s franchise (generally more than two units).
Key Links: Lewisville Trash & Recycling Overview · Lewisville Fee Schedule – Multi-Family Recycling Rates -
Grapevine
Mandate Type: City contract requires weekly apartment recycling collection, with per-unit monthly apartment recycling fees set by ordinance.
Applicability Threshold: All apartment complexes inside Grapevine city limits (including the Denton County portion).
Key Links: Grapevine Solid Waste & Apartment Recycling Ordinance -
The Colony
Mandate Type: City-wide Republic Services franchise providing solid waste and recycling, with separate monthly recycling charges on the rate sheet (functioning as a de facto universal recycling program for serviced accounts).
Applicability Threshold: Residential and multifamily customers served under the city’s solid-waste contract.
Key Links: The Colony Residential Trash & Recycling Rates · The Colony – Republic Services Municipal Page -
Denton (City of Denton)
Mandate Type: Commercial Diversion Ordinance requiring all multifamily and commercial properties to implement a diversion / recycling plan under Chapter 24 (Solid Waste).
Applicability Threshold: All multifamily communities and commercial accounts in the City of Denton (no unit-count threshold).
Key Links: Denton Commercial Diversion Program · Denton Code of Ordinances – Chapter 24 Solid Waste -
Frisco
Mandate Type: Universal Recycling Ordinance – any business or multifamily property in Frisco must have recycling service in addition to trash by June 1, 2025.
Applicability Threshold: All business and multifamily solid-waste accounts citywide (including Denton County portion).
Key Links: Frisco Universal Recycling Ordinance – Grant & Compliance Info · Frisco URO Ordinance Text (PDF) -
Dallas (portion within Denton County)
Mandate Type: Multifamily Recycling Ordinance in Dallas City Code Chapter 18; property owners / property managers at multifamily sites must provide residents with access to recycling.
Applicability Threshold: Multifamily sites with 8 or more dwelling units inside Dallas city limits (including sites in Denton County).
Key Links: Dallas Multifamily Recycling – Info for Haulers & Properties · Dallas City Code Chapter 18 – Municipal Solid Wastes · Dallas Sec. 18-5.1 – Recycling from Multifamily Sites
Other Denton County Cities (No Dedicated Apartment Recycling Mandate Located)
- General Pattern: Cities like Argyle, Aubrey, Bartonville, Copper Canyon, Corinth, Cross Roads, Dish, Double Oak, Flower Mound, Hackberry, Hickory Creek, Highland Village, Justin, Krugerville, Lake Dallas, Lakewood Village, Little Elm, Oak Point, Ponder, Prosper, Roanoke, Sanger, Shady Shores, Trophy Club, Westlake and others in Denton County primarily rely on standard residential and commercial solid-waste franchises and do not publish a Dallas-style multifamily recycling ordinance.
- What This Means for Property Managers: You may still be required to use city-approved haulers, maintain clean enclosures, and follow set-out rules, but recycling for residents is often “available” rather than explicitly mandated in code. Resident expectations for recycling, however, are increasingly similar to Dallas, Frisco, and Denton.
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Where to Confirm Your City’s Status:
Use Denton County’s city list and your city’s solid-waste page to verify whether any new ordinances or franchise amendments have introduced apartment recycling requirements:
Denton County – Cities & Communities - Unincorporated / Master-Planned Areas: Places like Lantana and certain MUD/HOA-driven communities rely heavily on HOA and utility district rules. Recycling expectations are typically built into master contracts, even without a city ordinance.
Fines & Penalties Snapshot (Mandate Cities)
- Denton (City of Denton): Under Chapter 24 (Solid Waste), failure to comply with diversion requirements can be treated as a Class C misdemeanor, and the City may escalate from notices of violation up to service interruption for continued non-compliance. See the Commercial Diversion Program and Chapter 24 – Solid Waste.
- Dallas (inside Denton County): The multifamily recycling provisions in Dallas City Code Chapter 18 require minimum recycling capacity (currently 11 gallons per unit per week) and use of permitted recycling collectors. Violations can trigger municipal citations and fines under Chapter 18’s enforcement sections and associated fee schedules.
- Frisco: The Universal Recycling Ordinance makes recycling service mandatory alongside trash for all business and multifamily accounts. Non-compliance can be handled through the city’s code-enforcement tools, up to citations and potential administrative penalties, in addition to the risk of being flagged during permit/inspection reviews.
- Lewisville: Multi-family recycling participation is effectively required through the city’s franchise framework and Multi-Family Recycling Rates in the fee schedule. Non-payment or ongoing improper set-outs can result in utility enforcement, late fees, and potential service issues. See Trash & Recycling and Fee Schedule – Multi-Family Recycling.
- Grapevine: Apartment recycling is baked into the solid-waste franchise, with a per-unit monthly recycling fee for every apartment complex and weekly service. Chronic contamination, overflow, or non-payment exposes properties to additional fees, collection changes, and city code enforcement.
- The Colony: The Republic Services contract and city rate schedule include a dedicated monthly recycling charge per residential customer. If accounts become delinquent or set-outs repeatedly violate city rules, properties can face service disruptions, late fees, and local enforcement action.
- Best Practice: For every Denton County community you manage, keep a simple compliance file: copies of hauler agreements, rate sheets, diversion plans (where required), contamination notices, inspection photos, and resident communications. This makes it much easier to respond if the city questions your recycling setup or issues a citation.
Property Manager Compliance Checklist (Denton County Multifamily)
| Task | Action / Requirement | Authoritative Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm City, County & Service Type | Map each property to its jurisdiction: Lewisville, Grapevine, The Colony, Denton, Frisco, Dallas (Denton County), or another Denton County city. Confirm whether the city provides service via franchise, requires a diversion plan, or expects you to contract directly with a permitted hauler. |
Denton County – Cities & Communities Lewisville Trash & Recycling Denton Commercial Diversion Frisco Recycling Overview |
| ☑ Identify Mandate Type & Threshold |
For each property, document whether your city has a: – Multifamily recycling mandate with a unit threshold (e.g., Dallas: 8+ units). – Universal recycling requirement (Frisco). – Diversion plan requirement (Denton). – Franchise-based multifamily recycling program (Lewisville, Grapevine, The Colony). Save a PDF or screenshot of the relevant ordinance section to your compliance file. |
Dallas Multifamily Recycling Dallas Code Ch.18 Frisco URO Details Grapevine Apartment Recycling Ordinance |
| ☑ Right-Size Containers & Enclosures |
Ensure your enclosure layout and recycling capacity match local standards: – For Dallas properties, provide at least 11 gallons of recycling per unit per week and acceptable material streams. – For Denton, confirm your diversion plan includes on-site recycling or equivalent diversion methods approved by the City. – For Lewisville, Grapevine, and The Colony, confirm container count, sizes, and pickup frequency match franchise expectations and your resident count. |
Dallas Sec. 18-5.1 (Multifamily Recycling) Denton Chapter 24 – Solid Waste Lewisville Multi-Family Recycling Rates The Colony Rates (Trash & Recycling) |
| ☑ Resident Education & Contamination Control | Provide residents with simple, repeatable instructions on what belongs in recycling vs. trash, where to place carts or bags for doorstep pickup, and how to avoid common violations (overflow, bulk dumping in recycling, blocked access gates). Use move-in handouts, email/text campaigns, and signage at enclosures and mail areas. |
Dallas Residential Recycling Guidelines Frisco Recycling Guidelines Lewisville Recycling Services |
| ☑ Track Diversion & Keep Records |
In cities like Denton and Dallas, you may be asked for diversion reports or proof of recycling capacity. Keep copies of: – Hauler invoices showing recycling service. – Diversion or recycling reports (where available). – Photos of enclosures and signage. – Any city correspondence or inspection notes. National Doorstep can bundle these into a simple, inspection-ready packet for each property. |
Denton Commercial Diversion Reporting Dallas Multifamily Reporting Expectations |
Want a Denton County–wide compliance map for your portfolio? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Denton County properties — we’ll identify which communities fall under Lewisville, Grapevine, The Colony, Denton, Frisco, Dallas mandates, right-size your recycling and trash service, and prepare inspection-ready documentation tailored to each site.
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