Denver City Wire

DENVER – Thousands of Denver Solid Waste Management customers will receive a notice this week that their compost collection service will soon begin as part of Denver’s efforts to expand collection services and reduce the amount of waste it sends to the landfill.

Residents in Solid Waste Collection (SWC) District 2, which includes City Park, City Park West, Clayton, Cole, Elyria-Swansea, Five Points, North Capitol Hill, Skyland, Whittier, and parts of Globeville will receive a letter in the mail with information to prepare for cart deliveries starting the week of July 31.

“The goal is to grow our compost service thoughtfully and carefully, taking into account that we are delivering a significant service level increase and introducing a big shift in how most residents currently manager their waste," said Adam Phipps, Executive Director of DOTI. "We'll use a phased approach that allows us time to coordinate with residents and stabilize service levels in one area before moving on to the next."

Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) will roll out weekly compost service district by district, focusing on helping customers understand what items to place in their newly delivered green carts. Once compost service is rolled out out in SWC District 2, DOTI will move on to SWC District 4, which includes residents in Montbello, Gateway, and Green Valley Ranch. The department is prioritizing neighborhoods with lower diversion rates in its rollout, and is developing a rollout schedule for the remaining districts.

New customers will receive a compost cart, a small kitchen pail and an updated compost how-to guide to get them started. Compost and recycling combined can reduce waste in most homes by more than half, making it easy for many to utilize a small cart for trash.

Residents who don’t have weekly compost collection service yet will continue to receive a credit on their invoice. The credit will be removed once rollout is complete in your neighborhood. Residents who want to get started early or who have extra yard debris can use the free Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-Off center for their compostable materials.

In January, Denver moved to a volume-based pricing model for trash collection service to curb waste the city sends to the landfill. Residents pay for what they throw based on their trash cart size, with weekly recycling and composting included at no additional cost.

So far, Denver has increased recycling by 12% in 2023, diverting 2,443 more tons of recyclable material from the landfill compared to last year. Compost collections are also up 6% among our 30,000 existing compost customers.

Cart Exchanges  

DOTI recommends customers wait until their compost service begins before downsizing their trash cart so they know which size is right for their home. Residents can request a cart exchange online at www.denvergov.org/carts or by calling 311. Residents can also visit our Osage facility at 2013 S. Osage St. Tuesday through Saturday, 8am to 2pm, to exchange their cart in person. For cart repairs, lost/stolen cart issues, or if you are a new resident, please visit our online services hub or call 311 for assistance.

To learn more about waste reduction, or for information on the program, including how to apply for financial assistance, and to view an interactive compost rollout map, please visit our website at www.denvergov.org/expandedcollection.

Original source can be found here