TownValetDenver's Solid Waste Management (part of the city's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure) collects trash weekly, compost weekly and recycling in a purple cart every other week, plus large items every nine weeks. You're billed by trash cart size (35, 65 or 95 gallons); recycling and compost are included at no extra cost.
Trash zones map
6 trash zones in the city’s data, coloured by collection day. Tap a zone to see its schedule.
Holidays: After a holiday that Denver observes, collection is delayed one day for the rest of that week only. Thanksgiving week runs a special schedule that the city announces.
Collection schedules at a glance
| Every Friday | 1 zone |
| Every Monday | 1 zone |
| Every Thursday | 1 zone |
| Every Tuesday | 1 zone |
| Every Tuesday & Thursday | 1 zone |
| Every Wednesday | 1 zone |
| Every other Monday (week A) | 1 zone |
| Every other Monday (week B) | 1 zone |
| Every other Thursday (week A) | 1 zone |
| Every other Thursday (week B) | 1 zone |
| Every other Tuesday (week A) | 1 zone |
| Every other Tuesday (week B) | 1 zone |
| Every other Wednesday (week A) | 1 zone |
| Every other Wednesday (week B) | 1 zone |
| Every Friday | 1 zone |
| Every Monday | 1 zone |
| Every Thursday | 1 zone |
| Every Tuesday | 1 zone |
| Every Tuesday & Thursday | 1 zone |
| Every Wednesday | 1 zone |
50 sweeping zones, with 21 different schedules. Look up your address above to see yours.
Coming up: holidays
| Holiday | Date | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday November 26, 2026 | Holiday: pickups may change. Check the city’s notice. |
| Christmas Day | Friday December 25, 2026 | Friday pickups move to Saturday. |
| New Year’s Day | Friday January 1, 2027 | Friday pickups move to Saturday. |
| Memorial Day | Monday May 31, 2027 | Monday–Friday pickups each move one day later (Friday’s to Saturday). |
| Independence Day (observed) | Monday July 5, 2027 | Monday–Friday pickups each move one day later (Friday’s to Saturday). |
The city says: “When service falls on or after an observed holiday, your collection will be delayed one day for the rest of that week only” (source). All holidays for the next 12 months.
What goes where
Trash (city cart)
- Bagged household trash
Not: Construction, demolition and remodeling material; Household hazardous waste; Branches and yard bundles; Overflow bags outside the cart.
Bag all trash and keep the lid closed; overfilled or too-heavy carts can't be emptied.
Recycling (purple cart)
- Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs and cups
- Buckets up to 5 gallons
- Aluminum and steel cans
- Clean balled aluminum foil
- Glass bottles and jars
- Flattened cardboard and cereal boxes
- Milk and juice cartons
- Mail, office paper, magazines and newspapers
Not: Plastic bags of any kind; Bubble wrap and soft plastic packaging; Styrofoam and packing peanuts; Garden hoses and string lights; Coffee pods; Pots, pans and scrap metal; Mirrors, ceramics and drinking glasses; Shredded paper, napkins and greasy paper.
Items smaller than 2 inches are too small to recycle; when in doubt, throw it out.
Summarised in our own words from the city’s pages, checked Monday October 26, 2026. The city’s list is the one that counts.
Setting out, and big items
- When to put it outSet carts out by 6 a.m. on collection day, but no earlier than 7 p.m. the night before; trucks won't come back for late carts. Leave 2 feet of clearance on every side, and bring carts back onto your property within a day after collection, since carts can't be stored in the alley or street. Source
- Furniture and other large itemsLarge Item Pickup comes every nine weeks on your regular trash day, with no appointment: up to 5 large items and 10 extra bags (32 gallons and 50 pounds max) per address, out by 6 a.m. and 2 feet from carts. Accepted: furniture, rugs, exercise equipment, non-electric bikes, bagged mattresses, and up to 10 branch bundles (4 feet long, 4 inches thick, 50 pounds max). Electronics, appliances, construction material, tires and paint are not taken; appliances can be picked up free by appointment through 311. Setting items out on other days counts as illegal dumping. Source
Parking rules and permits
Parking
- Street sweepingResidential street sweeping runs April through November, and the city asks residents to move their cars so sweepers can reach the curb. Look up your block's sweeping dates and sign up for reminders on the city's schedule page. If your sweeping day falls on your trash day, set carts on the driveway apron, at the curb edge off the street, or on the opposite side of the street. Source
- Unposted parking rulesMany Denver parking laws apply even without a sign: park within 18 inches of the curb, at least 5 feet from alleys and driveways, 10 feet from fire hydrants, and 20 feet from crosswalks. In time-limited spaces, a car must move at least 100 feet to count as having moved. Source
Permits
- Residential parking permitResidents of an eligible address in an RPP zone can apply online or by mail for an annual Vehicle Specific Permit ($20 fee) or one Flex Permit per household for guests ($25 fee). Homes with off-street parking get up to two permits and homes without get up to three. You need proof of residence dated within 30 days and a Denver County vehicle registration. Source
- Meter baggingTo keep metered spaces clear for construction, a move, special events or filming, you can apply online to have meters bagged as "No Parking." Requests take up to 72 hours to process, so apply at least a week ahead. Source
- Street occupancy (using the street or sidewalk)Any short-term use of the street, sidewalk or alley, such as for construction work or an event in the right-of-way, needs a street occupancy permit from DOTI. You apply and pay online through E-Permits and upload the street occupancy request worksheet along with a traffic control plan. Source
Sources and freshness
| Dataset | Publisher | Licence | Data updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Waste Collection | City and County of Denver | Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0) | 2026-10-29 |
| Street Sweeping Schedule | City and County of Denver | Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0) | 2026-08-07 |
| Addresses | City and County of Denver | Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0) | 2026-11-02 |
Refreshed Monday November 2, 2026. 413,105 addresses matched to a zone. How this works.