Go Green: Sign Up for Denver’s Weekly Compost Service
Go Green: Sign Up for Denver’s Weekly Compost Service
Happy Earth Month! Did you know that participating in Denver’s weekly compost service is one of the most effective ways for Denver residents to reduce their environmental impact? In addition to creating healthy compost for our soils, putting food scraps and yard waste in your compost cart helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
When trapped in a landfill without the proper oxygen levels and temperature conditions to break down, organic materials produce harmful methane gasses that contribute to the greenhouse gas effect. One banana peel in the landfill generates about 80 times more gas than a banana peel being composted, so diverting your organic waste from the landfill makes a big difference!
The organic waste collected by Denver is sent to a commercial composting facility, operated by Waste Management (WM). There, organic material is broken down and composted in an oxygen-rich environment to create a nutrient-rich product.
After the composting process, WM tests and sells the final product back to Denver residents and agricultural producers for use on farms and home gardens to help create healthier soil. Compost can be purchased in bulk directly from the Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site (DADS) facility, and bagged compost can be found at most garden and hardware stores. Solid Waste will also be holding a compost giveaway on May 3, 2025, in conjunction with the annual mulch giveaway. Denver residents can sign up and learn more at Denvergov.org/mulch.
If you’re a Denver resident and you use the city’s solidwaste collection services, take advantage of Denver’s composting program tosupport healthy soils, reduce landfill waste and create a healthierenvironment. Please note that only food scraps and yard waste, and small,compostable bags are accepted in Denver’s green compost carts. Paper, cardboardand other compostable packaging items are not accepted.
Weekly compost service is included in Denver's solid wasteservices at no additional cost. Call 311 or visit your Denver Utilities OnlineAccount at Denvergov.org/utilitiesto join the green cart initiative and start composting today!
