Waste & Recycling
Safety Protocol for Waste Services in Aspen
Waste service is provided by private haulers and is planned to continue as normal. Please observe the following changes in safety protocol for your trash, recycling and compost.
- All items that have been in contact with a sick person’s mouth, nose or eyes (with any illness) must go into a bag and then into the trash and not recycled:
- beverage bottles and cans
- food containers and cartons
- tissues
- napkins
- Bag all trash. Do not put it loosely in your garbage container. Continue to put recycling loose into the recycle container.
- Bag all compost in a compostable bag. Do not put it loosely in your compost collection container.
- Wash your hands after handling waste items.
Please refer to the CDC guidelines for specific recommendations on waste disposal in households with people exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19.
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Compost (SCRAPS)
The SCRAPS program is a joint effort by the City's Department of Environmental Health and Sustainability and the Pitkin County Landfill to assist residents and businesses in compost collection by providing free collection containers and education.
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Electronic Waste
See what includes electronic waste, how and where to recycle it, as well as who to contact with questions.
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Household Hazardous Waste
Household Hazardous Waste are products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive substances. Proper storage and disposal of the following materials protects our environment. Find how to dispose of this waste.
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Pitkin County Landfill
The Pitkin County Solid Waste Center is adding yet another diversion program to its already robust reduce, reuse and recycling programs. The Solid Waste Center will now accept books, for reuse, through a partnership with Eco-Cycle in Boulder, Colorado.
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Recycling Information
Recycling costs are included in all trash services for all Aspen residents and most businesses. Each waste hauler may have specific rules, but all haulers collect single stream recycling at the curb.
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Recycling Ordinance
Find information on what, how, and where to recycle in Aspen.
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Reusable Bag Resources
In May of 2012, the City of Aspen decided to conserve resources and to reduce waste and litter by banning the free distribution of single-use plastic bags from our local grocers.
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Solid Waste Ordinance (PDF)
Read the rules and regulations for waste and recycling in Aspen.
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Yard Waste
The City of Aspen’s Solid Waste Ordinance prohibits anyone from throwing away grass and leaves in the trash. This is because organic wastes make up the second largest volume of material at the landfill. If your hauler finds grass and leaves in your trash, they will not pick it up and will leave an audit card instructing you to call the Environmental Health Department.
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Waste Haulers
Aspen is serviced by private waste haulers for commercial and residential locations. Each hauler offers different prices and services, but every hauler must include charges for recycling services within their trash fees, even when recycling services are not being used per the City's Recycling Ordinance .
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Waste Study 2015 to 2017
The City of Aspen and Pitkin County waste analysis and recommendations for reducing waste buried in Pitkin County Landfill.
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Wildlife Ordinance
The City of Aspen has created Wildlife Protection Ordinances in an attempt to keep you safe and help deter bear and human conflicts.
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Restaurant Composting
How to compost in restaurants