Neighborhoods in Wheat Ridge often see trash trucks rolling by almost every day of the week. That’s because the city operates an open waste collection system, which means that residents choose from a handful of licensed private haulers. Although the freedom to choose who hauls your trash is nice, it also means that many Wheat Ridge residents might miss out on a major new benefit: free curbside recycling.
In December 2025, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved a new Producer Responsibility Program that “shifts the cost of recycling from residents and local governments to the companies that produce packaging,” as the press release reports. For residents, the bottom line is simple – curbside recycling services for single-family homes, HOAs, and multi-family residential units are now free.
“This program will provide a convenient, cost-effective, statewide recycling system – with free and equitable access for all Colorado residents,” the director of CDPHE’s Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division said. This matters because many Coloradans have lacked access to recycling, limiting their individual ability to make sustainable choices at home.
Because Wheat Ridge uses private haulers rather than a city-run system, the rollout isn’t automatic. However, the good news is that residents can take action to ensure they stop paying for recycling services.
Some providers are moving faster than others. Waste Management, one of the licensed private haulers in the city, has a page on its website dedicated to the how, what, and whys of this program. According to the website, Waste Management is starting to deliver free recycling carts for new customers and notifying existing customers via email, bill inserts, or postcards that the invoice will be updated to reflect a zero balance for recycling. Additionally, Waste Management reports that residents can sign up for their free recycling service even if another company handles their trash.
Other local haulers are not as transparent with the new program and how they are operationalizing it. This is likely due to pending service agreements or delayed reimbursement requests with Circular Action Alliance, the nonprofit administering the program. Either way, it is probably worth it to call your waste hauler, if you are still paying for recycling, and ask when you’ll see a zero balance for recycling, or about any potential plans the company has to update their collection services under the Extended Producer Responsibility Program.
Improving waste management behavior is a cornerstone of Wheat Ridge’s Sustainability Action Plan. With free recycling now mandated statewide, taking advantage of the program is one of the easiest ways for residents to help Sustainable Wheat Ridge and the city reach its goals.
