Denver's Waste No More Composting Rules Are Now in Effect: What Food Businesses Need to Know

Denver's Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance grew out of "Waste No More", the ballot initiative 70% of voters approved in November 2022. City Council approved an updated ordinance on September 15, 2025, the city adopted the detailed rules in June 2026, and the requirements took effect on September 1, 2026.

Who is covered

• Food businesses (retail food establishments, commissaries, food processing and wholesale operations; food trucks and temporary vendors are excluded): recycling front and back of house, composting back of house.
• Multifamily buildings with 8 or more units: recycling and composting for residents, employees and contractors.
• Permitted events on public property with more than 350 daily attendees: recycling and composting.
• Other non-residential buildings: recycling.

Covered buildings and food businesses file a Waste Diversion Plan with the city. The rules allow exemptions for financial hardship, very small volumes, inadequate hauling service and space constraints, renewed every year. The city says it is taking an education-first approach to enforcement.

Where on-site composting fits

Denver's rules name on-site composting as an alternative way to comply. A food business or building can apply to collect and process food waste on site if it shows equal or greater diversion than standard service and meets zoning, odor control and environmental rules. The application includes a description and photos of the composting setup and its capacity, and the city may inspect. Requests are due 30 days before a premises' compliance date and are renewed every year, so check the timing with the city.

For kitchens with little room for extra carts, or with pickups that are hard to arrange, an on-site food waste composter can be the basis for that application. An OCTOEN ECO-30 KSN handles up to 30 kg (66 lb) of food waste a day on a standard 208-240 V single-phase supply; larger kitchens use the ECO-130 KSN and up. Each runs a 12-24 hour composting cycle and cuts volume by up to 90%.

Talk to us about your daily food waste, or see the regulations page for other US rules.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Check the official source or ask a qualified advisor before you rely on a rule.