Denver trash & bulky-item rules

Denver Solid Waste Management provides Large Item Pickup on an every-nine-week rotation. The pickup falls on the same day as the household’s normal collection, but residents should check the address calendar because it is not an on-demand furniture service.

The program generally serves residential properties that receive Denver Solid Waste service, including qualifying buildings with up to seven units. Larger properties normally use private waste collection.

Each service address may set out up to five large items plus ten additional bags of trash. The 50-pound rule applies to those extra bags—not to every large item. Loose material must be in bags no larger than 32 gallons and 50 pounds.

Have all material ready by 6 a.m. on the normal collection day and keep it at least 2 feet away from carts, cars, poles and other obstructions. Setting large items out outside the scheduled window is considered illegal dumping.

Accepted large items include furniture, rugs, large toys, non-electric bicycles and exercise equipment. Mattresses and box springs must be bagged and wrapped before collection.

Bundled branches can also qualify when they are no more than four feet long and four inches in diameter. Unbundled branches, stumps, dirt and sod are not accepted.

Denver’s current Large Item Pickup page explicitly excludes appliances, electronic waste, automotive materials and tires. These categories have separate City programs and should not be placed with the furniture pile.

Hazardous materials such as paint and batteries are also excluded. Use Denver’s HHW, appliance and electronics programs or the Waste Directory for the item-specific route.

Construction material—including concrete, bricks, fencing and pallets—is not accepted through Large Item Pickup. Contractor waste and remodeling debris therefore need a private transfer station, C&D facility or another approved disposal route. Denver lists private metro-area facilities that accept household trash and large items for a fee.

Large Item Pickup follows an address-based rotation rather than an on-demand appointment. Check Denver’s trash schedule or the Denver Trash and Recycling app before moving bulky material out. Keep large items on the property until the scheduled collection day; the City’s current program materials describe the service as every nine weeks.

Official sources

For Denver, start with the local authority links below. Recheck them before a special trip or unusual set-out because programs, prices and facility hours can change.

• Denver Large Item PickupNine-week schedule, 5-item/10-bag limits, 6 a.m. set-out, accepted and prohibited material.
• Denver Waste DirectoryAlternative routes for appliances, electronics, tires, HHW and special waste.