Trash & Recycling

The City of Golden contracts with Waste Management of Colorado for the City’s residential trash and recycling services. In an effort to achieve Golden’s sustainability goal to reduce waste 25% by 2017, the City instituted the Pay-As-You-Throw program (PAYT), which works on a per container basis.

Households are charged for each bag or cart of trash they generate, and can choose the size of trash receptacle they prefer. Citizens are, in addition, issued a 96-gallon mixed-stream recycle container, so the more you recycle, the less you pay! A green waste program is also available for customers who wish to reduce their waste even further by composting.

For more information on Waste Management and customer options available, please visit the Waste Management website, or download the helpful Information Packet below.

New Customer and Information Packet (pdf)
Collection Days (pdf)
2013 Trash & Recycling Calendar (pdf)
Current Trash & Recycling Pricing (pdf)
Spring & Fall Yard Waste Collection Information

FAQs

Can I put yard waste, recyclables, or plastic bags in my trash cart?
Yes. However, since this is a volume based program, any material that will not fit into the cart that you want collected on your next trash collection day, must be in a 32 gal. or smaller plastic bag with a prepaid sticker on it. Extra trash that is not bagged or does not have an extra trash tag/sticker on it will not be collected for disposal.

Does yard waste in my trash cart have to be in compostable bags?
No. Items placed in the trash cart may be placed in any kind of bag, or not bagged at all.

My Trash and/or recycling was not picked up. Whom should I call?
For missed or skipped pick-ups, please first contact Waste Management at 303-278-8600.

How do I know if I am placing my cart out for service correctly?
If your cart is not placed correctly for service, or if it is blocked by a car or other object at the time of service, a sticker, called an Oops! Tag will be placed on your cart and will indicate the problem that was encountered. Additionally, the driver will leave the cart in the correct location and/or orientation after placing the sticker. You may call Waste Management at 303-278-8600 for more details.

My cart is broken. Who do I need to call?
Please call Waste Management at 303-278-8600.

How do I dispose of large items like furniture, tree limbs, rolls of carpet, mattresses, etc.?
The easiest, most efficient way to dispose of a large item is to call Waste Management at (303-278-8600) to arrange for a large item pick-up. The cost of this service can vary according to the item(s) or the volume of material you need to have picked up. Residents are not prohibited from calling any trash or junk hauling company to have large items removed. Residents may also haul items to a local landfill or transfer station for disposal on their own. Finally if you have the time, tools and determination, large items (excluding hazardous and other prohibited materials) may be cut up into smaller pieces and placed in your regular trash cart or plastic bags with prepaid stickers for disposal.

Why is a special pick-up required for large items?

The automated trucks used to tip and empty the trash and recycling carts has a smaller opening for the material to fall into. Scheduling for a large item pick-up assures that your large item(s) will fit into the truck for disposal.

What are the dimensions of the trash and recycling carts?

Cart Dimensions
Size	Height	Width	Depth
32 Gal	38 1/2″	19″	22 1/4″
64 Gal	42 3/8″	25 1/8″	29 1/2″
96 Gal	45 3/8″	27 1/8″	33 1/4″

How can I find out if my household is in the program?
There are several criteria used to determine if your residence is covered by Golden’s PAYT Program. First your residence must be located within the City of Golden City Limits. Secondly, your residence must be a single family residence, or a unit of a multi-family residence with seven attached units or less for the building. HOAs can be exempted from the program if they were providing trash and recycling services to their members as of May 13, 2010. If your residence meets these criteria and is not exempted through an HOA, it is covered by the PAYT Program.

Follow these steps to determine if your residence is covered:

1. Verify your residence is located within the City of Golden City Limits by visiting the Jefferson County Address Wizard.
a. Yes: Municipal Status is listed as Golden. Go to Step 2.
b. No: Your residence is not covered by Golden’s PAYT Program.

2. Is your residence a single family home or a unit in a multi-family building with seven units or less?
a. Yes: Go to Step 3
b. No: Your residence is not covered by Golden’s PAYT Program.

3. Is your residence covered by an HOA that provides trash and recycling services on behalf of member residences through the collection of membership dues?
a. Yes: Your residence is not covered by Golden’s PAYT Program.
b. No: Your residence is covered by the PAYT Program.

Still unsure if your residence is covered? Please feel free to call 303-384-8183 to verify if your household is covered. City Staff will be happy to help figure it out!

What are the fees for this program?
Your monthly price depends on the size of your garbage cart: 32, 64, or 96 gallons. How big are they?

EDS Waste Containers

Waste Container Options
Container Size	Monthly Price
32 Gallon Service	$6.57
64 Gallon Service	$11.03
96 Gallon Service	$16.87
Additional 96 Gallon Service	$7.95
32 Gallon Super Saver Service	$5.42
Extra Trash Tags	$2.65 each

What does the service include?
The price for each service level includes your choice of three trash cart sizes (32, 64, or 96 gallons), a 96 gallon recycle cart and twice-annual pickup of yard waste.

What items can be placed in the Recycle Carts?
Download the list of acceptable materials for the recycle cart.

What optional services are available?
Customers may choose to add every other week green waste collection, large item pick-up, carry out/back service, or drive-in service for an additional fee. These fees are billed directly to the customer and will not appear on your water bill from the City.

How will I be billed for service?
After you sign up for the level of service you desire, the City will include three months of service on your quarterly water bill. Optional services will be billed directly by Waste Management.

I’m a new resident. How can I sign up for service?
Residents can sign up by calling Waste Management at 303-278-8600. Please have your water billing account number available when you call.

If I need/want a different size cart for trash, who do I call?
Please call Waste Management at 303-278-8600. They will provide customers one cart exchange, free of charge, within the first 90 days of service. Additional trash cart size exchanges may be made quarterly for $15.

What if I want a different size recycling cart other than the 96-gallon cart provided?
You may select a 64 gal. cart for your recyclables. Please check the option for a 64 gal. recycle cart on the enrollment form or be sure to tell the Waste Management customer service representative you would like the smaller size when you call. If no selection is made, a 96 gal. cart will be provided to allow households to recycle as much acceptable material as they like.

I am in a Homeowner’s Association — is my house included in the program?
If your HOA contracts with a waste company to provide service to all of the households within your neighborhood, you are not included in the city program, although your HOA may voluntarily opt into the program at any time. If your HOA does not provide waste collection, your household is included in the program.

Can my multi-family complex still use dumpsters?
Yes. Multi-family complexes may elect to use all carts, a dumpster for trash and carts for recycling, or two dumpsters (one for trash, one for recycling). Contact Waste Management for current pricing.

Can I still contract with another company for service?
Yes, residents may hire any waste hauler, licensed to operate within the City. However, if your household is included in the City waste program, you will still be billed by the City for the minimum level of service.

What if I have more trash than usual?
Additional bags of trash will be collected when a pre-paid sticker is affixed to each bag.

Where can I purchase the pre-paid stickers for my temporary extra trash?
Stickers are available for purchase at City Hall or by calling Waste Management at 303-278-8600.

If my home is vacant, can I discontinue service?
 No, in order to maintain the lowest possible pricing, each household in the program will be billed for monthly service. You may request the 32-gallon level of weekly service if your home is vacant.

What day will my trash be picked up?
You may download maps of the collection service days (pdf). Recyclables will be collected on the same day as your trash.

What if I’ve already pre-paid for my trash service with another company?
The City will notify all currently licensed haulers of households under the City program. If you discontinue service, you may be eligible to receive a refund. Contact your current hauler for details.

What can I do with my old trash container?
If you cannot use it for other uses such as the semi-annual yard waste pickup or gardening uses, the City will arrange for recycling of your old container free of charge. If you bought your container from a private trash company, contact your current hauler for return options, or it may have value for resale to another customer of the same company.

When did Golden adopt these trash and recycling policies?
On May 13, 2010 City Council approved Ordinance No. 1868, now codified as Chapter 4.82 in the Municipal Code, changing residential waste collection services in Golden by allowing the City to contract for waste and recycling services for low-density residential properties. In addition, Council also approved a contract with Evergreen Disposal Services, Inc. (EDS) to provide that service to all residential properties of seven or less attached units. Effective November 1, 2012, the contract was reassigned to Waste Management, when EDS sold its collection service assets to Waste Management of Colorado.

When does the current trash contract expire?
The existing contract with WM expires in 2015.

Will the City periodically re-bid this contract?
Yes. The contract that provides service for the PAYT Program will be re-bid at an interval determined by City Council, along with the terms of future agreements.

Any questions not answered here? Email Chris Naber or call (303) 384-8183.