Downtown Waste District

Considering How We Should Collect Waste Downtown

Purpose: The City of Golden is exploring a potential Downtown Waste Collection District to improve waste and recycling services in the downtown area. This effort is intended to address ongoing challenges with waste collection while supporting the City's sustainability goals.

• What’s happening now: The City is beginning initial community outreach in March and April to better understand the needs and concerns of downtown residents, businesses, and property owners. Your input will help identify priorities and shape potential service options.
• Location/area affected: Downtown Golden, including areas with shared alleys, high service demand, and existing waste collection challenges.
• What to expect: The City is evaluating a coordinated, district-based waste collection system that could provide daily trash and recycling services, improve cleanliness, and expand access to recycling.
• How to participate: See the "Community Engagement & Feedback Opportunities” section below for ways to share your input.

Goals

• Improve cleanliness and reduce issues such as odors, rodents, and grease trails.
• Expand access to recycling services for all downtown properties.
• Reduce congestion and conflicts in the alleys from multiple waste haulers.
• Support the City's waste diversion and sustainability goals.

Timeline / Schedule

• March - April 2026: Community outreach and input
  • Surveys for downtown residents and businesses
  • Small-group meetings and site walkthroughs
• May - June 2026:Program design
  • Evaluation of operational and logistical considerations
  • Identification of service types and equipment needs
• June - August 2026:Pricing and program development
  • Competitive proposal process
  • Development of service options and pricing
• Fall 2026: Review and decision-making
  • Public feedback on proposed program
  • Review by City boards and commissions and consideration by City Council

Project Cost

• Estimated cost: To be determined.
• Funding source: The City has been notified of grant funding to support waste diversion efforts, including evaluation and startup costs for a potential Downtown Waste Collection District, pending formal acceptance of the funds. If implemented, waste collection services would be funded primarily through user fees paid by participating customers, similar to other waste collection programs. The City would administer the program and manage service contracts. Over time, statewide funding is expected to help offset costs for recycling through the Producer Responsibility Program.
• Budget status: Pending.

Partners

• City of Golden Sustainability Division
• Community Sustainability Advisory Board
• Downtown Development Authority
• Private waste haulers (to be selected through a competitive process)

Project Benefits / Challenges

• Benefits (what a coordinated district could improve):
  • Daily service for trash and recyclables, which could reduce the need for large dumpsters and free up space for other uses.
  • Improved cleanliness and reduced vermin and odor issues.
  • Coordinated collection timing aligned with alley activity and business deliveries.
  • Expanded recycling opportunities, potentially including hard-to-recycle materials.
• Challenges (existing conditions the program is trying to address):
  • Limited space in alleys and service areas for storage and collection of waste.
  • Shared alley access with delivery and other service vehicles.
  • Multiple waste haulers operating at different times, creating congestion and inefficiencies.

Project Impacts

• Who is impacted: Downtown residents, businesses, property owners, employees, and visitors.
• Type of impact: Changes to how waste and recycling services are provided. Potential changes to costs, service schedules, and container types.
• Duration: Impacts will vary depending on program design and would occur during implementation if the program is approved.

Community Engagement & Feedback Opportunities

We want your input. The City of Golden is seeking input from downtown residents, businesses, and property owners. Your feedback will help the City understand challenges and identify priorities for waste and recycling services.

• Share your feedback using the comment tool at the bottom of this page.
• Attend Community Sustainability Advisory Board meetings and provide public comment.
• Email the Sustainability team: goldensustainability@cityofgolden.net.

Additional opportunities, including surveys and stakeholder meetings, will be shared as they become available.

Next Steps

• Conduct community outreach and gather stakeholder input (Spring 2026)
• Evaluate operational and logistical considerations
• Develop service options and pricing through a competitive bid process
• Share draft program options for public feedback
• Present a final approach to City boards, commissions, and City Council

Current Update

Updated: March 2026

• Launch of Guiding Golden project page.
• Beginning of community outreach and stakeholder engagement.
• initial evaluation of a potential district-based waste collection model.

Project Background

Waste and recycling collection in downtown Golden has evolved over several years and currently operates as an open market system, where building owners contract with their preferred waste hauler. The City has also administered a public bin waste collection program on Washington Avenue since 2008.

Feedback from businesses and residents has identified several challenges, including limited space for waste storage, restricted access to recycling services, alley congestion, and issues related to odors, rodents, and cleanliness.

The Downtown Waste Collection District is being explored as one option to address these challenges through a coordinated, city-managed approach.