Universal Recycling Ordinance

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Help Shape the Future of Recycling in Golden

The City of Golden is evaluating a Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) and is seeking community input before developing a formal proposal.

Today, not everyone in Golden has access to recycling, particularly in some multifamily housing and commercial settings. That means that whether you can recycle often depends on where you live or operate, rather than being consistent across the community. The City is exploring whether a more consistent approach to recycling could help address these gaps while advancing Golden’s goal of 80% waste diversion by 2030.

We want to be transparent: this proposal could affect costs, space, and how waste is managed on your property. Your feedback will help shape what is considered and brought forward.

Share your input by:

What's Being Proposed?

If adopted, this proposal would:

  • Require properties with trash service to also provide recycling service.
  • Expand recycling availability to multifamily housing and commercial properties.
  • Create a more consistent approach to recycling across the community.

Many communities across Colorado have already adopted similar approaches. More detailed background is available in the supporting materials on this page.

Who Would This Affect?

This proposal would affect different groups in different ways:

  • If you already have recycling service: your current service will not change.
  • If you do not currently have recycling: you will be required to add recycling service, which will involve additional cost and space considerations.
  • If you're a renter/tenant: Recycling service is typically arranged by property owners or managers. While this would not directly assign responsibility to renters, it could influence how waste services are provided and cost impacts would be determined by property owners and manager.

How Could This Affect You?

We want to be upfront – this proposal may impact residents, businesses, and property owners in different ways:

  • Cost: you will need to pay for recycling service if it is not currently provided at your property.
  • Space: some properties may need space for recycling carts or dumpsters.
  • Operations: businesses and property managers may need to adjust how waste is handled.

Your input will help the City better understand these impacts and identify workable solutions.

How We're Working to Reduce Impacts

We understand that expanding recycling comes with challenges. The City is exploring ways to reduce those impacts:

  • Statewide recycling funding (starting in 2026): Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program is expected to help cover the cost of recycling services, reducing the financial impact of new requirements under a potential URO.
    Timeline:
    • Early 2026: Producers begin paying into the program
    • Early–mid 2026: Local communities apply for reimbursement
    • Mid–late 2026: Initial funding begins to flow to support recycling services
  • Local incentives and support: The City currently offers rebates for dumpster enclosures and site upgrades when adding recycling service, and is evaluating additional support options.
  • Downtown-specific solutions: A voluntary, shared-service model is being explored for downtown Golden to address space constraints, congestion, shared alleys, and service efficiency. More details about this program will be shared as they become available.

What Happens Next?

The City and the Community Sustainability Advisory Board (CSAB) are currently gathering community input.

Community members are invited to provide feedback through this page, email, or by providing public comment at the April 22 CSAB meeting.

Following this input period, staff will use community feedback to refine a potential approach, which is expected to be presented to CSAB for further discussion at the May 27 CSAB meeting.

Share Your Input

We want to hear from you.

Want to Learn More?

For more background on Universal Recycling Ordinances, how they work, and what it may mean for Golden, see the supporting documents on this page.


Help Shape the Future of Recycling in Golden

The City of Golden is evaluating a Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) and is seeking community input before developing a formal proposal.

Today, not everyone in Golden has access to recycling, particularly in some multifamily housing and commercial settings. That means that whether you can recycle often depends on where you live or operate, rather than being consistent across the community. The City is exploring whether a more consistent approach to recycling could help address these gaps while advancing Golden’s goal of 80% waste diversion by 2030.

We want to be transparent: this proposal could affect costs, space, and how waste is managed on your property. Your feedback will help shape what is considered and brought forward.

Share your input by:

What's Being Proposed?

If adopted, this proposal would:

  • Require properties with trash service to also provide recycling service.
  • Expand recycling availability to multifamily housing and commercial properties.
  • Create a more consistent approach to recycling across the community.

Many communities across Colorado have already adopted similar approaches. More detailed background is available in the supporting materials on this page.

Who Would This Affect?

This proposal would affect different groups in different ways:

  • If you already have recycling service: your current service will not change.
  • If you do not currently have recycling: you will be required to add recycling service, which will involve additional cost and space considerations.
  • If you're a renter/tenant: Recycling service is typically arranged by property owners or managers. While this would not directly assign responsibility to renters, it could influence how waste services are provided and cost impacts would be determined by property owners and manager.

How Could This Affect You?

We want to be upfront – this proposal may impact residents, businesses, and property owners in different ways:

  • Cost: you will need to pay for recycling service if it is not currently provided at your property.
  • Space: some properties may need space for recycling carts or dumpsters.
  • Operations: businesses and property managers may need to adjust how waste is handled.

Your input will help the City better understand these impacts and identify workable solutions.

How We're Working to Reduce Impacts

We understand that expanding recycling comes with challenges. The City is exploring ways to reduce those impacts:

  • Statewide recycling funding (starting in 2026): Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program is expected to help cover the cost of recycling services, reducing the financial impact of new requirements under a potential URO.
    Timeline:
    • Early 2026: Producers begin paying into the program
    • Early–mid 2026: Local communities apply for reimbursement
    • Mid–late 2026: Initial funding begins to flow to support recycling services
  • Local incentives and support: The City currently offers rebates for dumpster enclosures and site upgrades when adding recycling service, and is evaluating additional support options.
  • Downtown-specific solutions: A voluntary, shared-service model is being explored for downtown Golden to address space constraints, congestion, shared alleys, and service efficiency. More details about this program will be shared as they become available.

What Happens Next?

The City and the Community Sustainability Advisory Board (CSAB) are currently gathering community input.

Community members are invited to provide feedback through this page, email, or by providing public comment at the April 22 CSAB meeting.

Following this input period, staff will use community feedback to refine a potential approach, which is expected to be presented to CSAB for further discussion at the May 27 CSAB meeting.

Share Your Input

We want to hear from you.

Want to Learn More?

For more background on Universal Recycling Ordinances, how they work, and what it may mean for Golden, see the supporting documents on this page.


  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Recycling Ordinance Community Feedback Survey 2025

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Page last updated: 01 Apr 2026, 10:33 AM