Pay-As-You-Throw FAQs by Denver Public Works, Solid Waste Management 

• There is no formal proposal on the table at this time.  Public Works staff is working to develop that proposal that will include fee structure.  There are also plans for significant stakeholder and community engagement before a proposal is presented.  City Council approval of an ordinance to set rates would ultimately be needed to move a proposal forward.
• Denver’s diversion rate has doubled by standardizing collection, getting rid of dumpsters, and expanding free recycling and our composting service.  In fact, since 2011 Denver’s annual recycling and composting rate has increased from 11% per year to 23% in 2018.
• While we have gotten our recycling and composting rate up to 23%, we are still well below the national average of about 34%.  Denver residents have, however, continued to reduce waste though and since 2014 we have reduced disposal by about 35,000 tons per year, that’s more than 350 pounds per household per year.
• We have been working on ways to improve even more – to incentivize recycling and composting and dis-incentivizing tossing waste into the trash can.  Specific examples include automatic delivery of recycling carts – started in 2016 and completed with Mayor Hancock’s 2018 budget; increased promotion and use of the Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-off, seasonal recycling services (Leafdrop, holiday lights, electronics, etc.).  Mayor Hancock’s 2019 budget includes additional funding for 13 new compost collection trucks and extensive community education around recycling, composting and waste reduction.
• The concept we are moving towards would, in effect, provide people free composting and recycling, and charge people based on how much trash they throw away.
• This concept was presented as a long-term policy option in the 2010 Solid Waste Master Plan.
• Currently, SWM is funded as an annual appropriation form the City’s General fund.
• Denver is one of only three major cities in the US that do not charge a direct fee to residents for waste service (Washington DC and San Diego being the other two).  And most communities in the metro area pay a fee whether directly to a private hauler or to the local government.
• Treating waste services like a utility – i.e. electricity or water- and charging a direct fee for the amount used, is recognized as a best practice in the industry to encourage conservation.  
• In 2017 Mayor Hancock asked staff to explore the feasibility of such a program in Denver – what resources would it take (billing, operational changes, resource needs), Bench marking - what are other communities doing and what results have they achieved, how would it be implemented, what kinds of decision need to be made, etc.
• There are not a great number of details to share yet.   But communities that have pay as you throw program typically charge for services based on 3 to 4 different size trash cans (95 gallon, 65, 35 and sometimes 20 gallons), services may also include recycling and some form of yard debris composting service.  The communities with the most incentivized programs typically have a larger price different between each level of service sometimes even doubling in price from say 35 to 65 and 65 to 95-gallon containers.  Most communities do not weigh containers although there are some. Many offer additional resources like regularly scheduled bulky item collection, recycling centers for extra materials, household hazardous waste services, resources for hard to recycle materials and seasonal waste diversion services.
• Denver’s Sustainability Materials Management Goal is to meet or exceed the national recycling and composting rate of 34% by 2020.
• Denver services single family homes with seven or fewer units – these homes would be impacted by any changes. Multi- family 8 units and more already pay for private waste services through a waste hauler– whether directly or through their HOA/Management company.
• When you talk about new fees for service many believe it will lead to an increase in illegal dumping.  While a community can’t ever predict that data from other communities do not demonstrate an increase in dumping.  That said, every community should have a plan in place just in case and Denver will have a plan.