SPECIAL EVENT REQUIREMENTS FOR RECYCLABLES AND ORGANIC MATERIAL COLLECTION

Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 48, art. XI

in effect

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 48-153 Definitions.

Sec. 48-153. - Definitions. Except as otherwise provided in this article, the following words and phrases have the following meanings: (1) Permitted event means an event permitted by the city which occurs, in whole or in part, on public property and determined to be one (1) or more of the following type(s) of event(s): (i) a special event as defined in article XXI, chapter 2, as determined by the executive director of the office of special events; (ii) an event requiring a permit by the department of parks and recreation and as determined by the manager of parks and recreation; or (iii) an event requiring a special event revocable street occupancy permit as determined by the manager of transportation and infrastructure. (2) Responsible city offices and departments means the office of special events, the office of climate action sustainability and resiliency, the department of parks and recreation, or the department of transportation and infrastructure. (3) Responsible party means the permittee of a permitted event. (Ord. No. 628-25, § 4, 9-15-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 48-154 Recycle and organic waste requirements.

Sec. 48-154. - Recycle and organic waste requirements. (a) In general. On or after September 1, 2026, the responsible party must provide recycling and organic material collection to their employees, contractors, customers, volunteers, and attendees. (b) Containers. The responsible party of a permitted event must supply containers, placed in sufficiently adequate locations, to make source separation of recyclables, organic material, and trash convenient for employees, contractors, customers, and attendees of permitted events. The containers must: (1) Be of appropriate number and size to adequately accommodate recyclables, organic material, and trash quantities reasonably anticipated to be generated at the location; (2) Display appropriate signage in English and Spanish, or picture-only, be color coded to identify the type of refuse to be deposited, and meet any additional design criteria established by rules and regulations adopted by the responsible city offices and departments; and, (3) Be placed in reasonably convenient locations to provide equally convenient access to users, consistent with the rules and regulations adopted by the responsible city offices and departments. (c) Education and training. The responsible party must work with waste haulers and vendors staff to reduce contamination through control of materials allowed on site and ensure training on proper bin use is provided. (Ord. No. 628-25, § 4, 9-15-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 48-155 Exemptions.

Sec. 48-155. - Exemptions. The following exemptions shall apply: (a) Permitted events that generate a de minimis amount of waste, demonstrate a proven economic hardship, or do not have licensed food vendors for on-site consumption, are exempt from the organic materials requirements of this article; (b) Permitted events that anticipate three hundred fifty (350) or fewer total daily attendees are exempt from the recycling and organic material collection requirements of this article; (c) Permitted events that anticipate one thousand (1,000) or fewer total weekly attendees are exempt from the organic material collection requirements of this article; (d) The executive directors of the responsible city offices and departments may adjust the exemptions of this section by increasing or decreasing the total number of daily attendees, based on market conditions and compliance rates, through an update to the rules and regulations promulgated under authority of this section; (e) Any responsible party that is granted an exemption by the responsible city office or department, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the office or department, if the responsible party demonstrated a good faith effort but ultimately failed to secure adequate hauling services for recycling and organic material. (Ord. No. 628-25, § 4, 9-15-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 48-156 Education and waste diversion plan.

Sec. 48-156. - Education and waste diversion plan. (a) In order to be issued a permit for a permitted event, a responsible party must submit a waste diversion plan on a form established by the responsible city offices or departments. The waste diversion plan must include, at a minimum, phone and email contact information on the haulers servicing the event, and the manner in which the responsible party will educate staff and vendors on its waste diversion plan. (b) All information and documentation, including signage, required to be provided to persons or posted as public information under this article shall be written in English and Spanish, or picture-only, and include universal symbols as adopted through rules and regulations by the responsible city offices and departments. (Ord. No. 628-25, § 4, 9-15-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 48-157 Rules and regulations.

Sec. 48-157. - Rules and regulations. The executive director of the office of special events, the executive director of the office of climate action sustainability and resiliency, the manager of parks and recreation, or the manager of transportation and infrastructure may adopt such reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary for the purpose of administering and enforcing the provisions of this article and any other ordinances or laws relating to permitted events. (Ord. No. 628-25, § 4, 9-15-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 48-158 Disciplinary actions and penalties.

Sec. 48-158. - Disciplinary actions and penalties. The manager of the department of transportation and infrastructure and the manager of the department of parks and recreation are authorized to assess civil penalties pursuant to this article as provided in article XII, chapter 2 of the Code. (Ord. No. 628-25, § 4, 9-15-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 48-159 Reporting.

Sec. 48-159. - Reporting. No later than September 1, 2028, and at least every three (3) years thereafter until September 1, 2034, after which, at least every five (5) years, the director of the office of climate action, sustainability and resiliency shall provide a written report to city council which shall include, but is not limited to, data on how many permitted events met or did not meet the thresholds in section 48-155 subsections (a)—(c); explanations of adjustments under subsection 48-155(d), compliance rates, market conditions, and other information related to this article. (Ord. No. 628-25, § 4, 9-15-25)

Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH48SOWA_ARTXISPEVREREORMACOFetched: 10/27/2026