City staff unveil proposed changes to Waste No More implementation; April 2026 enforcement dates floated

Tim Hoffman of the mayor’s office introduced an informational briefing on proposed updates to the Waste No More ordinance, which Denver voters approved in 2022. “This is an informational briefing only,” Hoffman said, and the administration told the committee it planned to return with ordinance language and an action item to the business committee on May 7.

Jonathan Wachtell, deputy executive director for the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency, told the committee staff aimed to make Waste No More “implementable in the way possible,” balancing voter intent with market capacity and agency resources. Wachtell and staff described market constraints for construction and demolition (C&D) materials, organics processors and the risk of contamination that can cause loads to be rejected at processors.

Key staff proposals and timelines - Construction and demolition: Staff proposes a 50% diversion requirement (by weight or tonnage of covered materials) for covered C&D projects, applying to demolition and construction permits…