Council advances Waste No More implementing ordinance with amendments after broad public debate

Denver City Council on Sept. 8 ordered published an amended implementing ordinance for the citizen-initiated “Waste No More” measure, which sets citywide requirements for recycling, composting, construction-and-demolition diversion and diversion at permitted events. The body voted to order the bill published as amended; a final public hearing will be held on Sept. 15.

The ordinance will not take effect immediately; council set an implementation schedule and directed city agencies to finish rules and education materials before the effective date. The administration proposed a number of targeted exemptions and staged timelines; council adopted several amendments that changed size thresholds and reporting cadence and clarified education and training requirements.

What the ordinance does (as amended): - Requires recycling service and, in many cases, organic-material collection for multifamily buildings and nonresidential properties that meet thresholds; requires waste-diversion plans and signage. - Requires food businesses that handle open food to meet recycling/organic-diversion standards or apply for exemptions. - Requires permitted special events above stated attendance thresholds to submit waste-diversion plans and provide on-site recycling and composting infrastructure, signage and education. - Sets a 50% diversion target for most permitted construction and demolition projects (measured as percentage of materials diverted) and includes a performance security deposit system for enforcement and compliance. - Establishes exemptions and a process for hardship or de minimis situations; council voted to preserve a generous exemption process rather than adding a blanket income-based exemption for small restaurants.

Debate and public testimony: The issue produced a long public comment period and sustained council discussion. Supporters and environmental groups described methane and the climate harms of landfilling food waste and urged the city to build the circular-economy infrastructure now. “There is no such place as away,” said Moshe Kornfeld, citing the ordinance’s goal to stop sending organics and other re‑usable materials to landfills.

Small-business advocates — and several council members — urged caution and spelled out practical concerns for neighborhood businesses and volunteer-run community events, including the administrative burden, ambiguous exemptions and short timelines. Some business groups and council members argued a number of small restaurants and neighborhood events will struggle to meet new costs and permitting steps without phased support.

Council outcome and next steps: Council voted to order the ordinance published as amended. The ordinance as amended requires administration to finish rules and regulations and to provide repeated reports to council (every 3 years up to 2034, then every 5 years thereafter). The effective rollout date for many parts of the ordinance is set for Sept. 1, 2026, to allow time for rulemaking, education and implementation.

Why it matters: Food scraps and other organics are a major source of methane emissions from landfills; capturing and composting organics both reduces methane and turns waste into soil‑building material. The measure applies to a wide swath of the city’s housing stock and commercial activity; council’s amendments balance immediate action with staged implementation and exemptions for certain producers.

Ending: Council directed the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency and partner agencies to complete rules, outreach and administrative systems so the city can move from a ballot initiative into an enforceable program. A final public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15; council will take a final vote after publication and the rule‑making period.