What’s Changing With Your Waste Carts for 2026
What’s Changing With Your Waste Carts for 2026
An Update on Alley Cart Storage
The City is pausing implementation of the alley cart storage requirement that was previously announced while we review next steps, which may include returning to Council at a future date. Check out the info below, and don’t hesitate to call us at 303-651-8416 with any questions.
The Waste Services division remains committed to serving the community as its highest priority – delivering efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable waste management services. Thank you to everyone who reached out, asked questions, and shared their perspectives about the changes.
If you’ve had waste carts for a while, the routine probably feels automatic: put them out, bring them back, and repeat. The City of Longmont updated waste collection rules in late 2025, and while that routine mostly stays the same for 2026, there are a few new things we want to make sure you know about.
Your cart lid needs to close all the way
When you put your compost, recycling, and trash carts out for collection, make sure that the lids can close completely. This means no bags, boxes, or branches sticking out.
What this means for you
If your cart is regularly too full to close, you have a few options:
- Sign up for compost collection if you haven’t already. Moving food scraps and yard waste out of your trash can free up a lot of space.
- Switch to a larger cart or add an additional cart. Recycling carts are limited to two per household. Trash and compost carts can be added for an extra monthly charge.
- Drop off many materials at the Longmont Recycling Center. Cardboard is one of the most common recyclables we see ending up in trash carts. Breaking it down and dropping it off (or placing it in your recycling cart) can free up more space than you’d expect.
If your cart lid is missing or broken, that’s on us to fix. Call us at 303-651-8416 and we’ll take care of it.
Why does this matter?
Spills, messes, and waste blowing into streets and alleys are much more likely to happen when lids can’t close. Closed lids also help our automated collection equipment work properly. Additionally, Longmont’s waste service works on a “pay for what you throw” model. Choosing the right cart size helps keep costs fair for the whole community.
More Info About the Changes
Not yet. Right now, our crews are leaving notices on carts that aren’t meeting the new rules. We want to give residents time to adjust before any formal enforcement begins.
Our crews are currently working through routes, leaving notices on carts with lids that won’t close. Our goal is to have reached all affected households by June. At that point, crews will begin leaving carts that don’t meet the requirement rather than collecting them.
A bill for an ordinance amending chapter 14.12 of the Longmont Municipal Code (O-2025-62) was approved on second reading by Longmont City Council on Oct. 28, 2025.
Questions? We’re happy to help.
Call 303-651-8416 or find more info about Waste Services online.
