On September 1, 2026, Denver’s Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance (URCO), formerly known as Waste No More, will take effect for construction and demolition projects.

In 2022, nearly 70% of voters approved the Waste No More ballot initiative, and in September 2025, Denver City Council adopted updated rules outlining how the ordinance will apply to construction and demolition activities.

Affected Projects

The ordinance will affect construction and demolition projects that require a permit from the City and County of Denver, including:

• New construction projects over 500 square feet
• Demolition projects over 500 square feet
• Interior renovations, tenant finish projects, and remodels over 2,500 square feet

Key Requirements

Denver requires that at least 50% of all construction and demolition debris generated on-site be reused or recycled. Additionally, the diversion must include a minimum of three covered material types.

Covered Materials

Covered materials include the following:

• Concrete: unreinforced concrete, reinforced concrete, concrete washout, concrete pavers, and concrete roofing tiles
• Asphalt: asphalt from parking lots, streets, sidewalks, and driveways
• Masonry: concrete masonry units, stone masonry units, clay bricks, clay roofing tiles, and clean stone veneer
• Metal: structural steel, cold-formed steel framing, concrete reinforcing, wiring, piping, ductwork, gutters, aluminum or steel siding, metal hardware, and nonworking appliances
• Untreated wood: clean dimensional framing lumber, wood pallets, or other lumber that has not been pressure-treated, painted, varnished, or otherwise finished, and wood debris like branches, stumps, or trees.
• Corrugated cardboard: clean packaging for cabinets, appliances, flooring, etc.
• Reuse items: materials in good condition that can be reused on-site or off-site, donated, resold, or repurposed. Examples include, but are not limited to: fixtures, cabinets, countertops, doors, flooring, fencing, HVAC components, insulation, appliances, lighting, lumber, masonry, steel, windows, and more.

Timeline Changes

One of the biggest changes contractors and project owners should be aware of is the timing of the waste diversion plan.

Under the updated rules, a waste diversion plan must be submitted as part of the permit process and approved before a permit can be issued. This means planning for recycling and diversion must happen before the project begins, rather than after construction is underway or completed.

Waste Diversion Plan Requirements

The waste diversion plan must include:

1. Estimated total weight of construction and demolition materials
2. Estimated weight of debris expected to be landfilled
3. Covered materials to be recycled or reused and their estimated weights
4. Transportation method for each material
5. Recycling, reuse, or landfill facilities and/or reuse methods for each material
6. Estimated recycling and reuse diversion rate as a percentage of the total project debris weight

How to Protect Your Deposit

Another important consideration for contractors and project managers is the refundable performance security deposit.

Beginning September 1, 2026, permit holders will be required to provide compliance documentation within 60 days of the project’s final inspection. The percentage of the deposit returned will be based on the project’s diversion rate.

• 100% refund: 50% or greater diversion
• 75% refund: 40% to 49.9% diversion
• 50% refund: 30% to 39.9% diversion
• 0% refund: Less than 30% diversion

How Blue Bear Waste Services Can Help

Blue Bear Waste Services is here to help you prepare for these new requirements.

Our team can review your current waste and recycling program, recommend recycling solutions, and help position your project for compliance by the September 1 effective date.

Whether you’re planning a demolition, ground-up build, or a large-scale renovation, we can help simplify the process and support your diversion goals from day one.

If you have questions or would like to schedule a service review, contact your Blue Bear sales representative or click the button below!