Trash & Recycling
April 2025 Trash and Recycling Service Changes
The City of Lone Tree has worked to service 4,000 homes during the implementation of the renewed contract with Waste Connections. As a reminder, all waste will need to be within your new trash and recycling containers. Bags and debris left outside of containers will NOT be picked up.
Please contact the City regarding your trash and recycling services in Lone Tree or if you have questions about your new or old containers.
Email: [email protected]
Trash Line: 720-509-1212
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My old containers still need to be picked up and removed.
A: If you still have old containers you would like picked up, please set out with ‘remove’ red tags and they will be picked up by Waste Connections by April 16. Find extra tags that can be downloaded and printed off below.
Q: I didn’t receive new bins. What do I do?
A: If you did not receive new bins, please contact us at [email protected] or 720-509-1212.
Q: I got new bins that are different than what I ordered, am missing some of the bins I ordered, or want to exchange my bins for different ones.
A: If you have incorrect or missing bins, or want to change your order, please contact us at [email protected] or 720-509-1212.
Q: When will my correct bins arrive?
A: We thank you for your patience and understanding as we service nearly 4,000 residences. Waste Connections will right-size resident’s orders beginning the week of April 14. Please make sure you’ve called in or emailed in what you’d like to exchange, and you will be on the list.
If you’re moving into a new home in Lyric
January 10, 2025 or later fill this form out:
Delivery of New Trash and Recycling Containers
Week of March 31 to April 7 (Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Residents should receive their new trash and recycling containers they selected at the curb in front of your home. These new containers will be the containers you must use for your trash and recycling service in Lone Tree. You may begin using your new containers for trash and recycling service as soon as you receive them.
Starting April 14, all waste must be included in your trash containers; no bags or debris left at curb or outside of the containers will be picked up other than during designated yard clean up months, which will be announced later this spring.
Residents Who Did Not Complete the Online Form
Residents who did not complete the online form with their container preferences by the extended deadline of March 7 will be provided a standard set of containers as outlined below. Once the trash and recycling program transition is completed (please be patient, this process will take some time), residents may request a change in container preferences with Waste Connections.
- One (1) trash container: 96-gallon
- One (1) recycling container: 96-gallon
Residents Who Will Not Be Home When Your New Containers Will Be Delivered
Please arrange with your friends, family, or neighbors to assist you in moving your new containers from the curb to your residence.
If you see your neighbor’s home was serviced with the delivery of new trash and recycling containers or the pick-up of old containers, but not yours? Don’t worry. Waste Connections will service your household soon; please be patient as we work through this phase of the program.
Disposal of Old Containers
Beginning April 7 (Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
The City’s contract with Waste Connections requires residents to use all new trash and recycling containers provided by Waste Connections as part of the City’s trash and recycling program. During this time, Waste Connections will be picking up old trash and recycling containers, including any personal containers, of which the resident may wish to dispose (Waste Connections will be recycling all old containers).
Residents are welcome to keep their old trash containers for their personal use, however, Waste Connections will not empty any trash or recycling debris in old containers as part of the program, beginning April 14.
Follow These Three Easy Steps for Container Disposal:
1
Place any old trash and recycling containers you want to dispose of at the curb on April 7. Kindly note that Waste Connections may take up to 14 business days to collect your old containers (if this schedule changes, we will contact you directly). All homeowners’ associations have been advised of this schedule and requested for leniency with any enforcement of trash containers that are left at the curb for an extended period during this trash transition.
2
All old containers set out for disposal must be empty with no trash or recycling debris inside.
3
Use the “red” tags included in the information mailed to your residence to identify the old containers you would like to dispose. A red tag(s) must be placed on each old container you wish to dispose by taping the tag to the container or inserting under the lid in a method to ensure the tags are seen and flagged by the drivers.
You can print out, cut, and attach additional tags from the PDF below.
What Should I Do?
Residents Who Currently Use Personal Trash Containers
All personal trash and recycling containers may not be used for trash and recycling service, beginning April 14. Residents must use new trash and recycling containers provided by Waste Connections.
Residents Who Currently Have Old Containers or Containers with the Lone Tree Logo
All old trash and recycling containers, as well as any containers that are identified with the Lone Tree logo may not be used for trash and recycling service, beginning April 14. Residents must use new trash and recycling containers provided by Waste Connections.
Residents of Lyric Neighborhood
Residents of the Lyric neighborhood in RidgeGate should already have new Waste Connections containers and no action is needed.
Residents Who Will Not Be Home During the Pickup of Old Containers
Please arrange with your friends, family, or neighbors to assist in placing your old containers at the curb.
Spring Yard Clean-Up
Since all waste must be included in your trash containers as part of the City’s renewed contract with Waste Connections that began on April 14, 2025, the City, through Waste Connections, is offering a clean-up of yard waste for residents this spring.
Residents who receive free trash from the City can place their yard waste, including leaves and tree branches out with their regularly scheduled trash day for pick up only during four designated weeks in June, 2025. (The City will also be offering another clean-up event of yard waste for residents this fall, which will be announced this summer).
Designated Weeks for Spring Yard Clean-Up:
- Week of June 2
- Week of June 9
- Week of June 16
- Week of June 23
Materials Accepted for Disposal During Spring Yard Clean-Up:
- Five (5) bundles of tree branches per week. The length of branches can be no longer than four (4) feet and must be bundled together or placed into a container.
- Ten (10) bags of yard waste per week. Each bag or container should not weigh more than 40 pounds.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q – I have my own bins. Can I use them?
A – No, you may not use your personal containers. All trash and recycling must be placed in new Waste Connections containers (your new containers must be ordered by March 7) to ensure consistency and efficiency with service. If one of their bins is damaged, Waste Connections will replace it. If any residents are using small, carry recycle bins, they will not be able to use them. Residents can keep their own bins for non-trash and recycling uses but they will no longer be emptied by Waste Connections.
Q – When will my old bins be picked up?
A – Your old bins will be picked up in April. Stay tuned for more information on this transition in early March.
Q – Will they recycle the old bins?
A – Yes, the old recycle bins will be recycled by a separate company.
Unsure Which Size Containers to Order?
Check out the containers with dimensions or stop by any of the locations in the City to see samples of containers:
- Lone Tree Municipal Building (near the entrance) – 9220 Kimmer Dr
- Lone Tree Civic Center (near the entrance) – 8527 Lone Tree Pkwy
Additional Service Details on April 2025 Changes
Beginning April 14, all waste must be included in your new trash containers; no bags or debris left at curb or outside of the containers will be picked up other than during designated yard clean up months in the spring and fall which will be announced at that time.
- Trash and Recycling Collection Times
- Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Trash collection days will remain the same.
Recycling collection will remain every other week, on your scheduled trash day.
Each single-family detached and townhome household may receive up to three new containers at no charge, with no delivery or pick up fees. The three containers can be a mix of containers for trash and/or recycling.
- Each single-family residence may choose:
- One (1) trash container: 64- or 96- gallon
- One (1) recycling container: 64- or 96-gallon
- Additional Containers
- Residents may request a third, fourth or fifth trash or recycling container.
- The third container is free.
- The fourth and fifth containers are available for a fee of $4 per month, for each container, paid directly to Waste Connections.
- No Service on Specified Holidays
- New Year’s Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day.
- Service During Inclement Weather
- In the event of severe or inclement weather on a scheduled trash day, Waste Connections will provide collection services on the next business day.
- Customer Service
- Waste Connections is committed to responding to resident inquiries and complaints within 24 hours.
Additional Services
- Yard Waste Collection
- During the spring and fall seasons, two months a year, the City will offer City- wide yard waste collection, in partnership with Waste Connections.
- Collection of Large/bulky items
- By special arrangement with the resident, Waste Connections will collect large/bulky items, paid for by the resident.
- Special Needs Collection
- Waste Connections will provide, at no cost to the resident, a collection service program to households incapable of moving waste containers to the curb.
Why are these changes happening?
Effective April 1, 2025, the City will operate under a renewed, five-year contract with Waste Connections for residential trash and recycling collection for all single-family homes (attached and detached) in Lone Tree. The contract was a result of the City’s issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) in August 2024, seeking qualified companies to submit proposals for residential trash and recycling services since the City’s current trash and recycling contract with Waste Connections is going to expire in March 2025. Waste Connections was awarded the contract with the City after careful review and consideration of all proposals by City Council and staff based on cost, ease of transition for residents, customer service, and experience.
The cost of the City’s 2025 Trash and Recycling contract with Waste Connections is $750,000, with no cost to residents who participate in the program.
You can also find all this information on our flyer, mailed to residents in January 2025.
If you have questions or concerns about trash & recycling service but want to avoid phone wait times, you can e-mail [email protected] instead.
To receive notifications for any service delays or cancellations sign up for the City’s text message notification system, TextMyGov.
The City of Lone Tree is one of only two Colorado cities that provide residential trash & recycling services, free of charge, to its residents. The City contracts with Waste Connections to provide those services.
Your weekly trash and recycling pick-up day is determined based on your neighborhood. Trash service occurs on the same day every week and recycling service occurs every-other week. Waste Connections requests that you have your trash and recycling out by 7:00 a.m. Below is an overview of trash days based on where your home is located within the City. You can also visit Waste Connections online and type in your address to pull up your schedule.
Note: Newly built households in the Lyric neighborhood should complete this form to request trash and recycling service and to receive your pickup day.
Monday: Heritage Hills (except homes on Sunset Hill Circle, Sunset Hill Drive and Sunset Hill Place)
Tuesday: Belvedere, Carriage Club, Centennial Ridge, The Enclave, homes on Sunset Hill Circle, Sunset Hill Drive and Sunset Hill Place in Heritage Hills, Muirfield
Wednesday: Bluffmont Estates, Bluffmont Greene, Bluffmont Heights, Country Club Estates, Cypress Green, Heritage Estates, Montecito, Prominence Point, RidgeGate, Ridgeview, Terra Ridge, Sky Ridge
Thursday: The Charter, Club Terrace, Lone Tree Terrace, The Vista
Friday: Fairways, Lyric, Masters Park, Taos
Collection Information
Waste Connections is unable to accept any liquid waste (oil, paint, etc.) or batteries. If your trash contains wet paint, oil or hazardous materials, WARNING: a clean-up fee will be assessed. The City of Lone Tree has contracted with WM Curbside Inc. to provide hazardous material disposal.
Large Item Collection
Waste Connections will pick up large items such as sofas (or other furniture), box springs, mattresses, lawn mowers and/or construction debris for an additional fee. Please call them at 303-288-2100 to obtain a quote and schedule a pickup.
Waste Connections cannot accept refrigerators, freezers or televisions
Holiday Schedule
During a holiday week, if your regular pickup day falls on or after the holiday, your pickup day will be delayed by one day. If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, your service will not be delayed. If you have any questions regarding your pickup, please call Waste Connections at 303-288-2100.
Waste Connections observes the following holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Recycling
There is no additional cost for recycling services. Waste Connections provides residential single-stream recycling to Lone Tree residents. Single-stream recycling gives customers the ability to mix recyclable paper, plastic and glass in one bin. Recycling is picked up every other week. Please have your recycles out on the curb by 7:00 a.m. For information on composting in the County, click here.
Acceptable Recycling Materials
Plastic
Plastic containers numbered 1-7 are accepted. Here are some examples of plastics that are okay to recycle:
- Butter tubs
- Condiment bottles (ketchup, mustard, etc.)
- Liquid detergent and other cleaning supply bottles
- Milk and juice cartons
- Peanut butter jars (rinse food out)
- Shampoo bottles and liquid soap dispensers
- Soda, water and juice bottles
- Vitamin bottles
- Yogurt containers
Cardboard & Boxes – Please make sure to flatten cardboard and if large, cut it into 2 x 2 foot sections. No wax-lined cardboard is accepted, but it can be composted.
Please make sure any aerosol cans are completely empty. This includes containers such as shaving cream and hair spray cans. Labels are okay.
Brown Paper Bags
Brown paper bags are acceptable; plastic bags are not.
Chip or Paperboard
This includes items such as:
- Cereal boxes
- Food boxes for popcorn or microwaveable food boxes
- Paper egg cartons
- Paper towel and toilet paper tubes
- Soda carrier boxes
- Tissue holders
Newspaper
The entire newspaper is acceptable, including inserts and ads.
Office Paper & Bulk/Junk Mail
All types of office paper, bulk mail and junk mail are accepted. If you can tear it, we can take it. Don’t worry about paper clips, staples or sticky notes. No Tyvek (polyethylene fiber) plastic / overnight mailing folders.
Magazines, Catalogs & Phone Books
Discard plastic bags around these items and items such as CDs and magnets. All other magazines, catalogs and phone books are acceptable.
Unacceptable Recycling Materials
- Styrofoam
- Candy wrappers
- Carbon paper
- Carpet or cloth
- Food-soiled cardboard – no pizza boxes or food containers
- Food or any organic waste
- Liquids
- Plastic bags
- Plastic egg cartons (with a 1-3 recycle code only)
- Plates or dishes
- Six-pack ring holders
- Used paper cups and paper plates
- Used paper towels
- Used tissues
- Waxed paper or waxed cardboard
- Wet or soiled paper
Remember, when in doubt, throw it out. That way you will not compromise the rest of the recycling.