HOA Trash and Recycling#
Fort Collins City Council recently adopted a contract for residential trash and recycling collection. The City of Fort Collins will contract with Republic Services to provide trash, recycling, yard trimmings, and bulky items collection for all residential dwellings with seven or fewer units within Fort Collins City limits (including single-unit homes, townhomes, duplexes, mobile home communities and small apartment complexes or condos of up to seven units that use carts).
Homeowners Associations (HOAs) with current written contracts for trash and recycling service that were signed and in effect by April 28, 2023, had an opportunity to apply for an exemption from the City's contract. The deadline for applications to be submitted was December 31, 2023. Applications for exemption are no longer being accepted except between May 19th-May 28th, 2025.
HOAs with approved exemptions must conform with all applicable requirements of Chapter 12, Article II and Chapter 15, Article XV of the City Code, and requirements laid out in the Rules and regulations regarding the City's residential waste collection program.
HOAs with an approved exemption must submit an exemption renewal application at least 30 days before the expiration, termination, or amendment of the existing approved contract to be reviewed by City staff. Failing to do so could result in losing the exemption. To request an exemption renewal application, email contractfortrash@fcgov.com.
Summary of Requirements#
Service Requirements
- Pricing for service is based on the size of the trash cart
- Three sizes of trash carts must be offered: small, medium, large options*
- 100% price difference between sizes of trash cart (e.g. $1x for small, $2x for medium, $3x for large)
- Extra waste (including when a cart lid can’t close fully) must be charged proportional to the standard rate for a small capacity container**
- Every other week collection of recycling included for no additional cost
- Up to two large recycling carts included
- If recycling is collected in an 18-gallon tubs, recycling must be collected weekly
- Residents can opt in to weekly yard trimmings collection from Apr 1 – Nov 30 for a separate fee
- As of 9/30/24, yard trimmings must be included in all residents’ service (and must not be a separate line item on bills) unless the resident declines service
HOA Requirements
- Arrange for services that comply with service requirements (above)
- Provide written notice to residents in the HOA
- Keep a copy of the written notice, a list of recipients of the notice, and a record of the date and manner of distribution of the notice for five years after the notice provided
- Allow households to each select from any of the trash cart sizes; HOA may not encourage/discourage the selection of any particular size
Hauler Requirements
- Distribute the written notice to all customers (including HOA residents)
- If HOA will distribute the notice to its residents, the hauler must clearly notify the HOA representative of this obligation
- Contracts with HOAs must be in writing
- To be eligible for exemption from the City’s contract, the contract must be executed by 4/28/23
- May charge a service surcharge of up to 25% of the cost of the small trash cart service cost; may not charge any other fees
Written Notice Requirements
- Must include that recycling service is included in service, the range of recycling containers available, any rules for collection set by the hauler, the trash container sizes available and related prices, that optional yard trimmings collection is available and the related service price
- Must include recycling guidelines / educational material that is provided by the City of Fort Collins
- Can be distributed to HOA residents by the hauler or by the HOA management
- Must be sent at the following times:
- Once per year on an ongoing basis
- Within 10 days of a resident joining the HOA
- Within 30 days of the HOA receiving updated rates for service
This is a summary. Full requirements can be found in Chapter 12 and Chapter 15 of the Municipal Code.
* small = 30-39 gallons, medium = 60-69 gallons, large = 90-99 gallons
** for example, a customer who placed out an extra 32-gallon bag of solid waste would be charged ¼ the monthly rate for the small capacity container service as the bag would be equivalent to the amount of small capacity container service volume provided per week