Residential Waste Engagement

Check Out What We Heard in Phase 2:

The Phase 2 Engagement Summary is now available! Thank you to everyone who participated online and in person over the winter. This report covers the feedback we heard from the online survey, and during the digital and in-person open houses. In the next few weeks, the project team will be launching the final round of public engagement and an additional survey.

You can find the Phase 2 Engagement Summary Report on the right-hand side of your screen, under the "Important Documents" tab. If you need a refresher on the information presented in Phase 2, you'll find that under Important Documents as well.

About the Project:

This project aims to understand the public’s opinions about the current residential waste management system in Wheat Ridge and potential future changes to this system.

In recent years, residential waste management has become a significant topic of discussion in Wheat Ridge. Currently, Wheat Ridge has an open market system for waste management, which means that residents individually choose and contract with licensed waste haulers operating in the City. There are several other waste management methods that could be used, like a single-hauler contract, pay-as-you-throw system, districted waste hauling, enhanced licensing requirements, or an opt-in preferred hauler system. To date, residents have expressed both a desire for change and satisfaction with current practices through a variety of input opportunities including the Let’s Talk program, Sustainable Neighborhoods program, and resident surveys.

This project kicked off in June 2023 and is anticipated to last 18 months, during which information will be provided regarding the current system, potential alternatives, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. The project team will lead a public engagement process with ample opportunities for input, seeking to reach residents throughout the City. The feedback received throughout this project will play an important role in shaping future decisions regarding residential waste management in Wheat Ridge.

How to Get and Stay Involved:

The second round of public engagement will take place in Spring and Summer 2024. Check out the "Current Engagement Opportunities section above for information on the open house, online self-guided meeting, and digital survey.

To stay up to date on project updates and future feedback opportunities, subscribe to this page to receive email announcements regarding upcoming engagement opportunities. You can do this by locating the megaphone “stay informed” icon at the top right of this page or middle of the page on mobile.

Project Goals:

• Maximize Resident Engagement: reach a broad spectrum of Wheat Ridge residents, encouraging active participation from all corners of the community
• Inclusivity and Accessibility: ensure that all residents have the opportunity to provide input and share their perspectives
• Neutral: remain impartial while offering clear and unbiased information to foster well-informed feedback from the residential community
• Informative: information, feedback, and analysis resulting from this project will be presented to City Council with the goal of informing future decision making