City Happenings, November ’24
Compost At Last
On Oct. 17, the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) mailed letters to approximately 13,400 households in Park Hill, Central Park, and parts of East Colfax letting them know compost collection service is starting soon in their neighborhoods — nearly two years after the City Council approved the pay-as-you-throw program.
Residents had 10 days — until Oct. 27 — to let DOTI know what size compost cart they want. Those who did not receive the notice or have a chance to respond by the deadline can call the city hotline at 3-1-1, or check out denvergov.org/compost for info.
According to the city, the carts will be delivered to homes beginning in November, along with small kitchen pails and a compost how-to guide. Collection starts the week after a customer’s cart arrives.
The City Council approved the pay-as-you-throw program to begin in January, 2023. Residents pay differing amounts depending on the size of their trash cart, and recycling and composting services were increased to weekly pick-ups. However, the city delayed the compost component of the program. City officials cited the need to “educate” the public on how to compost as the reason for a phased rollout. With the new service to northeast Denver neighborhoods, Denver estimates that compost collection will reach 62 percent of the city’s customers.
Farewell To Fall
The leaves are falling, and Denver’s LeafDrop program is in full swing. Residents can download a coupon to receive a free five-pack of paper leaf bags at Ace Hardware stores. (Link: beasmartash.org/denver-leafdrop-coupon)
The giant paper leaf bags are compostable through November. In addition, several designated sites are available to drop off paper bags of leafs, lawn debris and old pumpkins. Leaves that are in plastic bags must be emptied on site.
The following LeafDrop locations are open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Nov. 30:
• Cherry Creek Transfer Station – 7301 E. Jewell Ave.
• Havana Nursery – 10450 Smith Rd.
The following LeafDrop locations are open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 2-17:
• Bruce Randolph High School – E. 40th Ave. and Steele St.
• Cherry Creek Transfer Station – 7301 E. Jewell Ave.
Colfax BRT Kicks Off
On Oct. 4 city and federal officials kicked off Denver’s controversial $280 million Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The plan is to install center-lane buses on Colfax Avenue running from Broadway (at the state Capitol) to the eastern edge of Denver (at Yosemite Street).
The construction is starting at Broadway and will work eastward. Completion is currently estimated to be the end of 2027. When it’s finished, the driving lanes on Colfax Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction, raising concerns about traffic spilling over to residential neighborhood streets, including through Park Hill.
Denver city government has established a program called “We Back the Fax” to support local businesses along the corridor during construction. The website is denvergov.org/webackthefax.
People can learn more and sign up for construction updates at the city’s official BRT project page:
denvergov.org/colfaxbrt.