Department of The Office of Budget and Innovation
Reference: Waste Hauler Licensing Ordinance
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Traci McLean, Sustainability Coordinator
Date Prepared: June 9, 2026
PURPOSE
The purpose of this staff report is to provide City Council with an overview of a proposed waste hauler licensing ordinance and recommend proceeding to first reading of the draft ordinance. The ordinance is intended to establish regulatory standards for waste haulers operating within the City, improve data collection and transparency, and support the City’s long-term goals of increasing waste diversion, expanding recycling access, and ensuring equitable and efficient waste services across the community.
BACKGROUND
Brighton currently operates under an open-market waste collection system, where multiple private haulers provide services independently. While this structure allows for competition, it has also resulted in inconsistent service levels, limited recycling access, and inefficiencies such as redundant truck traffic.
In 2023, the City was awarded technical assistance through the Colorado Front Range Waste Diversion Enterprise’s Technical Assistance Service Provider (TASP) program. Through this effort, the City partnered with Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) and Eco-Cycle to evaluate options for improving the waste system. Outreach efforts included surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder engagement. The resulting study identified several strategies to improve service delivery and increase diversion, including implementation of a hauler licensing ordinance. Council previously indicated interest in continuing to explore these strategies.
In 2026, the City was awarded an additional round of no-cost consulting services through the Colorado Circular Communities (C3) Strategic Technical Expertise for the Public Sector (STEPS) program. Through this effort, the City again partnered with RRS and Eco-Cycle to evaluate regional licensing models, interview local haulers, and develop draft ordinance components and implementation strategies. At the April 28, 2026 study session, City Council received an overview of hauler licensing and provided feedback on several topics for additional evaluation, including recycling access, verification that recyclables are delivered to recycling facilities, enforcement for unlicensed haulers, the relationship between Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program, and alignment with Adams County’s recently adopted ordinance. The proposed ordinance framework reflects Council feedback received during that discussion. A hauler licensing ordinance establishes requirements for companies providing solid waste collection and transportation services within the City, including trash, recycling, organics, construction and demolition debris, and junk removal services. Common ordinance components include annual licensing, proof of insurance, operational standards, reporting requirements, education and outreach expectations, and compliance provisions.
The proposed ordinance would require haulers providing regular curbside waste collection services to offer recycling collection to single-family and multifamily residential customers, contingent upon Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program. Under this statewide program, producers of packaging and paper products fund eligible recycling services, which may offset recycling costs for participating communities and haulers. The ordinance would also establish minimum recycling requirements, including biweekly collection, annual customer education and outreach, and verification that recyclables are delivered to legally permitted recycling facilities.
Additional provisions include vehicle and labeling requirements, operating hours, annual reporting, and enforcement measures. Reporting would include customer account information, material tonnages, education and outreach activities, and destination facilities for collected materials. These requirements are intended to improve transparency, accountability, and the City’s understanding of local waste and recycling operations.
As part of the STEPS project, the City and project team conducted interviews with six haulers operating in or near Brighton, including curbside trash haulers, organics haulers, and commercial roll-off providers. Feedback indicated that all curbside collection haulers currently offer recycling services, are aware of Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program, and are interested in participating. Most haulers expressed general support for a licensing framework provided requirements are equitable and reasonable.
Staff also reviewed regional examples, including ordinances adopted by Adams County, Fort Collins, and Lafayette. The proposed Brighton ordinance is generally consistent with regional approaches while incorporating provisions responsive to City Council feedback, including recycling access, verification of recycling processing, education and outreach, and annual reporting requirements. Based on stakeholder engagement, regional best practices, and prior City Council direction, staff recommends proceeding to first reading of the draft hauler licensing ordinance. Implementation of a standardized licensing framework is expected to improve transparency, streamline administrative processes, reduce long-term staff time spent managing inconsistencies, and establish clearer expectations for haulers operating within the City.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve proceeding to first reading of the proposed hauler licensing ordinance.
ATTACHMENTS:
• DRAFT Ordinance
• June 9, 2026, Council Presentation: Hauler Licensing for Brighton