Department of The Office of Budget and Innovation
Reference: Community Recycling and Composting
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Traci McLean, Sustainability Coordinator
Date Prepared: April 28, 2026
PURPOSE
The purpose of this staff report is to provide City Council with an overview of a proposed waste hauler licensing ordinance and to present key considerations, benefits, and next steps. The ordinance is intended to establish regulatory standards for waste haulers operating within the City of Brighton, 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 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 has previously indicated interest in continuing to explore these strategies. A licensing ordinance represents a foundational step that can be implemented independently or in coordination with future system changes. In 2026, the City was awarded another round of consulting services through the new Colorado Circular Co...
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