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: July 7, 2026
PURPOSE
The purpose of this staff report is to recommend approval of first reading of an ordinance establishing a licensing program for waste haulers operating within the City of Brighton. The proposed ordinance establishes operational standards, reporting requirements, and recycling service expectations to improve transparency, accountability, and waste diversion while maintaining Brighton's open-market waste collection system.
BACKGROUND
Brighton currently operates under an open-market waste collection system in which multiple private companies provide waste collection services throughout the community. While this approach provides residents and businesses with service provider choice, it has also resulted in inconsistent service levels, limited recycling access, and limited visibility into waste collection operations occurring within the City.
In 2023, the City received technical assistance through the Colorado Front Range Waste Diversion Enterprise's Technical Assistance Service Provider (TASP) program to evaluate opportunities to improve Brighton's waste management system. The study identified a hauler licensing ordinance as a foundational strategy to improve data collection, increase recycling access, and establish consistent operating standards for waste haulers.
Building upon that work, the City was awarded additional technical assistance in 2026 through the Colorado Circular Communities (C3) Strategic Technical Expertise for the Public Sector (STEPS) program. Through this effort, Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) and Eco-Cycle assisted staff in reviewing regional ordinances, interviewing local waste haulers, and developing the proposed ordinance.
City Council reviewed the proposed ...
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