Thornton, CO trash pickup schedule
Thornton trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.
Population 147,766 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.
Contents10 sections
Quick answer
| Who collects | The city collects City of Thornton Environmental Services runs the Solid Waste Collection Program for City trash customers (billed on the water bill). Some homes inside city limits are not City trash customers (the Click & Haul page addresses residents who are 'not a City of Thornton trash customer but live within city limits'); the city's seasonal curbside services are 'for City trash/recycle customers only'.13 |
|---|---|
| How often | Trash weekly, recycling every other week1 |
| Set out | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Your pickup day | Address lookup: thorntonco.gov. App: City of Thornton Recycles (ReCollect)12 |
| Holiday | Thanksgiving Day, Thu, Nov 26, 2026: Delayed one day. Collection delayed one day.1 |
Bulk items: By appointment (details). Drop-off sites: 3 listed (hours and fees).
Thornton holiday trash schedule 2026
| City’s rule | Trash and recycling collection is delayed one day on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.1 |
|---|---|
| Official notice | thorntonco.gov1 |
| Holiday | Date | Pickup | What the city says |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1, 2026 | Delayed one day | Collection delayed one day.1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb 16, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Independence Day (Fourth of July) | Fri, Jul 3, 2026 (observed) | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day | Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Delayed one day | Collection delayed one day.1 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 | Delayed one day | Collection delayed one day.1 |
Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.
Bulk trash pickup in Thornton
| How it works | By appointment3 |
|---|---|
| How to request | Click & Haul: register and schedule online (or call 720-977-6200); items on the street (not yard/driveway/sidewalk) by 7 a.m. on the collection day and not more than 24 hours before; $10 fee if cancelled less than 48 hours ahead.3 |
| Limits | Minimum charge covers up to 6 cubic yards (about two pickup truck beds); larger loads priced on request.3 |
| Fees | $72 for up to 2 pickup truck beds; $121 for 3–4 truck beds; possible $30 per mattress; billed on the next utility bill.3 |
| Accepted |
|
| Not accepted |
Recycling in Thornton
| Pickup | every other week1 |
|---|---|
| Type | single-stream4 |
| Glass | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Plastics | Not published by the city (official page) |
Accepted
Not published by the city (official page)
Not accepted
- Plastic bags4
Programs
- Free one-time pickup of flattened moving boxes for new residents who are Thornton trash customers, by appointment (email [email protected]); collected on the normal recycling day, out by 7 a.m.4
- Batteries: keep out of curbside carts; take to retail drop-offs (Battery Network locator)4
- Waste Wizard (ReCollect) item lookup for what goes in which container1
Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups
| Yard waste pickup | No regular curbside yard-waste cart; organics (grass, leaves, food scraps) can be dropped off free at the IMC on weekdays, plus seasonal curbside bagged leaves5 |
|---|---|
| Season | Not published by the city (official page) |
| How often | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Rules | At the IMC compost bin: be prepared to open all bags; only 3-gallon compostable kitchen bags accepted; no paper sacks, other compostable bags, dirt, sod or rocks; no commercial/landscaping businesses.5 |
| Food scraps | drop-off only: food scraps accepted at the IMC compost bin (12450 Washington St), weekdays 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.5 |
| Christmas trees | 2026-27: City trash customers may set natural trees at the curb on their regular trash day Dec 26 – Jan 8 (no plastic, no ornaments/lights); drop-off Saturday Jan 9, 2027, 8 a.m.–noon at the IMC, 12450 Washington St (proof of residency).6 |
| Leaf collection | Fall 2026: bagged leaves at the curb on regular collection days Oct 26 – Nov 20 (fill the black container first; City trash customers only); free leaf drop-off Saturdays Oct 31 and Nov 14, 8 a.m.–noon at the IMC (paper bags, or empty other bags on site).6 |
| Cleanup events |
|
Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste
Infrastructure Maintenance Center (IMC)
| Type | Recycling center |
|---|---|
| Run by | The city |
| Address | 12450 Washington Street (north entrance at 126th Ave. & Ogden St.) · Map1 |
| Hours | Recycling bins Mon–Fri 6 a.m.–5 p.m.; resident drop-off of motor oil/antifreeze (≤4 gal), appliances, organics and holiday lights weekdays 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.1 |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Who can use it | Thornton residents only (no commercial or landscaping companies)1 |
| Not accepted | Paint, televisions, furniture and general trash debris; cooking oil no longer accepted |
Thornton Municipal Service Center recycling drop-off
| Type | Recycling center |
|---|---|
| Run by | The city |
| Address | 88th Avenue & Colorado Boulevard · Map4 |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 6 a.m.–5 p.m.4 |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Accepts | cardboard, paper, paperboard, glass bottles and jars, aluminum/steel/empty aerosol cans, plastic containers 1-7; no plastic bags4 |
Veolia Colorado Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Center
| Type | Household hazardous waste |
|---|---|
| Run by | Veolia (private; city voucher program) |
| Address | 9131 E. 96th Ave., Henderson, CO · Map6 |
| Hours | By appointment: second Wednesday Jan–Mar; from April Wednesdays and one Saturday per month through October; book online or 303-526-81556 |
| Fees | Fees apply; city voucher covers the $30 facility fee (one per household per year; email [email protected], subject 'VEOLIA VOUCHER REQUEST'); resident pays per-pound fee6 |
| Who can use it | Thornton residents (voucher)6 |
Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.
Missed pickup and contacts
| Missed pickup form | No online form; email [email protected] to request a pickup after a missed collection (fees may apply)3 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 720-977-6200 (Trash & Recycling Services)1 |
| 311 | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Official website | thorntonco.gov1 |
| [email protected]1 |
Nearby cities
- Denver, CO11 miles · The city collects
- Arvada, CO13 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Boulder, CO18 miles · Residents choose a licensed private hauler
- Lakewood, CO18 miles · Residents choose a licensed private hauler
- Aurora, CO19 miles · Residents choose a licensed private hauler
- Longmont, CO19 miles · The city collects
All Colorado cities: Colorado trash pickup schedules.
Thornton trash pickup FAQ
What day is trash picked up in Thornton?
Trash is collected weekly. Thornton does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s address lookup (thorntonco.gov) or the City of Thornton Recycles (ReCollect) app.
Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving Day 2026 in Thornton?
Thanksgiving Day falls on Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Delayed one day: Collection delayed one day.
Is trash picked up on Christmas Day 2026 in Thornton?
Christmas Day falls on Fri, Dec 25, 2026. Delayed one day: Collection delayed one day.
Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2026 in Thornton?
New Year's Day falls on Thu, Jan 1, 2026. Delayed one day: Collection delayed one day.
How do I get rid of bulky items in Thornton?
By appointment. Click & Haul: register and schedule online (or call 720-977-6200); items on the street (not yard/driveway/sidewalk) by 7 a.m. on the collection day and not more than 24 hours before; $10 fee if cancelled less than 48 hours ahead. Fees: $72 for up to 2 pickup truck beds; $121 for 3–4 truck beds; possible $30 per mattress; billed on the next utility bill.
How do I report a missed trash pickup in Thornton?
Use the city’s online form (No online form; email [email protected] to request a pickup after a missed collection (fees may apply)) or call 720-977-6200 (Trash & Recycling Services).
Sources
- 1 Trash & RecyclingCity · thorntonco.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 2 Trash & Recycling CalendarCity · thorntonco.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 3 Click and Haul Pickup ServiceCity · thorntonco.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 4 RecyclingCity · thorntonco.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 5 CompostingCity · thorntonco.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 6 Trash & Recycling Program Event DatesCity · thorntonco.gov · checked October 30, 2026
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Second-pass verification against every source: October 30, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.