Aspen to host info event prior to new phase of mandatory composting

The city of Aspen is inviting HOAs and multi-family complex property managers to a “Lunch and Learn” event to provide support as the community transitions into a new phase of mandatory composting.

The event will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at City Hall’s Pearl Pass conference room, located at 427 Rio Grande Place. Light refreshments will be provided, with city staff available to walk through the program, explain what resources will be provided, and answer questions.

“Aspen’s composting program is about more than diverting waste — it’s about creating a community-wide culture of sustainability,” a press release from the city states. “With your participation, the city of Aspen can continue to set an example for other mountain towns and ensure a healthier, more resilient future for Aspen.”

Aspen’s first phase of composting ordinance went into effect in 2024, making it so that all city restaurants must actively compost.

“The results have been remarkable: our composting facility has seen a 70% increase in organic materials processed, and local waste haulers have reported a noticeable decrease in trash volumes,” the release reads. “While several factors may contribute to this reduction, it’s clear that composting is helping us move toward a more sustainable future.”

Between 2023 and 2024, the city reported the amount of organic material collected in town increased by 260%.

Now, beginning Jan. 15, 2026, all businesses and multi-family properties will be required to provide composting access for residents and employees.

The city of Aspen will support participation by supplying indoor compost containers and educational materials for all addresses, bear-proof outdoor compost receptacles for multi-family properties, and five centralized bear-proof drop-off locations for businesses to dispose of food waste.

Printed and social media outreach is forthcoming in the next couple of months, and direct correspondence by mail and email will detail how to comply with the new ordinance.

“Aspen is one of the first mountain towns in Colorado to require the separation of organic materials from trash,” the press release confirms. “Many communities offer composting services, but Aspen is taking a pioneering step by making it mandatory.”