Trash, Recycle, Compost
The Town partners with Waste Management for weekly trash and bi-weekly recycling pickup.
Trash Pickup: Every Thursday Morning
- Set Out By: 7:30AM
Recycling Pickup: Every other Thursday
- Set Out by 7:30AM
- Crested Butte uses one bin for single-stream recycling. Please put all of your recyclable items in the large green polycart with the yellow lid.
Holiday Delays: If pickup falls on or after a holiday, service moves to Friday the following week.
- Observed Holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Save-As-You-Throw (SAYT) Information
Bin Delivery Information
Waste Management will begin delivering new Save-As-You-Throw (SAYT) trash bins on Monday, December 1, 2025, and expects to complete all deliveries by Friday, December 5, 2025. The exact delivery date for each address will not be known. If you will be away from your residence during this week, and you do not have someone who can pull your new trash bin, please fill out this Save-as-You-Throw Absentee Form. Public Works staff will assist with moving your can out of the right of way until you return.
If you have an old bin that you would like Waste Management to dispose of, please leave that bin out on a regular trash day beginning December 11, 2025, and mark it with the yellow stickers Waste Management will provide with your new bin. Instructions for this process will also be included with your new bin.
New 2026 SAYT Rates
Effective November 3, 2025, Town Council approved changes to the 2026 Save-As-You-Throw bin rates on the Town's fee schedule due to the distribution of bin selections for Waste Management customers. New rates are as follows:
- 32 gallon: $10.05 (reduced from $24.62)
- 64 gallon: $15.00 (reduced from $27.23)
- 96 gallon: $38.00 (reduced from $40.56)
Your new trash rate will be reflected on your December bill. Thank you, Crested Butte for your patience as we work to launch this program! For questions or concerns, please call Waste Management directly at (970)-349-1032 or email sustainability@crestedbutte-co.gov.
Save As You Throw FAQs
- What is "Save-As-You-Throw"?
NEW for 2025 - Waste Management is shifting to a Save As You Throw program for waste collection.
With the new Save As You Throw approach, you can choose from three sizes of WM-provided trash carts or keep your existing personal trash cart. Your monthly service charge (on the Town utility bill) will range depending on the size of trash cart chosen. Your existing recycling cart and service is included in the trash price. There is no change to your recycling service.
Note: There is no charge for the initial cart delivery/swap with this new program. Bear-resistant trash carts are available at no additional cost. After the initial delivery, existing customers will be able to change cart sizes once per year in August for $25.
- I currently have multiple bins assigned to my account, but I can’t request multiple bins via the app. What do I do?
Please call Waste Management (WM) at (970) 349-1032x3 and explain your needs. They will account for your request of bin size manually or WM staff will direct you how to use the app to request multiple containers.
If your request is for more than one (1) container per residential unit, WM will bill you directly for the extra container.
- I understand there are three (3) container sizes with different rates. Will this charge be in addition to my current rate?
No. Your monthly charge for refuse/recycling will be the rate assigned to the size of refuse container selected.
- What is the effective date of the new billing amount?
The new rates will be reflected on your December 2025 billing statement.
- I’m switching out a bin that I previously purchased. Will WM dispose of it even though it’s not theirs?
Yes
- I indicated that I want Waste Management to take my old bin and swap it for a new bin. What do I do?
Waste Management will begin collecting old bins on December 11, after new bins are delivered the week of December 1. They will provide yellow stickers with the new bin. Mark your old bin with a yellow sticker, and put it out on a regular trash day beginning December 11 if you would like Waste Management to remove it. Detailed instructions will also be provided with the delivery of your new bin.
- When will the new bins be dropped off?
Waste Management will begin bin delivery Monday, December 1, 2025, and expects to be completed by Friday, December 5.
- What do I do if I'm not here during the bin delivery period?
Please fill out this SAYT Absentee Form if you will be away from your residence during these dates and do not have someone to help pull in your bin for you. Public Works staff from the Town of Crested Butte will pull your bin out of the right-of-way and onto the edge of your property for you to place in its proper storage area upon your return
- Do I need to have an empty refuse container before it is changed out?
No. Waste Management will collect your refuse container along with applicable contents the day your refuse container gets swapped out.
- Is there a fee for changing out my current refuse container?
No, as long as your request is received by the August 29th deadline.
Alternative Recycling Options
Waste Management Drop-Off
Recyclables can be dropped off Monday–Friday, 9:30 AM–3:30 PM at the Riverland Transfer Station (467 Riverland Dr). Refer to the list below for accepted items.
Gunnison Recycling Center
Open 24/7 at 10th & Rio Grande Ave (west of the airport).
For more information, call 970-641-0044.
Recyclable Items
Aluminum, Tin, and Steel Cans
- Recycle clean pet food cans, coffee and drink containers, and canned goods. These are accepted crushed or uncrushed.
- Foil and food trays are not accepted.
Glass
- All colors of bottles and jars are accepted. Please remove lids (they can be recycled separately).
Paper and Cardboard
- Accepted items include brown paper bags, office paper, newspapers, magazines, flattened cardboard, and dairy or juice cartons.
- Do not include craft paper, paper towels, cafeteria waste, or fluorescent paper.
Plastics #1–7
- Accepted plastics include wide-mouth containers (like yogurt or butter tubs), clear deli clamshells, personal care and prescription bottles, plastic pails, Nalgene bottles, and clean flower or garden pots.
- Unacceptable plastics include anything with food residue (please rinse!), frozen entrée trays, shrink wrap, plastic bags, Styrofoam, compostable cups or bottles, and chemical containers (such as motor oil, antifreeze, or pesticides).
Yard Waste Disposal (Ended November 6, 2025)
The Town partnered with Elements Mountain Compost on Oct. 23, Oct. 30., and Nov. 6, 2025, to provide free yard waste pickup for composting. Yard waste pickup events are finished for 2025. Because this event was very popular, the Town may explore offering it again in 2026! If you have extra yard waste to dispose of, do not leave it outside of your trash cans or in the right of away - it will not be picked up. You can either put the waste inside of your trash can or drop it off at the following:
- CB Waste Management Transfer Station , 467 Riverland Drive, Crested Butte, CO, 81224 (fees apply)
- The Gunnison County Landfill, 1000 County Road 42C, Gunnison, CO 81230, (fees apply)
For questions, call Waste Management at (970)-349-1032 or email sustainability@crestedbutte-co.gov.
Composting In Crested Butte
The Towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte have partnered with Elements Mountain Compost to launch a year-long residential compost drop-off pilot program.
Location:
The drop-off site is on the east side of the Chamber of Commerce building at the 4-Way parking lot. View drop off pin.
Membership:
Compost memberships are $17 per month. Limited scholarships are available on a case-by-case basis.
Early Sign-Up Bonus:
The first 50 participants will receive a free compost bucket, which can be picked up at either Crested Butte or Mt. Crested Butte Town Hall.
For questions about the program or your membership, email info@elementscompost.com
Wildlife-Resistant Trash Containers
To reduce wildlife encounters and protect public safety, the Town enforces regulations on trash storage and curbside placement. These rules apply to both residential and commercial properties.
- Residential Trash Guidelines
- Residents may set out up to three 35-gallon cans per week.
- On non-pickup days, trash cans must be stored indoors (in a garage or building).
- On pickup days, cans may be placed curbside only between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM and must be returned inside by 6:00 PM.
If indoor storage is not possible:
- Use an approved wildlife-resistant polycart.
- Polycarts may be placed at the curb after 6:00 PM the night before pickup and must be removed by 6:00 PM on collection day.
About Wildlife-Resistant Polycarts:
- Polycarts feature latching lids designed to deter wildlife.
- Pick up polycarts from:
- Ace Hardware, Gunnison: 970-641-1212
- Waste Management: 970-349-1033
- Commercial Trash Guidelines
Containers holding wildlife-edible waste must be stored in one of the following:
- An approved wildlife-resistant polycart
- A wildlife-resistant dumpster
- A container stored indoors
Waste grease must be placed in:
- A wildlife-proof grease container, or
- A container stored inside a building
Grease containers must be secured and placed on a level surface.
Suppliers:
- Wildlife-proof grease containers: www.bearsaver.com
- Drum lids and rings: