Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, contractors and developers working in Summit County, Colorado, will face new landfill costs if they fail to sort their construction and demolition (C&D) waste. The Summit County Resource Allocation Park in Dillon announced that unsorted C&D loads will be charged $150 per ton, while properly sorted material loads will see a reduced rate of $85 per ton.
The pricing change, adopted through Resolution No. 2025-10 by the Board of County Commissioners, is designed to reduce strain on the local landfill and encourage greater recycling of building materials commonly found in the booming construction market.
County officials say the policy directly supports landfill sustainability efforts. By increasing the cost of mixed debris disposal, the intent is to shift contractors toward better on-site waste separation and reuse practices — especially as Summit County continues to grow in both commercial and residential development activity.
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The updated rate structure applies to all mixed loads generated from:
Loads containing wood, metal, drywall, concrete, plastics and other common building materials that are not separated into approved recyclable categories will automatically be charged the unsorted fee, the county confirmed.
Recent waste characterization studies have helped shape the landfill’s revised approach. A 2024 report found that roughly one-third of C&D materials currently dumped in the facility could instead be recycled or diverted. The majority of that debris — about 70% — was linked to single-family residential construction, followed by commercial and multifamily projects making up nearly 20%.
At present, 21% of all waste in Summit County is being diverted from the landfill. Without action, the facility is forecast to reach capacity by 2078. To avoid future emergency expansions, officials are targeting a 40% diversion rate by 2035, with C&D waste playing a critical role. Specific benchmarks include 35% diversion by 2028 and 50% by 2035.
The county says contractors will have access to instructional resources, updated signage and improved sorting zones to support the transition before fines begin next year.
Originally reported by CD Recycler.
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