The Cortez City Council on Tuesday told staff to prepare an agreement to offer curbside trash and recycling service in Dolores, a plan that would replace the recycling option residents lost this year while bringing new revenue to Cortez.
The council will consider the proposal Feb. 24, and the service could begin March 1, according to interim Public Works and General Services Director Casey Simpson.
Dolores lost its main recycling option at the start of the year when the town’s drop-off bins closed. Colorado created a new system that pays recycling haulers directly, which changed how the old service worked.
“All the residents who used to use that service are now seeking another option which is to some extent the state's intent,” Simpson said in an interview with The Journal. “Because now… hypothetically at least… more people will recycle because it's happening at their house.”
The Dolores Town Board approved work on the agreement in December 2025.
Under the proposed deal, Dolores residents could choose the service. It would cost $2 more than the $29.75 monthly rate paid by Cortez residents. Dolores would receive bear-proof containers because the town requires them.
Simpson told the council that expanding service could bring in more revenue for Cortez while giving Dolores residents a reliable curbside option. He said the added income could help the city improve equipment and staffing.
The project would operate separately from Cortez’s regular routes. Cortez Refuse and Recycling Superintendent Colby Earley said the city would spend about $10,000 to $15,000 on startup costs. He said state funding and customer sign-ups in Dolores could cover those expenses and begin generating revenue for Cortez within two years.
“We're over 9,000 residents. Dolores is around 500. It's a very small amount compared to what we're servicing right now,” Earley told the council. “Onboarding 100 customers… or something of that nature… is very easy for us to incorporate into what we're already doing.”
Earley also said recycling could help extend the life of the Montezuma County Landfill, which he said has just over 20 years left.
“A 20 year life expectancy is not that long. It takes about 10 years time just to permit a new landfill,” Earley said. “Anything that we can do to reduce the volume of waste and material going into the landfill will actually increase the landfill’s life span.”
Dolores residents and businesses can contact the Cortez utility billing department at 970-564-4012 or email cearley@cortezco.gov if they are interested in the service. If the council approves the agreement, Earley said he will begin processing requests and set up new routes.
avanderveen@the-journal.com
