The Future of Waste Management & Diversion in Larimer County

The Solid Waste Infrastructure Master Plan was adopted in 2018 with five Tier 1 Projects. Of those five projects, two solid waste facilities have been constructed: the Central Diversion & Transfer Station and the North Landfill. The other three projects are diversion infrastructure programs that are currently being evaluated to ensure that they are still feasible and sustainable for our community. 

North Landfill and Central Diversion & Transfer Station Facility Operations Details coming soon

Central Diversion & Transfer Station

The new Diversion and Transfer Station will initially serve as a centralized facility for receiving and managing waste materials from residents, commercial waste, and self-haulers. Designed with operational efficiency, safety, and customer convenience in mind, the facility will provide modern waste receiving and transfer capabilities that support reliable and cost-effective waste management services for the community. The site layout will facilitate safe traffic flow, efficient unloading operations, and environmentally responsible handling of incoming materials. 

While the initial phase will focus on waste acceptance and transfer activities, the facility is designed with the flexibility to accommodate future diversion and resource recovery programs. Planned future enhancements may include advanced material recovery technologies, recycling and reuse initiatives, and an Advanced Organics Recovery and Membrane Composting Facility capable of processing food waste, yard waste, and other organic materials. This phased approach positions the facility to support long-term sustainability goals by reducing landfill disposal, increasing waste diversion rates, conserving resources, and advancing a more circular approach to materials management. 

The current landfill located at 5887 S Taft Hill Rd is nearing final capacity and is expected to be full by the end of 2026. In anticipation, the Central Diversion & Transfer Station has a target opening date of August 3rd, 2026. We wanted to share some progress photos of the construction as of June 2026. 

Significant Milestones: 

1/28/2025: A signed contract was executed with a General Contractor for the construction of the Transfer Station, Scale houses, Scales, and Utilities.

6/30/2026: Completion of construction on the Transfer Station, Scale Houses, Scales, and Utilities.

Estimated Construction Timeline:

February 2025  – June 30th, 2026

The facility is anticipated to open on August 3rd, 2026

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Construction Progress: June 2026

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Larimer County North Landfill

The North Landfill is a modern, state-of-the-art Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) disposal facility engineered to safely, efficiently, and in an environmentally responsible manner dispose of solid waste while protecting public health and natural resources. The facility incorporates advanced environmental control systems, including composite liner and leachate collection systems, groundwater and landfill gas monitoring networks, and stormwater management infrastructure designed to meet or exceed regulatory requirements. Operational practices emphasize efficiency, safety, and control of odor, litter, and dust through the use of modern equipment and best management practices. Landfill gas collection systems can be designed to support future energy recovery opportunities, further enhancing sustainability objectives. With careful planning for phased development, environmental monitoring, and long-term site management, the landfill serves as a critical component of an integrated solid waste management system, providing reliable disposal capacity while supporting broader goals for waste diversion, resource recovery, and environmental stewardship.

Significant Milestones:

9/3/2024: A signed contract was executed with a General Contractor to begin construction of the site Infrastructure, including the Maintenance Building, Scale House, Scales, Utilities, Fencing, and Stormwater Controls. 

3/3/2025: The excavation and construction of Landfill Cell 1 was started by a second contractor.

Construction Timeline:

September 2024 – December 2025

Infrastructure and cell development have been completed as of June 2026

The facility is anticipated to open August 3rd,2026

Construction Completion: May 2026

North Landfill gatehouse construction. Full paving of the road leading into the landfill, as well as full construction of the gatehouse building, has been completed as of October 2025
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North Landfill Site Map

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Dates are subject to change.

Information Updated:  6/15/2026

Learn More about Solid Waste Future Diversion & Infrastructure Programs

FAQs

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  1. Why is there a new landfill opening and the current landfill closing?

    The existing Larimer County Landfill, located at 5887 S Taft Hill Rd., is nearly at permitted capacity. As of August 1, 2026, the landfill will no longer be open to the public for disposal.

  2. When does the North Landfill and Central Diversion & Transfer Station open?

    Both the North Landfill and the Central Diversion & Transfer Station are scheduled to open on August 3rd, 2026

  3. Where is the North Landfill located?

    The address for the North Landfill is 15669 N County Rd 9, Wellington, CO 80549, approximately 2 miles south of the Rawhide Energy Station.

  4. Who will use the North Landfill?

    The primary use for the North landfill is to support the Central Diversion & Transfer Station operations, commercial waste haulers, and residents within a 10-mile radius of the North Landfill.


    All contracted self-haulers, construction and demolition haulers, roofers, heavy rubble haulers, as well as City of Fort Collins and City of Loveland residents will use the Central Diversion and Transfer Station to support future diversion facilities, such as composting and Construction and Demolition Processing.

  5. If I am a resident who wants to self-haul, where will I take my trash?

    Please note that only residents who live within about a 10-mile radius of New Larimer County North Landfill will take their trash to the North Landfill. Most Larimer County residents such as residents within the city limits of Fort Collins and nearby communities will use the New Larimer County Central Diversion & Transfer Station for waste disposal.

    Residents who fall outside of the 10-mile radius to self-haul to the North Landfill will be expected to bring their trash to the Central Diversion & Transfer Station. Residents of Fort Collins, Loveland, and nearby communities are encouraged to use the new Transfer Station and to NOT haul waste to the new landfill.

  6. Will these new facilities affect tip fees?

    Fees will remain the same between the North Landfill and Larimer County (South) Landfill for the remainder of 2026 (current fees can be found here). However, the Central Diversion & Transfer Station fees will increase for compacted waste (residential and commercial) on August 3, 2026. All other fees will stay the same for the remainder of 2026. Fees for 2027 will be determined by the ongoing operating costs of both facilities, future cell development needs for the North Landfill and other relevant operating costs.

  7. What route are the transfer trucks taking to the new landfill from the Taft Hill Site?

    The Larimer County transfer trucks will utilize an approved haul route via I-25 to haul trash from the Central Diversion & Transfer Station to the North Landfill.

  8. Will there be free curbside recycling roll-off bins at the North Landfill? Can I drop off my HHW at the new landfill site?

    Currently, we will only offer trash disposal at the North landfill. Please continue to take household hazardous waste to the Taft Hill HHW Building (through the existing entrance at the Larimer County Landfill and NOT the new Transfer Station entrance.) If you are looking for a recycling drop-off in the area near the North landfill, take a look at our list of convenience centers in your area.


    Note: Please continue to take all residential green waste, scrap metal, appliances, tires, and mattresses to the Central Diversion & Transfer Station entrance for recycling, reuse and diversion.

  9. What happens to the old landfill on Taft Hill?

    Once the North Landfill opens, the Larimer County Landfill site on Taft Hill Road will begin the closure process, expanding the existing methane gas collection system, and the County will use the facility for internal purposes.

  10. How will the services at the Taft Hill site be affected? Will Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), Recycling Center and the Education Center be affected?

    The County will continue to use the Larimer County Landfill entrance to access the HHW drop-off, Garbage Garage (education center), and for commercial haulers dropping off recyclables at the Larimer County Recycling Center. Residential recycling drop off will remain in the same location for now.
     

    Note: Though the Larimer County Landfill is closing, we will continue to accept trash at our Central Diversion & Transfer Station from the new Trilby Road entrance.

  11. What happens on days when the North Landfill is closed due to weather?

    The area of the North Landfill can be subject to high winds. When the North Landfill closes due to wind or other weather conditions, haulers will expect to take their loads to the Central Diversion & Transfer Station. A new text/email subscription service can be found here.

  12. Why has the Central Diversion & Transfer Station been built?

    The Central Diversion & Transfer Station will serve as the primary solid waste management hub for users who previously relied on the Larimer County Landfill for waste disposal. The facility will receive municipal solid waste from residential, commercial, industrial, and self-haul customers, providing a centralized location for waste collection, consolidation, and transfer. Waste delivered to the station will be inspected, weighed, and transferred to larger transport vehicles for efficient shipment to the North Landfill or designated disposal facility. By serving as the region's central transfer point, the facility will maintain uninterrupted disposal services following the closure of the Larimer County Landfill while improving transportation efficiency, supporting regional waste management operations, and providing convenient access for the community.


    The new Central Diversion & Transfer Station facility will allow Larimer County to continue to provide an easily accessible area for residents and haulers to reduce vehicle traffic direct hauling to the North Landfill. (Industrial waste will go through the new Diversion and Transfer Station gatehouse, however the materials will be routed to a specific area for disposal).

  13. Where will the Central Diversion & Transfer Staion be located?

    The address for the Central Diversion & Transfer Station is 2388 W Trilby Road Fort Collins, CO 80526. The new entrance for the Central Diversion & Transfer Station will be located at the intersection of Taft Hill and Trilby Rd. This entrance is just a ½ mile down the road from our current entrance. Our administrative business office will continue to operate from 5887 S Taft Hill Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525.

  14. Who will use the Central Diversion & Transfer Station?

    Nearly all current customers that were using the Larimer County (south) Landfill will now use the Central Diversion & Transfer Station off of Trilby Road instead. Contracted self-haulers that are not in the 10-mile radius to haul to the North Landfill, construction and demolition haulers, roofers, heavy rubble haulers, the City of Fort Collins and City of Loveland residents will use the Central Diversion & Transfer Station to support future diversion facilities, such as composting and Construction and Demolition Processing. Municipal service departments, utility accounts, and construction services will expect to haul to the Central Diversion & Transfer Station.


    Note: Residents who fall outside of the 10-mile radius to self-haul to the North Landfill will be expected to bring their trash to the Central Diversion & Transfer Station. Residents of Fort Collins, Loveland, and nearby communities are encouraged to use the new Transfer Station and to NOT haul waste to the new landfill.

  15. Will I be able to continue to bring recycling or household hazardous waste (HHW) to the Taft Hill site?

    Please continue to use the current entrance for services such as HHW, visiting the Garbage Garage Education Center for drop-ins and tours, using our free recycling drop-off bins, or visiting our business office. There will not be access to the recycling bins, HHW, Education Center, or business office from the new entrance. The old entrance will remain open for HHW, recycling drop-offs, and access to the Education Center. Commercial haulers hauling recycling to the recycling center will continue to use the current entrance for their services.

  16. If I haul Construction and Demolition waste, where will I take my waste?

    Construction and demolition haulers, roofers, and heavy rubble haulers will use the Central Diversion &Transfer Station off of the Trilby Rd. entrance. This will support future diversion facilities, such as composting and Construction and Demolition Processing.

  17. Has there been a consideration to traffic for the new Transfer Station?

    Yes, an extensive traffic impact study has been completed, and subsequent road improvements have been implemented, including the controlled traffic signal at the intersection of Taft and Trilby, new roundabout at CR 70/ CR 9, and expanding and repaving CR 9 north of CR 70.

Contact Us

5887 S. Taft Hill Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526
24-hour information line: 970-498-5770
Main office line, M-F 8am - 4:30pm: 970-498-5760

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