Denver voters and elected officials haven’t been timid about setting higher standards for the services and oversight they expect their city to deliver. In mid-2022, the City Council set in motion the launch of a pay-as-you-through trash collection program that also promised expanded compost and recycling pickup. Then, in that fall’s election, voters directed the city to take responsibility for sidewalk repairs and construction citywide — while also passing a mandate that apartment buildings, offices, restaurants, construction sites and special events follow new recycling and composting requirements.