These 10 things made us call 311 the most this summer
The 311 data that the city keeps is my favorite data set I’ve ever encountered. It’s simultaneously incredibly messy and incredibly human.
The 311 data that the city keeps is my favorite data set I’ve ever encountered. It’s simultaneously incredibly messy and incredibly human.
But it also underpins something important about our city — what do you care enough about to call the city, sit on hold, then explain to another human who’s going to try their best to help you?
Maybe you care so much about sustainability that you’ll call to see how you can volunteer with the city’s office. Maybe you’re one of the people who called about Japanese beetles — I hear they’re terrible for roses.
But if you called the service at all this summer, you’re in good company. This summer alone, there were 124,552 calls. Here’s what we complained about the most.
Trash smells extra bad in the summer.
| Category | Calls | Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Trash | 11,821 | To check your pickup or extra pickup schedule without calling 311, check the city’s site here. If you want to request a different sized cart, go here. |
| Recycling | 4,698 | To get a bigger cart, the city suggests calling 311 or emailing DenverRecycles@DenverGov.org to see about “upsizing” to a larger recycling cart. |
| DMV | 4,606 | Best of luck to you callers. Here’s a list of Denver locations. |
| Dogs | 4,156 | Here’s a resource to check for lost dogs. |
| Driver’s License | 3,373 | Here’s where to find more information on driver’s licenses. |
| Parking | 2,819 | The city website has a lot of online resources for parking. |
| Marriage | 2,196 | You can apply for licenses online or get the marriage forms. |
| Dumping | 2,196 | The city’s links for illegal dumping just redirect back to trash information. Best to stick with 311 for this one. |
| Property taxes | 2,196 | Here’s Denver’s most frequently asked questions about property taxes. |
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