Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Arlington
Washington state municipal collections operate on weekly zone-based routes. Specific days are determined by your Organics Recycling Collection Area (ORCA).
State Mandate
Comply with the WA Organics Management Law. E-waste and hazardous materials are strictly prohibited.
Grey or Green Bin (Trash)
Bag all garbage securely before placing it in your primary cart. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with the lid completely closed. Overloaded carts may incur an additional extra garbage fee.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam and foam packaging
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter (double-bagged)
- ✓Diapers
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely directly into the blue cart. Never put recyclables in plastic bags. Ensure all items are Empty, Clean, and Dry before disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, unwaxed cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper, mail, and newspaper
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film wrap
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food residue and liquids
- ✕Scrap metal
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags. Layer wet food scraps with dry yard waste to minimize odors. For excess yard trimmings, use approved heavy-duty paper yard bags, 32-gallon cans labeled 'Yard', or bundles tied with natural sisal twine.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves, branches, and brush
- ✓Fruit, vegetable, meat, and dairy scraps
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
- ✓Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On demand (requires scheduling) or at the Annual Clean-Up Event
Placement
For curbside bulky pickups, place the item at the curb only on the morning of your confirmed special pickup date.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Couches and large furniture
- ✓ Non-freon household appliances
- ✓ Tires (at the City Clean-Up event)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Liquid hazardous waste
- ✕ Chemicals and pesticides
- ✕ Wet oil-based paints
- ✕ Automobile fluids
Extra fees apply for all curbside bulky item collections through WM. The City of Arlington's Annual Clean-Up Event at the Arlington Airport is accessible using your city utility billing statement.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
WM observes Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your normal collection day falls on or after one of these weekday holidays, service is delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling follow the exact same one-day delay schedule as regular garbage for the three major winter holidays.
Garbage collection is suspended on Independence Day (July 4th), but recycling and yard debris services remain unchanged and will be picked up as scheduled.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Bin
Plastic garbage bags, grocery bags, and stretch wrap are the number one contaminant in Arlington's recycling stream. They tangle in sorting machinery and cause facility shutdowns. Take your clean plastic film to local grocery store drop-offs instead.
Do Not Compost 'Compostable' Plastics
Even if a cup, utensil, or bag is marketed as 'compostable,' do not put it into your green yard waste cart. Snohomish County's commercial composting facilities cannot break down compostable plastics or serviceware effectively.
Double-Bag Messy Household Waste
To keep sanitation workers safe and prevent messy spills on Arlington streets, always double-bag items like pet waste, kitty litter, vacuum dust, sawdust, and cold fireplace ashes before tossing them in your standard garbage cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to FebruaryDuring heavy Pacific Northwest snowstorms or ice events, Snohomish County collection routes may be delayed for safety. Check the WM Northwest Service Alerts page. If your street is impassable, leave your carts at the curb for recovery when weather conditions improve.
Summer
JulyRemember Arlington's unique Independence Day rule: Garbage collection is completely suspended on July 4th, but recycling and yard waste routes operate completely normally on that day.
Fall
October to NovemberHeavy autumn leaf drops can quickly fill your yard waste bin. Cut large branches so they fit loosely and don't jam the cart. If you exceed capacity, extra leaves can be placed in 32-gallon cans labeled 'Yard' or Kraft paper yard bags for an additional fee.
About Arlington Waste Management
Arlington Solid Waste & Curbside Collection
The City of Arlington partners with Waste Management (WM) Northwest to provide comprehensive solid waste services to its residents. Subscribing to garbage collection is required for all households within the city limits. Standard service includes weekly garbage collection and every-other-week recycling pickups. To guarantee your bins are emptied efficiently, place them at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. Be sure to position the carts with the wheels facing your home and leave at least three feet of clearance around each bin to accommodate the automated truck arms.
Recycling Right in Snohomish County
Arlington utilizes a 64-gallon single-stream blue recycling cart to help divert recoverable materials from local landfills. When recycling, it is critical to follow the 'Empty, Clean, and Dry' standard for all containers. You can recycle flattened cardboard, clean paper, metal cans, glass jars, and plastic tubs. Remember to keep all recyclables loose—never bag them in plastic garbage bags, as stretchy film wrap and bags create severe mechanical jams and safety hazards at the sorting facility.
Maximizing the Weekly Food and Yard Waste Program
Washington State heavily promotes organics diversion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and generate nutrient-rich compost. Arlington residents who subscribe to the organics program receive a 96-gallon green cart collected weekly, year-round. Beyond standard grass clippings and leaves, this bin accepts all kitchen food scraps, including meat, dairy, coffee grounds, and food-soiled paper like pizza boxes. Never put plastic bags, rocks, or pet waste into the yard cart, as they contaminate the commercial composting process.
Annual Clean-Up Events and Bulky Item Disposal
Disposing of bulky items like old mattresses, sofas, or large appliances requires a bit of planning. Arlington residents can contact WM to schedule and pay for a special curbside bulky item pickup. Additionally, the City of Arlington sponsors an annual Clean Up/Disposal Event—typically held at the Arlington Airport's 188th Street West Entrance. By presenting a valid utility billing statement, residents can drop off hard-to-dispose-of items such as appliances, scrap metal, tires, and large household debris.
Self-Hauling and Hazardous Waste Drop-off
If you have extra garbage, construction debris, or electronic waste that cannot wait for curbside collection, you can self-haul materials to the Snohomish County North County Recycling and Transfer Station, conveniently located on 63rd Avenue NE in Arlington. However, liquid hazardous waste such as oil-based paints, pesticides, and household chemicals must never be thrown in the trash or poured down drains. These dangerous substances must be taken to the designated Household Hazardous Waste facility to protect Puget Sound's local waterways.
Drop-off Facilities
North County Recycling and Transfer Station
19600 63rd Avenue NE, Arlington, WA 98223
Materials Accepted
Snohomish County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off
3434 McDougall Ave, Everett, WA 98201
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides garbage collection in Arlington, WA?
Waste Management (WM) Northwest is the official, franchised residential solid waste hauler for the City of Arlington, providing garbage, recycling, and optional yard waste services.
How do holidays affect my trash pickup in Arlington?
WM only delays service by one day for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. For the 4th of July, garbage collection is skipped, but recycling and yard waste are collected normally.
What goes in the green yard and food waste cart?
You can put yard trimmings (grass, leaves, branches) and food waste (meat, dairy, coffee grounds, eggshells, fruit) in the organics cart. Do not include plastic bags, dirt, rocks, or compostable plastics.
Where can I dispose of an old mattress or large appliance in Arlington?
You can schedule a curbside bulk pickup by calling WM at 1-800-592-9995 (fees apply), self-haul it to the North County Transfer Station on 63rd Ave NE, or wait for the City's Annual Clean-Up Event.