Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Camas
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.
Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
Place your cart at the curb by 6:30 a.m. Ensure the lid is closed and provide at least 3 feet of clearance around the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Diapers and pet waste (bagged)
- ✓Food waste (if not backyard composting)
- ✓Broken glass (safely wrapped)
Blue Cart (Mixed) & Small Tote (Glass) Bin (Recycling)
Mixed recycling goes loosely in the blue 65-gallon cart. Glass must be placed in the separate small plastic tote. Do not bag recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper and newspaper
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (in separate tote)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Block foam (Styrofoam)
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Glass inside the blue cart
- ✕Hazardous chemical containers
Yard Waste Bin
Optional subscription through Waste Connections. Do not include food waste, dirt, rocks, sod, or plastic bags. Collected every other week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Branches up to 4 inches in diameter and 5 feet in length
- ✓Brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-call basis; scheduling and fees apply.
Placement
Do not place bulky items at the curb without scheduling. Contact the Finance Department at 360-834-2462 to arrange an extra item pickup on your next pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Oversized household garbage
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Electronics (E-waste)
- ✕ Liquid paint
A per-item fee is assessed based on size and weight and will be added to your bi-monthly utility bill. Call the City for an exact quote.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on one of these observed holidays, please place your cart at the curb on the following business day. Services are delayed by one day for the remainder of the holiday week.
Yard Waste Exception
Waste Connections also follows a one-day delay for recycling and yard debris for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
For all other holidays, including Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day, your garbage, recycling, and yard waste will be collected on your normal scheduled day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Glass Goes in the Tote, Not the Cart
In Camas, glass bottles and jars are strictly banned from the main blue recycling cart to prevent broken shards from contaminating paper bales. Always place your glass in the separate small plastic recycling tote provided by Waste Connections.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Keep your recyclables completely loose inside the blue cart. Plastic garbage bags and grocery sacks tangle in the sorting machinery and can cause entire batches of good recycling to be sent to the landfill.
Keep Food Out of the Yard Debris Cart
While some regional programs allow it, the Clark County yard debris program servicing Camas does not accept any food waste, fruit, or vegetables in the yard debris cart. Only yard trimmings like leaves, grass, and branches are allowed.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to FebruaryDuring snow or icy operations, collection services may be temporarily disrupted for safety [1.1.1]. Leave your carts at the curb; the sanitation crews will return to collect your trash as quickly as roads are safe to travel.
Autumn
October to NovemberDuring the heavy Pacific Northwest leaf drop, do not overload your yard debris cart past its 130-pound weight limit (for 64-gallon carts). Extra yard debris can be placed in compostable kraft bags for an additional fee.
Summer
July to AugustDuring periods of extreme summer heat, Waste Connections often begins residential collection routes earlier than usual to protect workers. It is highly recommended to place your bins out the night before your scheduled collection day.
About Camas Waste Management
Camas' Unique Dual-Provider Waste System
In Camas, residential solid waste is managed through a hybrid model [1.1.1]. The City of Camas Public Works Department directly handles all residential garbage collections and includes the mandatory recycling fee on your bi-monthly municipal utility bill. However, the physical collection of your recyclables, as well as the optional yard debris subscription service, is contracted out to a private hauler, Waste Connections of Washington.
Mandatory Weekly Recycling
Per Camas Municipal Code, recycling is a mandatory service for all residential households inside city limits. Waste Connections collects recyclables every week on the same day as your garbage. However, to prevent litter caused by Pacific Northwest winds, the city requests that you only roll your 65-gallon blue cart out to the curb on weeks when it is full enough to remain stable.
The Separate Glass Tote Requirement
Clark County requires a strict separation protocol for glass to maintain high-quality recycling streams. Camas residents must never place glass bottles or jars into the primary 65-gallon blue cart. Instead, Waste Connections provides a specialized small plastic tote specifically for glass, ensuring that broken shards do not contaminate the valuable paper and cardboard processing lines.
Navigating Inclement Winter Weather
Due to the hilly terrain in Camas, safety is the top priority during winter ice and snowstorms. A garbage truck weighs up to 27,000 pounds and cannot safely navigate slick residential streets. If your collection is skipped due to inclement weather, simply leave your carts at the curb; sanitation crews will return to collect your trash as quickly as roads are safe to travel.
Convenient Curbside Bulky Item Collection
You don't need to rent a truck to dispose of an old couch or mattress. The City of Camas offers an on-demand curbside bulky item pickup service. By calling the Finance Department in advance, you can arrange for the sanitation crew to haul away oversized items on your next scheduled garbage day. The specific fee, which is based on size and weight, is conveniently added to your utility bill.
Drop-off Facilities
Central Transfer and Recycling Center
11034 NE 117th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98662
Materials Accepted
Washougal Transfer Station
4020 S Grant St, Washougal, WA 98671
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request a bulky item pickup for an old couch?
The City of Camas will pick up large items like couches and mattresses on your regular garbage day for an additional fee. To arrange a pickup and inquire about the cost, you must call the City's Finance Department at 360-834-2462 before placing the item at the curb.
Is recycling picked up every week or every other week?
In Camas, curbside recycling is collected weekly by Waste Connections. However, to optimize efficiency, the city asks that you only roll your blue recycling cart to the curb when it is full enough that it will not topple over on a windy day.
Where does glass go for recycling?
Glass is strictly prohibited from your primary 65-gallon blue recycling cart. Waste Connections provides a separate, small plastic tote specifically for glass bottles and jars. You must separate all your glass into this tote to prevent broken shards from contaminating other recyclables.