Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Ellensburg
Trash Day
Trash is collected weekly, Monday through Friday, depending on your street or neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected every other week on your designated trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected every Wednesday from April through November, and on the first Wednesday of the month from December through March (subscription required).
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside trash and recycling services in Ellensburg are handled and billed separately by Waste Management, while the City of Ellensburg manages municipal electric, gas, water, sewer, and stormwater billing.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In Person, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
A 50% rate discount is available for income-qualified seniors and disabled residents through community partner HopeSource.
Gray Bin (Trash)
Place all garbage inside the gray cart. Yard trimmings and hazardous materials are strictly prohibited from the garbage container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food wrappers and chip bags
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Broken glass (safely wrapped)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be clean, empty, and placed loose in the blue cart. Never put recyclables inside plastic bags. Glass is completely banned from the curbside recycling carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum cans
- ✓Clean food and beverage tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Place yard debris in the green cart. Extra yard waste must be placed in paper yard bags, 32-gal cans labeled 'Yard', or tied with sisal twine into 4'x2' bundles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Branches
- ✓Plant trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand
Placement
Place approved bulky items at the curb only on the morning of your scheduled special pickup day to prevent neighborhood clutter.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Large appliances
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquid paints
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or loose debris
Special pickups incur additional fees based on the item type and size. Residents may also self-haul items to the Ellensburg Transfer Station, where tipping fees are assessed by weight.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste Management provides collection service on all holidays EXCEPT Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If one of these two holidays falls on a weekday, service is delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day delay during Christmas and New Year's applies to all curbside services, including yard waste carts.
Thanksgiving, Independence Day, Labor Day, and other federal holidays do not cause a collection delay in Ellensburg.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring and Summer
April - NovemberDuring the peak growing seasons, yard waste collection occurs weekly every Wednesday to accommodate the high volume of grass clippings, weeds, and spring pruning.
Winter
December - MarchDue to dormant plant growth and freezing weather, yard waste collection is reduced to only the first Wednesday of each month. Expect potential route delays if heavy snow creates unsafe driving conditions.
Spring
MayMay marks the annual Ellensburg Recycle Day. Residents can bring hard-to-recycle items, such as batteries, textiles, and sensitive documents, to City Hall for specialized processing and shredding.
Local Tips & Community Info
Pocket Some Change: Ellensburg's Cash for Cans & Bottles!
Hey Ellensburg neighbors! Did you know Washington State has a program where you can get money back for certain drink containers? Look for the "00" deposit label on cans and bottles. While there might not be a dedicated buyback center right *in* Ellensburg, many grocery stores across the state will take them. Keep an eye out for redemption machines or customer service counters that handle returns. It's a little extra cash for something you'd be tossing anyway – pretty neat!
Giving Your Gently Used Stuff a Second Life in Ellensburg
Instead of just tossing items that are still in good shape, think about donating them right here in Ellensburg! The Ellensburg Food Bank and Emergency Services often accept donations of household goods that can help local families. Also, keep an eye out for local thrift stores or even churches that might have donation drives. It's a fantastic way to support our community and give your belongings a chance to be useful again.
Keeping Ellensburg Clean: What to Do About Unwanted Junk
We all want Ellensburg to look its best! If you happen to see any illegal dumping happening – you know, trash piled up where it shouldn't be – it's a good idea to let the city know. You can usually report this kind of thing to the Kittitas County Solid Waste Department or directly to the City of Ellensburg Public Works. They're the ones who can help get it cleaned up and work on preventing it. Let's all do our part to keep our beautiful area tidy!
Drop-off Facilities
Ellensburg Transfer Station
2603 W Green Ave, Ellensburg, WA 98926
Materials Accepted
Kittitas County Solid Waste Compost Facility
2603 W Green Ave, Ellensburg, WA 98926
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put glass bottles in my blue recycling bin in Ellensburg?
No, glass is not accepted in Ellensburg's curbside blue recycling carts. Mixing glass with other recyclables causes contamination. You must take glass to a designated Ellensburg Glass Recycling drop-off site.
Does Ellensburg collect yard waste in the winter?
Yes, but on a significantly reduced schedule. Between December and March, Waste Management collects yard waste only on the first Wednesday of the month. Regular weekly collections resume in April.
What happens to my garbage schedule if Thanksgiving is on a Thursday?
Your collection will occur as normally scheduled. Waste Management only observes Christmas Day and New Year's Day in Ellensburg. Thanksgiving does not cause a one-day delay.
Can I throw yard clippings in my gray garbage cart?
No, yard trimmings are strictly prohibited from the standard garbage container in Ellensburg. Mixing yard waste with garbage creates unnecessary landfill expenses. Please use your green yard waste cart or haul it to the compost facility.