Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Graham
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 Green Bin (Trash)
All trash must be securely bagged to prevent litter. Place the cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day with the lid completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and styrofoam
- ✓Pet waste and diapers (double-bagged)
- ✓Noxious weeds like blackberry bushes
- ✓Pizza boxes and paper plates
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be empty, clean, and dry. Place items loosely inside the blue cart without using any plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (strictly banned)
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Styrofoam packing peanuts or blocks
- ✕Tanglers like cords and hoses
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags. Banned items include dirt, rocks, noxious weeds, items labeled 'compostable', pizza boxes, and paper towels.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Plant trimmings and weeds
- ✓Meat, poultry, seafood, and bones
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and eggshells
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-call basis; scheduling and fees apply.
Placement
Do not place bulky items at the curb without an appointment. Place approved items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated pickup day, ensuring they do not block standard waste carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major household appliances
- ✓ Couches and large furniture
- ✓ Large boxed debris
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid chemicals
- ✕ Loose land-clearing debris and stumps
- ✕ Lithium-ion batteries
- ✕ Tires
Fees vary based on the item's size, weight, and disposal requirements. Contact Murrey's Disposal at 253-414-0345 for a quote and to schedule.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after an observed holiday, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling collections follow the exact same holiday shift as standard garbage service.
Murrey's Disposal operates normally on all other holidays, including Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the 4th of July, and Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Bag Your Blackberries
Noxious weeds, particularly invasive blackberry bushes, are strictly banned from the yard waste cart because their resilient seeds survive the commercial composting process [2.1.4]. They must be bagged and thrown in the regular garbage.
Leave Glass Out of the Blue Cart
Glass is universally banned from Pierce County curbside recycling. Throwing a single jar into your blue cart can shatter and ruin an entire truckload of recycled paper. Always self-haul glass to a local drop-off site.
Ditch the 'Compostable' Plastics
Items marketed as 'compostable' or 'biodegradable' (like green bioplastic bags or special cutlery) do not break down fast enough in the local processing facility. Murrey's Disposal treats these items as trash contamination, so leave them out of your green cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to FebruarySevere Pacific Northwest winter storms, particularly ice on Graham's rural and steep roads, may prompt Murrey's Disposal to delay service for safety. If this occurs, leave your carts out; drivers will collect double the volume once roads thaw.
Spring
March to MayIf you are engaging in heavy spring landscaping or land clearing, be aware that stumps, roots, and branches larger than 4 inches in diameter cannot go in the curbside yard waste cart and must be hauled to the Hidden Valley Transfer Station.
Autumn
October to NovemberDuring peak leaf-drop season, ensure your green yard waste cart does not contain any hidden trash. Excess leaves cannot be placed in plastic bags; contact Murrey's Disposal regarding approved methods for extra seasonal organic waste.
About Graham Waste Management
Navigating Unincorporated Pierce County Waste Services
Because Graham is an unincorporated census-designated place, residents do not rely on a localized city utility for waste collection. Instead, Pierce County franchises these services to private haulers [1.2.1]. Murrey's Disposal handles the bulk of residential collections in the Graham area, providing reliable weekly garbage, recycling, and organics services. Residents are responsible for setting up their own curbside accounts and managing services through the hauler's portal.
The Strict Pierce County Curbside Glass Ban
A major rule for all Graham residents is the absolute ban on curbside glass recycling. Due to the high costs of machinery wear and severe paper contamination when glass shatters in the automated trucks, you cannot put glass bottles or jars in your blue cart. Instead, glass must be kept separate and self-hauled to designated county drop-off locations, such as the nearby Hidden Valley Transfer Station.
Composting Food Scraps (But Not Pizza Boxes)
In alignment with Washington State's organics diversion goals, Murrey's Disposal allows Graham households to compost all food scraps—including meat, dairy, bones, and seafood—in the green yard waste cart. However, unlike some regional programs, Murrey's strictly prohibits paper products like greasy pizza boxes, paper towels, and any bioplastics labeled 'compostable' from entering the yard waste stream.
Proximity to the Hidden Valley Transfer Station
Graham's location along Meridian East provides incredibly convenient access to the LRI Hidden Valley Transfer Station in neighboring South Hill/Puyallup. Operating seven days a week, this facility is the go-to destination for Graham residents needing to dispose of bulky furniture, mattresses, heavy land-clearing yard debris, E-waste, and household hazardous materials (accepted for free on Tuesdays and Thursdays).
Reliable Summer Holiday Collections
Many Pacific Northwest haulers alter their schedules during the summer, but Murrey's Disposal is remarkably consistent. Garbage, recycling, and yard waste collections operate on a completely normal schedule during Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the 4th of July, and Labor Day. The only holidays that trigger a one-day service delay for Graham residents are Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Drop-off Facilities
Hidden Valley Transfer Station (LRI)
17925 Meridian Street East, Puyallup, WA 98375
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who picks up my trash in Graham?
As an unincorporated community in Pierce County, Graham's residential solid waste is managed by franchised private haulers, predominantly Murrey's Disposal (a Waste Connections company). You must set up an account directly with them to begin service.
Why can't I put glass in my recycling bin?
Glass is banned from curbside recycling in Pierce County because it shatters during automated collection and sorting, which contaminates paper bales and wears out the machinery. You must self-haul glass to designated drop-off sites like the Hidden Valley Transfer Station.
Can I compost pizza boxes or 'compostable' plastics in my yard waste bin?
No. While Murrey's Disposal accepts food scraps like meat, dairy, and veggies in the yard waste cart, they explicitly ban pizza boxes, paper plates, paper towels, and items labeled 'compostable' (like bioplastic bags or cutlery).
What holidays delay garbage pickup in Graham?
Murrey's Disposal only delays collection for three major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your pickup falls on or after these days, it will be delayed by one day. Service runs completely normally on all other holidays, including Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day.