Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lacey
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 Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged to prevent windblown litter. Place carts at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with the lid completely closed and facing the street.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Pet waste and diapers (double-bagged)
- ✓Cold ashes (bagged)
Blue (with separate small crate for glass) Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely inside the blue cart without bagging. All glass must be separated and placed into your specially provided glass recycling crate.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles (in separate crate ONLY)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Glass inside the main blue cart
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Tanglers like hoses or wires
Yard Waste Bin
Optional subscription service. Do not use plastic bags, and keep out rocks, dirt, and treated wood. The cart lid must close flat.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, bones, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins)
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Weeds and plant trimmings
- ✓Small branches (under 4 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-call basis; scheduling and fees apply.
Placement
Place scheduled bulky items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your assigned pickup day, ensuring they do not block your standard automated carts or the sidewalk.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major household appliances
- ✓ Large boxed items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid chemicals
- ✕ Commercial construction debris
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Lithium-ion batteries
Fees vary based on the item's size, weight, and disposal requirements. Call Pacific Disposal at 360-923-0111 to request a quote and schedule service.
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 (e.g., Thursday shifts to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as your standard garbage service.
Pacific Disposal observes ONLY these three major holidays. Your collection will occur completely normally on Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Glass Out of the Blue Cart
Throwing glass in your main blue recycling cart is a major contamination offense in Thurston County. Glass shatters during transit and embeds itself into perfectly good paper and cardboard, rendering it unrecyclable. Always use your separate glass-only recycling crate.
Ditch the Plastic Grocery Bags
Plastic grocery bags, shrink wrap, and trash bags are considered 'tanglers' that stretch and jam the rotating gears at the local sorting facility. Never bag your recyclables, and take any clean plastic film to local grocery store collection bins instead.
Rinse Your Plastics and Metals
Before tossing plastic tubs or metal cans into your recycling bin, give them a quick rinse. A heavily soiled peanut butter jar or a half-full soda can can spoil an entire batch of otherwise clean, marketable recyclables.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to FebruaryIf snow or ice makes Lacey's residential roads hazardous, Pacific Disposal may delay your service for safety reasons. Leave your carts at the curb; drivers will collect double your normal volume on the next accessible service day.
Post-Holiday
JanuaryPacific Disposal typically offers seasonal holiday tree recycling. Bare trees must be cut into sections small enough to fit inside your green organics cart, and must be completely free of flocking, tinsel, wire, and ornaments.
Autumn
October to NovemberDuring the heavy Pacific Northwest leaf drop, avoid overstuffing your organics cart to the point where the lid stays open. Heavy, rain-soaked leaves can exceed the 65-pound weight limit, making it impossible for the automated truck arms to lift the bin safely.
About Lacey Waste Management
Lacey's Partnership with Pacific Disposal
Residential solid waste, recycling, and organics collection in the City of Lacey is managed through a franchise agreement with Pacific Disposal, a local Waste Connections company. While the City of Lacey handles municipal water and stormwater billing, residents must establish and manage their trash and recycling accounts directly through Pacific Disposal.
The Unique Separate Glass Recycling System
Thurston County employs a strict separation protocol for glass to maintain high-quality recycling streams. Unlike many Washington municipalities that utilize fully commingled carts, Lacey residents must place all glass bottles and jars into a separate, dedicated glass recycling crate. This critical step ensures that broken glass does not contaminate the valuable paper and cardboard bales processed at regional recovery facilities.
Comprehensive Food and Organics Composting
Aligned with Washington State's robust landfill diversion targets, Lacey offers a comprehensive organics collection program. The optional green organics cart accepts more than just grass clippings and leaves; residents can compost all household food scraps. Meat, dairy, bones, and food-soiled paper products like greasy pizza boxes can all go into the green cart to be transformed into nutrient-rich soil.
Convenient Access to the WARC
A major logistical advantage for Lacey residents is the physical location of the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center (WARC), situated right in the city on Hogum Bay Road. This expansive, multi-purpose facility handles everything from everyday residential yard waste drop-offs to the safe disposal of hazardous household chemicals at its dedicated HazoHouse.
Weather Protocols and Automated Collection
Pacific Disposal utilizes automated side-loading trucks to efficiently service Lacey neighborhoods. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with a strict three-foot clearance from mailboxes and parked cars. During harsh Pacific Northwest winter storms, steep or icy roads may delay collection; if this occurs, the hauler will collect double your regular volume on the next safe service day at no additional charge.
Drop-off Facilities
Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center (WARC)
2420 Hogum Bay Rd NE, Lacey, WA 98516
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles garbage collection for the City of Lacey?
The City of Lacey contracts its residential solid waste services to Pacific Disposal, a subsidiary of Waste Connections. While the City handles your water and stormwater utilities, you must set up and manage your trash and recycling account directly with Pacific Disposal.
Why do I have a separate small crate for glass recycling?
Thurston County requires glass to be separated from all other recyclables. When glass is mixed in the main blue cart, it breaks during transit and severely contaminates the paper and cardboard recycling streams, while also damaging the sorting machinery. You must place all glass bottles and jars in the specially provided separate crate.
Can I put food waste in my yard debris cart in Lacey?
Yes! If you subscribe to Pacific Disposal's organics collection program, you can place all food scraps—including meat, dairy, bones, and food-soiled paper—directly into your green cart alongside your standard yard clippings.
Where can I drop off old paint, chemicals, and batteries in Lacey?
Lacey residents are fortunate to have the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center (WARC) located right in the city on Hogum Bay Road. You can safely dispose of hazardous materials like paint, chemicals, and household batteries for free at the facility's dedicated 'HazoHouse'.