Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Oak Harbor
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 (Varies) Bin (Trash)
Lids must be firmly closed. Overfilled carts will not be serviced. Place carts within 3 feet of the curb by 7:00 a.m. with a 2-foot clearance from other bins. Use prepaid City bags for extra trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Styrofoam and foam packaging
- ✓Packing peanuts
- ✓Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all items loosely in the cart. Small amounts of cardboard (up to 4x4 feet) can be bundled next to the cart. Motor oil and car batteries may be placed NEXT to the cart for collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and newspaper
- ✓Clean aluminum and tin cans
- ✓#1 PETE plastic food and beverage containers
- ✓#2 natural plastic bottles and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food or organic waste
- ✕Food-soiled items (pizza boxes, foil, paper plates)
- ✕Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✕Yard waste and greenery
- ✕Plastic bags
Yard Waste Bin
Available by subscription only. Collected weekly from March to November, and only the first week of the month from December to February. Extra yard waste must be placed in pre-paid City yard waste bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Lawn clippings and greenery
- ✓Garden waste and weeds
- ✓Leaves and small brush
- ✓Bare Christmas trees (in January/February)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On demand (requires scheduling and payment)
Placement
Place your scheduled bulk items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Ensure they are clear of low-hanging tree branches, power lines, and standard waste carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household junk
- ✓ Oversized bagged trash
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Storm debris from private property trees
- ✕ Liquid paints
- ✕ Construction debris
Pricing for special bulky pickups varies by item size and volume. You must call the Utilities Office at 360-279-4766 to get a quote and schedule your collection.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your collection day falls on a City-observed holiday, service is typically pushed back to the following day (e.g., Thursday collections move to Friday). However, some Friday holidays may result in an earlier Thursday pickup, so always consult the city's annual calendar.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday shift as garbage and recycling.
Always place your carts at the curb by 7:00 a.m., even on holiday makeup days, as routing times may fluctuate.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Foam Out of the Blue Cart
Styrofoam cups, block packaging, and packing peanuts cannot be recycled in Oak Harbor's curbside program. These items break apart, contaminate paper bales, and must be thrown in the regular garbage cart.
No Food-Soiled Paper
While clean cardboard is highly recyclable, a greasy pizza box or dirty paper plate is not. Food residue ruins the recycling process. Always throw food-soiled paper and tissues in the trash.
Utilize Curbside Battery and Oil Collection
Do not put motor oil or car batteries inside your garbage or recycling carts, as they are hazardous and can cause fires. Oak Harbor allows you to place these specific items safely on the ground next to your blue recycling cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to FebruaryDuring the winter months, subscription yard waste collection is reduced. Your green cart will only be serviced during the first week of December, January, and February.
Spring
March to MayBeginning March 1st, the subscription yard waste program resumes its weekly schedule to accommodate spring landscaping, pruning, and heavy grass clippings.
Winter
January to FebruaryThe City of Oak Harbor picks up bare, un-flocked Christmas trees (free of all lights and ornaments) alongside the yard waste bin during the first week of January and February.
About Oak Harbor Waste Management
Municipal Solid Waste Services in Oak Harbor
Unlike many municipalities that rely on private contractors, the City of Oak Harbor operates its own Solid Waste Division to manage residential garbage, recycling, and yard waste. Utilizing automated side-arm loader trucks, the city services hundreds of households daily across northern Whidbey Island. Residents can select from four different roll cart sizes (20, 35, 65, or 95 gallons) to best match their household's waste output, providing a flexible and cost-effective approach to local sanitation.
Strict Roll Cart Placement Guidelines
Because Oak Harbor uses automated collection technology, exact cart placement is critical. Residents must position their roll carts within three feet of the curb or street edge by 7:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection day. To ensure the mechanical arms can safely grasp the bins, there must be a mandatory two-foot separation between the garbage, recycling, and yard waste carts, as well as clearance from vehicles, mailboxes, and utility poles.
Single-Stream Recycling with Curbside Exceptions
Oak Harbor’s blue cart recycling program is single-stream, meaning all clean paper, cardboard, #1 and #2 plastics, aluminum, and tin can be mixed together loosely inside the bin. However, the city offers a unique curbside benefit: residents can place used motor oil, car batteries, and small amounts of scrap metal neatly next to the blue cart for recovery. Remember that food-soiled items, Styrofoam, and packing peanuts are strictly prohibited and must go into the regular garbage.
Managing Extra Trash with Prepaid City Bags
Oak Harbor sanitation workers will not empty overfilled garbage carts; lids must be firmly closed. If you generate more refuse than your primary cart can hold, you cannot simply use a standard black trash bag. Extra garbage will only be collected if it is placed in an official City of Oak Harbor pre-paid garbage bag. These bags cost $5.00 each and can be conveniently purchased at local retailers such as Safeway, Haggen, Saar's Marketplace, or the City Utilities Office.
Seasonal Adjustments to Yard Waste Collection
The City offers a subscription-based yard waste collection program that adjusts according to the Pacific Northwest growing seasons. From March 1st through November 30th, yard debris is collected weekly to keep up with heavy spring growth and autumn leaf drops. However, during the winter dormant season (December 1st through February 28th), yard waste is only picked up during the first week of the month.
Drop-off Facilities
Island County Solid Waste (Coupeville Transfer Station)
20062 SR 20, Coupeville, WA 98239
Materials Accepted
Mailliard's Landing (Brush & Yard Waste Disposal)
3068 Oak Harbor Road, Oak Harbor, WA
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides garbage collection in Oak Harbor, WA?
The City of Oak Harbor Solid Waste Division handles all residential garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection directly for homes within the city limits.
How do I dispose of extra garbage that doesn't fit in my cart?
Oak Harbor will not service overflowing carts. You must purchase official pre-paid City of Oak Harbor garbage bags for $5.00 each at Safeway, Haggen, Saar's, or the Utilities Office, and place them next to your cart.
Can I recycle motor oil or car batteries at the curb?
Yes. The City of Oak Harbor allows residents to place used motor oil in sealed containers, car batteries, and small amounts of scrap metal neatly on the ground next to the blue recycling cart.
Does Oak Harbor pick up yard waste in the winter?
During the winter season (December 1st to February 28th), the subscription yard waste program is reduced to a single collection during the first week of the month.