Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Orchards
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)
All garbage must fit inside the cart with the lid completely closed. Place carts at least 5 feet from any obstructions (cars, mailboxes) and 3 feet apart from other bins.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Plastic bags, wrappers, and bubble mailers
- ✓Block foam and Styrofoam packing peanuts
- ✓Shredded paper (bagged)
- ✓Broken glass or ceramics (safely wrapped)
Blue Cart (Mixed) & Small Tote (Glass) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be completely empty, clean, and dry. Place items loosely inside the blue cart. Never bag your recyclables. Set the separate glass tote beside the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (up to 5-gallon size)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Empty aerosol cans (non-hazardous)
- ✓Paper, mail, and newspaper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (use separate tote)
- ✕Plastic bags, shrink wrap, and plastic films
- ✕Food waste or food-soiled paper
- ✕Shredded paper (bagged or loose)
- ✕Batteries inside the cart
Yard Waste Bin
This is an optional subscription service. Dirt, rocks, sod, and conventional plastic bags are strictly prohibited in the yard debris cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Weeds, vines, and plant trimmings
- ✓Small branches and brush
- ✓Garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-call basis; scheduling and fees apply.
Placement
Place approved items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled bulky pickup day, ensuring they do not block the automated trucks from reaching your standard carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Couches and large furniture
- ✓ Household appliances
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, monitors)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquid chemicals and wet paint
- ✕ Loose construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Asbestos-containing materials
Fees vary based on the item type and size. Alternatively, residents can self-haul bulk waste to the Central Transfer and Recycling Center located at 11034 NE 117th Ave in Vancouver.
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 customers move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Recycling and yard debris collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as your standard garbage service.
Waste Connections operates on a completely normal schedule for all other holidays, including Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Glass Goes in the Small Tote, Not the Cart
Glass bottles and jars must never be thrown into the main blue recycling cart in Clark County [1.3.1]. You must use the separate glass recycling bin provided by Waste Connections to prevent glass shards from contaminating paper recycling streams.
Batteries Belong ON TOP of the Lid
Do not throw household batteries inside your blue recycling cart or your garbage cart, as they can cause catastrophic truck fires. Tape the battery ends, put them in a clear plastic bag, and place the bag visibly on top of your recycling cart's closed lid.
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 directly to the landfill.
Seasonal Information
Summer
JulyDuring the 4th of July season, prevent fires in the collection trucks by soaking all used and dud fireworks in a bucket of water for at least 15 minutes before double-bagging them and placing them in your garbage cart.
Autumn
October to NovemberThe heavy Pacific Northwest leaf drop can quickly overwhelm your green cart. Remember that you can set out extra yard debris in compostable kraft paper bags next to your cart for a small additional fee per bag.
Winter
December to FebruarySnow and ice storms in Clark County can severely impact the heavy automated garbage trucks. Always check the Waste Connections website or your RecycleRight app for real-time service delays or route cancellations before dragging carts through the snow.
About Orchards Waste Management
Orchards' Unincorporated Waste System
Because Orchards is an unincorporated census-designated place, waste collection is governed by Clark County's cooperative solid waste agreements [1.2.1]. Waste Connections of Washington operates as the exclusive franchised private hauler for this area, providing automated curbside garbage, recycling, and optional yard debris services. Residents must contact Waste Connections directly to initiate service, request cart repairs, or handle billing.
The Mandatory Separate Glass Tote
A critical rule for Orchards residents is the absolute ban on placing glass inside the primary blue recycling cart. To prevent broken glass shards from embedding into paper and cardboard bales and ruining them, Waste Connections provides a separate, small plastic glass bin. Residents must place food-grade glass bottles and jars exclusively in this separate tote and set it beside the blue cart on collection day.
Free Curbside Motor Oil and Battery Recycling
Clark County offers an incredibly convenient curbside program for handling specific hazardous wastes. Orchards residents can recycle used motor oil and antifreeze by placing them in clearly marked, sealed 1-gallon containers right next to their recycling bins. Furthermore, household batteries can be recycled by taping the terminal ends, sealing them in a clear plastic bag, and placing the bag directly ON TOP of the blue recycling cart lid.
Strict Ban on Plastic Bags and Wraps
Waste Connections actively inspects blue carts in Clark County for plastic bags, stretchy film, and bubble mailers. These soft plastics frequently tangle in the automated sorting machinery, causing daily operational shutdowns where workers must cut the plastics out of the gears by hand. All plastic bags and wraps must be taken to grocery store drop-offs or thrown into the standard garbage cart.
The RecycleRight App Ecosystem
Clark County strongly encourages all Orchards residents to download the free RecycleRight mobile app. This powerful digital tool goes beyond providing simple calendar schedules; it allows you to look up disposal options in the A-Z Directory, easily request curbside collection for bulky items, and receive instant push notifications regarding weather-related collection delays during Pacific Northwest winter storms.
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
Does Clark County pick up my trash in Orchards?
No. The local government does not operate the garbage trucks. Because Orchards is an unincorporated community in Clark County, residential waste, recycling, and yard debris collection is exclusively provided by the franchised private hauler, Waste Connections of Washington.
Can I put glass bottles in my blue recycling cart in Orchards?
No. Clark County enforces a strict glass separation policy. You must never place glass inside your main blue recycling cart. Instead, you must place all food-grade glass bottles and jars into the separate, small plastic glass tote provided by Waste Connections.
Where can I recycle used motor oil or household batteries?
You can recycle these right at your curb! Place used motor oil in a sealed, clear 1-gallon container next to your recycling bin. For household batteries, tape the terminal ends, place them in a clear, sealed plastic bag, and rest the bag visibly ON TOP of your blue recycling cart's closed lid.
What holidays will delay my garbage pickup in Orchards?
Waste Connections only delays garbage collection for three major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your normal pickup day falls on or after these holidays, your service will be pushed back by one day. Service runs normally on all summer holidays like Memorial Day and the 4th of July.