Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Orchards
Trash Day
Trash collection runs Monday through Friday, with your specific collection day determined by your street address.
Recycling
Recycling is collected every other week on your regular garbage collection day.
Yard Waste
Yard debris is an optional subscription service collected every other week on alternating weeks from recycling.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
As an unincorporated area of Clark County, Orchards receives waste and recycling services directly through Waste Connections of Washington. You can check your personalized calendar and request service changes using the RecycleRight tool.
Billing Cycle
Bi-monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Qualifying low-income residents who are physically unable to roll carts to the curb may be eligible for carry-out service assistance; otherwise no specific rate discounts are listed.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Got Cans? Cash In Those Bottles and Aluminum Near Orchards!
Even though Orchards might not have a dedicated bottle buyback center right within its limits, the great state of Washington has a solid program for redeeming your beverage containers. You can take your empty cans and plastic bottles to participating grocery stores throughout the area – think places like Safeway or Fred Meyer, which are usually pretty common. Just make sure they're rinsed and the caps are off! This is a fantastic way to turn a bit of extra effort into a few bucks while keeping recyclables out of the landfill. For larger amounts or scrap metal, you might need to venture a bit further to a larger town like Vancouver, which likely has established scrap yards that pay for metals like aluminum, steel, and copper. A quick search for "scrap metal recycling Vancouver WA" should point you in the right direction.
Giving Your Unwanted Stuff a Second Life in the Orchards Area
Before you toss items that are still in good shape, consider donating them to a local charity! While there isn't a massive Goodwill distribution center directly in Orchards, the nearby Vancouver area is home to several places that would love your contributions. Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Vancouver is a great spot for furniture, appliances, and building materials. You might also find smaller thrift stores or churches that accept clothing, books, and household goods. It's always worth checking online for "donate used items Vancouver WA" to find the most convenient location for your clean, usable donations. It's a win-win: you declutter, and someone else gets a bargain or much-needed item.
Keeping Orchards Beautiful: Tackling Dumped Junk & Local Clean-Up Spirit
Illegal dumping is a bummer for everyone, and it really impacts our community's look and environment. If you happen to see any improperly discarded trash in or around Orchards, it's important to report it. Your best bet is to contact the City of Orchards public works department or a local code enforcement office. They can guide you on the proper procedure for reporting these incidents. Sometimes, communities organize special hazardous waste collection days for things like old paint, electronics, or chemicals that shouldn't go in your regular trash. Keep an eye on local community bulletin boards or city newsletters for announcements about these opportunities. Participating in or organizing neighborhood clean-up events is also a fantastic way to show pride in Orchards and keep our shared spaces tidy.
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.