Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Spokane
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.
Brown Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must fit inside the cart with the lid completely closed. Bins should be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with a minimum of 3 feet of clearance from other objects.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene)
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Broken ceramics and window glass
- ✓Chip bags and candy wrappers
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected every other week on the same day as your garbage. Keep recyclables loose, clean, and dry. Do not place bagged or boxed items into the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film wrappers
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
This is an optional subscription service. Customers receive a green cart. Never use plastic bags for your organics; all materials must be kept loose or placed in approved compostable bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves, grass clippings, weeds, and pine needles
- ✓Branches less than 3 inches in diameter
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On request by appointment
Placement
Once scheduled, place your bulky items at the curb or alleyway next to your regular bins by 6:00 a.m. Ensure they do not block sidewalks or traffic.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and bulky furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Major household appliances
- ✓ Large boxed items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid paints
- ✕ Large quantities of construction debris
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
- ✕ Loose scattered junk
A per-item fee (typically around $20) applies and is added to your utility bill. Refrigerant-containing appliances may carry higher processing fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after an observed holiday during the work week, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The optional yard waste and food scraps collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage and recycling.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, residential collection schedules generally remain unaffected.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Plastic garbage bags jam the automated machinery at the Spokane SMaRT sorting center. Always toss your recyclables loosely directly into your blue bin, and take soft film plastics back to grocery store drop-off bins.
Styrofoam is Always Trash
Despite having a recycling symbol, expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) packing peanuts and blocks cannot be processed in Spokane's single-stream recycling system. Toss these directly into your brown garbage cart.
Empty Aerosol Cans Safely
Empty aerosol cans should be placed in your regular garbage, not your recycling bin. If an aerosol can still contains hazardous chemicals or paint, it must be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste drop-off at the WTE facility.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - FebruaryHeavy snow on the South Hill and other steep neighborhoods can cause collection delays. Keep a three-foot clearance around your carts and shovel a path so drivers can safely reach them.
Summer
June - AugustMoving season generates excess cardboard. Spokane offers single-family residential customers a one-time courtesy pickup of up to one cubic yard of flattened, neatly stacked moving boxes next to the blue cart.
Fall
October - NovemberAutumn winds bring down heavy loads of pine needles and leaves. Use your green yard waste cart to dispose of them, but remember not to overload the bin past its 200-pound weight limit.
About Spokane Waste Management
Spokane's Comprehensive Municipal Collection
The City of Spokane's Solid Waste Collection division serves as the designated hauler for all residents within city limits, providing a streamlined, single-stream recycling and garbage system. By right-sizing their primary trash cart and utilizing their recycling and organics bins to the fullest, households can effectively lower their monthly utility bills while diverting reusable materials from local landfills.
Powering the Grid with the Waste to Energy Facility
Unlike many Inland Northwest cities that rely strictly on burying garbage, Spokane utilizes a state-of-the-art Waste to Energy (WTE) Facility. Located on South Geiger Boulevard, this plant processes municipal solid waste by burning it to generate electricity. It also functions as a highly convenient one-stop drop-off site for self-hauled household hazardous waste, recycling, and yard debris.
Food Scraps Belong in the Green Cart
Spokane offers an optional but highly beneficial yard waste program that goes well beyond grass clippings and leaves. Residents are encouraged to toss kitchen organics into their green carts, including meat, dairy, eggshells, and food-soiled paper like greasy pizza boxes and coffee filters. This material is then processed into valuable compost rather than sitting in a landfill.
Curbside Bulky Item Pickups on Demand
Getting rid of outdated furniture, broken appliances, or large electronics doesn't necessarily mean a trip to the transfer station. Spokane residents can call the 311 customer service line to schedule a special bulky item pickup on their regular garbage day. Calling well in advance ensures that the city dispatches the appropriate heavy-duty truck to handle the load.
Navigating Winter Weather in the Inland Northwest
Spokane experiences an average of 44 inches of annual snowfall, which can occasionally disrupt collection routes, particularly on steep hills like the South Hill. During winter weather events, residents must ensure that their bins are placed on clear, level surfaces—not perched on top of snowbanks—with lids completely free of heavy snow and ice.
Drop-off Facilities
Waste to Energy Facility Recycling & Disposal Site
2900 S Geiger Blvd, Spokane, WA 99224
Materials Accepted
North County Recycling & Transfer Station
22123 N Elk-Chattaroy Rd, Colbert, WA 99005
Materials Accepted
Valley Recycling & Transfer Station
3941 N Sullivan Rd, Spokane Valley, WA 99216
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who picks up the garbage in the City of Spokane?
Inside the city limits, residential garbage, recycling, and optional yard waste collection are managed directly by the City of Spokane's Solid Waste Collection division.
Can I put food scraps in my yard waste bin in Spokane?
Yes! The City of Spokane allows you to put kitchen food scraps, meat, dairy, and food-soiled paper (like pizza boxes) into your green yard waste cart to be composted.
How do I throw away large furniture or a mattress in Spokane?
You can call 311 (or 509-755-2489 if outside city limits) to schedule a bulky item pickup for an additional fee on your normal garbage day, or you can self-haul the items to the Waste to Energy Facility on South Geiger Blvd.
Is garbage collection in Spokane delayed on holidays?
Yes. The City of Spokane delays garbage and recycling collection by one day for the rest of the week if your pickup day falls on or after New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.