Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Spokane
Trash Day
Trash is collected weekly, Monday through Friday, with your specific pickup day determined by your neighborhood address.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Optional Clean Green (food & yard waste) cart is collected weekly from March through November, and once monthly during the first full week of December, January, and February on your regular collection day.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash collection fees are bundled into your monthly City of Spokane utility bill along with water, wastewater, and stormwater services. You can lower your bill by selecting a smaller trash cart size.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH), Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income assistance is offered through the U-Help program (administered by SNAP), and credits of up to $20 per month are available for qualifying low-income seniors and disabled individuals with an active Spokane County property tax exemption.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Cash for Your Cans and Bottles Around Spokane?
While Washington State doesn't have widespread return centers like some other states, you might still find a few spots to turn your recyclables into a little cash. Check out local scrap yards like Empire Metals Inc. in Spokane. They often buy aluminum cans and other metals. For those beverage containers, keep an eye out for community fundraising events that might be collecting them, or see if local charities are running bottle drives. Sometimes smaller, independent operations pop up, so it's worth a quick search for 'Spokane bottle return' or 'Spokane scrap metal prices' periodically.
Give Your Gently Used Stuff a New Spokane Home!
Before tossing items that are still in good shape, think about giving them a second life! Spokane has some fantastic places that would love your donations. Goodwill Industries of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho has multiple locations throughout Spokane where they accept clothing, household goods, and furniture. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are also a great option, especially for building materials, furniture, and home decor, often supporting local building projects. You might also find smaller, specialized thrift shops in areas like Browne's Addition or Garland that focus on vintage items or specific categories. It's a win-win: you declutter, and someone else gets a bargain!
Keeping Our Spokane Neighborhoods Sparkling: What to Do with Stuff That's Not Trash?
Dealing with things like old paint, electronics, or chemicals can be tricky. Spokane County provides information on household hazardous waste disposal, often through special collection events or drop-off sites. Keep an eye on the Spokane County Solid Waste management website for announcements about these opportunities. If you happen to see illegal dumping, report it! It’s unsightly and harmful to our environment. The City of Spokane or Spokane County usually have a dedicated number or online form to report these issues, helping keep our beautiful Spokane clean for everyone.
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.