Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for University Place
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 (Weekly) or Brown (Bi-Weekly) Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the cart with the lid closed. Place carts at the curb by 6:00 a.m. Maintain 3 feet of clearance around the cart, 5 feet from vehicles, and 18 feet of overhead clearance.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Dirty cardboard and pizza boxes
- ✓Styrofoam packing peanuts and blocks (bagged)
- ✓Pet waste and cat litter (bagged)
- ✓Glass and broken ceramics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be empty, clean, and dry. Place all items loosely inside the blue cart without using any plastic grocery or trash bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper, mail, and newspaper
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (strictly banned)
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Pizza boxes or dirty paper plates
Yard Waste Bin
Cart lid must close completely. Limit weight to 130 lbs for 64-gallon carts and 200 lbs for 96-gallon carts. Extra yard waste requires a GREEN extra tag and must be manageable by hand.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Food waste and kitchen scraps
- ✓Garden refuse and weeds
- ✓Branches and brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One free curbside pickup per calendar year for residential customers.
Placement
You must call to schedule in advance. Place approved items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. No single item may weigh more than 300 lbs or be larger than 4' x 8' x 3'.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and couches
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major appliances (must be empty)
- ✓ Exercise equipment (treadmills, bikes)
- ✓ Rolled and tied carpet (max 6 feet long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous materials (oil, gas, asbestos)
- ✕ Glass items (mirrors, glass tables)
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Home improvement/construction debris
- ✕ Riding lawn mowers
Appliances with compressors (refrigerators, freezers, AC units) will incur a decommissioning fee. Call 253-564-3212 to schedule.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after one of these three observed holidays, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling collections follow the exact same holiday shift as standard garbage service.
UP Refuse operates normally on all other federal holidays, including MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the 4th of July, and Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Leave Glass Out of the Blue Cart
Glass is universally banned from curbside recycling in University Place [4.1.8]. Throwing a single jar into your blue cart can shatter and ruin an entire truckload of recycled paper. Always self-haul glass to the Recycling Center on Rochester Street, or bag it and put it in the trash.
Bag Dusty and Messy Garbage
University Place Refuse explicitly requires that messy items like cat litter, cold ashes, styrofoam packing peanuts, and pet poop be securely bagged in your garbage cart. This prevents hazardous dust clouds and loose litter from blowing around the neighborhood when the truck dumps the cart.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Recycling
Plastic grocery bags and shrink wrap act as tanglers that jam the gears at the local sorting facility. Never bag your recyclables in the blue bin—leave them completely loose. You can drop off clean plastic film at local supermarket collection bins instead.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to FebruaryDuring extreme Pacific Northwest winter weather, such as heavy snow or ice, UP Refuse may delay service for safety. Check their Facebook page or official website for real-time service and weather updates.
Autumn
October to NovemberDuring heavy leaf-drop season, ensure your green yard waste cart does not exceed 200 pounds. Extra yard waste can be placed next to the cart but must have a GREEN extra tag (or clearly marked 'YARD WASTE') and will incur a small fee.
Year-Round
January to DecemberInstead of waiting for a specific seasonal clean-up day, you can now bring one load of garbage and one load of yard waste to the facility (2815 Rochester St W) any day during business hours, up to twice a year.
About University Place Waste Management
Dedicated Hauler for University Place
Residential solid waste, recycling, and yard waste services in the city are exclusively provided by University Place Refuse and Recycling. They provide weekly garbage collection for residents using GRAY carts, or every-other-week collection for residents utilizing BROWN garbage carts. Your recycling cart will always be BLUE, and your yard waste cart is GREEN.
Strict Curbside Glass Ban
To protect the quality of regional paper and cardboard bales, glass is strictly banned from the blue curbside recycling carts. If you have glass bottles and jars, you have two options: you can either self-haul them to the University Place Recycling Center on Rochester Street, or you can securely bag them and throw them in your regular garbage cart.
New Flexible Clean-Up Drop-Off Program
Starting in January 2026, UP Refuse revolutionized its community clean-up program. Instead of having two specific, crowded clean-up dates each year, residential customers can now bring one pickup-sized load of garbage and one load of yard waste directly to the facility ANY time during regular business hours. Each household can utilize this free self-haul option two times per year.
Annual Free Curbside Bulky Pickup
To help keep University Place beautiful, single-family residential customers in good standing are entitled to one free curbside bulky waste pickup per calendar year. You can schedule the collection of up to 5 large items (such as a mattress, sofa, or barbecue) directly from your curb. This popular program fills up fast, so call 253-564-3212 to book your spot up to a month in advance.
Composting Food Waste in the Green Cart
University Place Refuse and Recycling strongly encourages residents to divert kitchen waste from the local landfill. Your green yard waste cart is not just for grass clippings and branches; you can also use it to compost your household food waste. This organic material is then processed and turned into nutrient-rich compost.
Drop-off Facilities
University Place Recycling Center
2815 Rochester St W, University Place, WA 98466
Materials Accepted
Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center
3510 S Mullen St, Tacoma, WA 98409
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put glass in my blue recycling bin in University Place?
No. Glass is banned from curbside recycling because it shatters during automated collection and sorting, which contaminates paper bales [4.1.8]. You must self-haul clean glass to the UP Recycling Center on Rochester Street, or securely bag it and throw it in your gray or brown garbage cart.
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup for a couch or mattress?
Residential customers get one free bulky item pickup per calendar year for up to 5 items. You must call University Place Refuse at 253-564-3212 to schedule the pickup. Make sure you identify all your items when you call, as you cannot add items later.
Does my garbage get delayed for Memorial Day or the 4th of July?
No. University Place Refuse operates on a completely normal schedule for all holidays except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. You must have your bins at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day.
What happens if I have extra yard waste?
If you have more yard waste than fits in your green cart with the lid closed, you can place it in a box, bag, or bundle next to your cart. However, you must attach a GREEN extra tag (or clearly write 'YARD WASTE' on a tag), and an extra fee will be added to your next bill.