Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Walla Walla
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 Green Bin (Trash)
Cart must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. The lid cannot be open more than 45 degrees, and the cart must be placed at least 3 feet away from cars, utility poles, and basketball hoops.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (wrapped)
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and films
- ✓Block foam and Styrofoam
- ✓Pet waste and diapers (bagged)
Blue / Standard Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Collected every other week by Basin Disposal Inc. (BDI). Recyclables must be empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag recyclables in plastic garbage sacks.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and cereal boxes
- ✓Newspaper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (#1, #2, #5)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass of any kind (strictly banned)
- ✕Plastic bags and films
- ✕Lids and caps from plastic bottles
- ✕Block foam and Styrofoam
- ✕Buckets with metal handles
Yard Waste Bin
Subscription-based service operating from March 1 to November 30. Picked up on the same day as your regular garbage by the City Sanitation Division.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean green yard waste
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and weeds
- ✓Small branches and plant trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
No free curbside bulk pickup; self-haul to Sudbury Regional Landfill.
Placement
Do not place bulk items at the curb. All loads brought to the Sudbury Regional Landfill must be secured with tarps or ropes to avoid flying debris and extra fees.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and couches
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances
- ✓ Yard debris and excess household garbage
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (must go to specific HHW facility)
- ✕ Liquid paints
- ✕ Unsecured loads (subject to penalty fees)
Unsecured loads incur additional fees at the landfill gate. Utility customers should present their annual Landfill Courtesy Pass to offset standard tipping fees for bulk drop-offs.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your collection falls on a holiday, your container will be serviced the following business day.
Yard Waste Exception
Green waste and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard garbage.
The Sudbury Regional Landfill and Household Hazardous Waste facility are also completely closed on all of these major City-observed holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Remove All Plastic Lids
Lids cause severe jams in the recycling plant machinery, leading to costly damage and operational delays [1.2.2]. You must completely remove lids and caps from all plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs before placing them in the recycling cart.
Scrape Out Tubs Without Wasting Water
Recycling facilities don't wash your plastics. To clean food tubs without wasting tap water, scrape the sides with a spatula or use leftover dirty dishwater to soak them before shaking them dry and throwing them in the recycling bin.
Keep Glass Out of Recycling
Walla Walla permanently suspended its glass recycling program over a decade ago. Never put glass in your curbside recycling container; it must go directly into the garbage, ideally wrapped safely to prevent breakage hazards.
Seasonal Information
Spring to Fall
March to NovemberThe City's subscription Green Waste program is purely seasonal, running only from March 1 through November 30 [1.1.1]. Outside of these 9 months, residents must either compost in their backyard or haul debris to the Compost Facility.
Winter
November to FebruaryThe Sudbury Regional Landfill operates on reduced winter hours during these months, opening at 8:30 a.m. and closing early at 4:00 p.m.. Plan your self-hauling and bulk waste trips accordingly.
Summer
June to AugustDuring the hot summer months, ensure all wet garbage, pet waste, and food scraps are securely bagged inside your trash cart to deter pests, reduce odors, and prevent material from sticking to the inside of the can during dumping.
About Walla Walla Waste Management
Hybrid Municipal and Private Service
In Walla Walla, residential waste collection is a hybrid operation [1.1.1]. The City's own Sanitation Division handles weekly garbage collection and seasonal green waste. However, the mandatory every-other-week recycling program is contracted out to a private hauler, Basin Disposal Inc. (BDI). Because of this split, residents must contact the City for garbage issues, but must contact BDI for missed recycling collections.
The 2012 Glass Recycling Ban
Unlike many municipalities in the Pacific Northwest, the City of Walla Walla officially suspended its glass recycling program back in July 2012. You must never place glass bottles or jars in your curbside recycling container. All glass should be safely wrapped to prevent injury to sanitation workers and placed directly into your regular garbage container for disposal.
Subscription Green Waste Service
The City offers a highly popular seasonal, subscription-based green waste collection program that runs exclusively from March 1 through November 30. By subscribing to this service to compost yard debris, residents are often able to downsize from a standard 90-gallon garbage cart to a smaller 64-gallon cart, allowing them to secure a reduced monthly utility rate.
Annual Landfill Courtesy Pass
While Walla Walla doesn't provide a free curbside bulk pickup day, residential utility customers receive an Annual Landfill Courtesy Pass. This valuable pass allows households to self-haul their bulky items, old appliances, or excess home cleanout debris to the Sudbury Regional Landfill without having to pay the standard tipping fees for a limited number of trips.
Strict Cart Placement and Elevated Lid Fees
The automated trucks used in Walla Walla require exactly 3 feet of clearance from obstacles like parked cars, utility poles, and street-side basketball hoops. Furthermore, if your garbage lid is open more than 45 degrees, or the container is overloaded with heavy materials, you will be automatically charged an additional elevated-lid and heavy-weight fee on your next utility bill.
Drop-off Facilities
Sudbury Regional Landfill
414 Landfill Road, Walla Walla, WA 99362
Materials Accepted
Goodwill Industries (E-Waste Drop-off)
1017 NE C St, College Place, WA 99324
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I call if my garbage or recycling is missed in Walla Walla?
Because Walla Walla uses a hybrid system, it depends on what was missed. For your weekly garbage or green waste collection, contact the City of Walla Walla Sanitation Division at 509-524-4411. For a missed recycling collection, you must contact the contracted hauler, Basin Disposal Inc. (BDI), directly at 509-547-2476.
Can I put glass bottles in my recycling container in Walla Walla?
No. The City of Walla Walla permanently suspended its glass recycling program in July 2012. You must never place glass in your recycling cart. All glass items should be placed in your regular garbage container for disposal.
What are the rules for placing my garbage cart at the curb?
Your cart must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. It must have at least 3 feet of clearance from all obstacles, including parked cars, utility poles, fences, and basketball hoops. The cart's lid must not be open more than 45 degrees, or you will be charged an extra fee.
Where can I get rid of old paint and fluorescent light bulbs?
Fluorescent bulbs, linear tubes, and other household hazardous wastes (like oil-based paints, pesticides, and household chemicals) are accepted free of charge for Walla Walla County residents at the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility located at the Sudbury Road Landfill.