Trash & Recycling in Auburn, WA (2026)
10 verified trash & recycling rules for Auburn, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Auburn requires garbage, recycling and compostables carts to be at the curb by the hauler's scheduled start time and back in storage within a reasonable time after pickup, and once materials are set out, ownership passes to the contracted hauler, making curbside scavenging by anyone else unlawful.
Auburn Curbside Set-Out and Anti-Scavenging Rules
Some RestrictionsACC 8.08.100
A. All residential and commercial customer-generated solid waste shall be set out for collection in the approved container by the service provider's scheduled start time for the day for collection service, and such containers shall be removed and replaced to their appropriate storage location within a reasonable time following the established day for collection service... B. Once recyclables an...
Bin Placement Rules
Auburn requires every single-family customer to keep at least one rigid, service-provider cart as the primary garbage container, store it at its approved location under the zoning code until pickup day, and set it at curbside by the hauler's scheduled start time. Carts must dump out cleanly when inverted and stay within posted weight limits.
Auburn Trash Cart Placement and Set-Out Rules
Some RestrictionsACC 8.08.080(D), (F); ACC 8.08.100(A)
All single-family residential garbage shall be placed in a service provider-provided micro-can or wheeled cart. In all cases, customers shall have at least one rigid container as their primary garbage container. Plastic bags or garbage cans may be used for overflow volumes of garbage, but not as a customer's primary container, and may be subject to an additional service charge or fee. All conta...
Recycling Requirements
Auburn's contracted haulers are the city's exclusive agents for collecting recyclables citywide, though residents may self-haul their own recyclables in their own vehicle and nonprofits may run their own recyclable material collection separately from the city's franchise.
Auburn's Exclusive Recycling Collection Agents
Significant RestrictionsACC 8.08.070(B)
B. For the purpose of health, sanitation, and common good of the community, to ensure safe accumulation, storage, collection, transportation, and disposal of solid waste, the city's agents shall be the exclusive agents of the city to collect, dispose, remove, handle and transport solid waste within the city limits for the purpose of recycling, waste reduction, and composting. C. Nothing in this...
Mandatory Organics Recycling
Auburn makes it unlawful to mix yard debris or food scraps into the garbage or recycling set out at curbside; ACC 8.08.120 requires compostables to go in the provider's compostables cart, and plastic bags are banned as a contaminant even in overflow containers.
Auburn Mandatory Organics Separation Rule
Some RestrictionsACC 8.08.120(A), (B)
A. It shall be unlawful to dispose of residential or commercial yard debris by commingling yard debris with the garbage or recycling set out at curbside for collection by a service provider(s) under contract with the city. B. Compostables carts are provided for residential and commercial recycling of compostables and ease of curbside set-out for collection by the city-contracted service provide...
Holiday Pickup Schedule
Auburn's solid waste code does not publish a list of skipped holidays but builds the shift directly into the set-out rule: whenever a scheduled collection day falls on a designated holiday, ACC 8.08.100 pushes pickup to the next workday automatically, and customers get until the following morning to return their cart to storage instead of the same-day deadline that otherwise applies.
Auburn Holiday Trash Pickup Shift Rule
Light RestrictionsACC 8.08.100(A)
...except when such established day for collection falls on a designated holiday, in which case collection will be conducted on the next succeeding workday, and the containers shall be removed and replaced to their appropriate storage location by the morning following collection.
Illegal Dumping
Dumping or dropping litter anywhere in Auburn outside an approved container is unlawful under ACC 8.16.030, a civil infraction carrying up to a $250 fine per day, location and violator, that becomes a misdemeanor after three prior violations of the same or similar code sections.
Auburn Illegal Dumping Penalties
Some RestrictionsACC 8.16.030
It is unlawful for anyone to dump, throw, or deposit, any litter on any property, public or private, vacant or occupied, or any public place except in garbage cans, or detachable containers where authorized, or in bundles as described in this chapter, placed on private property or placed on the street or alley for collection when necessary, authorized, or required, or upon or at a refuse dispos...
Yard Waste Collection
Auburn defines yard debris narrowly under ACC 8.08.030: leaves and grass or plant clippings only, capped at four inches in diameter or four feet in length, with bundles tied in degradable string, plus a separate weekly yard-and-food cart subscription billed under ACC 8.08.180.
Auburn Yard Waste Bundling and Cart Rules
Some RestrictionsACC 8.08.030(M)
M. "Yard debris" means leaves, grass clippings of woody as well as fleshy plants. Nonflocked Christmas trees are acceptable as yard debris if cut up and bundled. Material larger than four inches in diameter or four feet in length is excluded. Degradable string or twine, not nylon or other synthetic material, shall secure bundles of yard debris.
Dumpster Rules
Multiplex, multifamily and commercial dumpsters, trash compactors and recycling bins in Auburn must be fully screened from public view behind a solid fence, wall or gate under ACC 18.50.040, while temporary roll-off drop-boxes are rented directly from the city's solid waste program under ACC 8.08.190 with size-based pre-pay deposits.
Auburn Dumpster and Drop-Box Screening Rules
Some RestrictionsACC 18.50.040(C)(5)(c)
c. Trash containers, dumpsters, trash compactors, and recycling bins associated with multiplex, multi-unit residential, and nonresidential uses must be screened from public view on all sides with a solid fence, wall, or gate constructed of cedar, redwood, masonry, or other similar building material reflecting the overall design of the site, and be appropriately landscaped (e.g., climbing vines,...
Collection Schedule
Auburn requires its contracted solid waste service providers to collect garbage from every single-family, multifamily and commercial customer at least once a week, and garbage service itself is mandatory citywide, billed whether or not a customer actually uses the service.
Auburn Mandatory Weekly Garbage Collection
Some RestrictionsACC 8.08.070(A)
A. The city's agents shall collect, remove and dispose of all solid waste from single-family and multifamily residences and commercial establishments in the city at least once each week, or as often as required by the solid waste administrator. All occupied units are required to have minimum service or adequate service as required by the administrator.
Recycling Rules
Auburn makes it unlawful to place nonrecyclable solid waste into any container, curb spot, or drop-off site designated for recyclables, and separately bans dumping garbage, recyclables or compostables anywhere in the city except in approved collection containers.
Auburn Recycling Contamination Ban
Some RestrictionsACC 8.08.130(B)
B. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, whether the source be residential or commercial, to cause the placement of nonrecyclable solid waste in, upon, or at any container(s), location, recycle drop station drop-off site, curb or area designated for recyclable materials by the city or its agent within the Auburn city limits.
Looking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Auburn city rules.
Trash & Recycling in King County →