Trash & Recycling in Bellingham, WA (2026)
7 verified trash & recycling rules for Bellingham, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Only the city's contracted hauler may collect garbage or refuse in Bellingham: anyone else picking up trash without a contract is breaking the law under BMC 9.12.020.
Bellingham Who May Haul Trash
Significant RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 9.12.020(A)
It is unlawful for any person, other than a contractor having a contract for solid waste collection and disposal with the city, to collect, haul or dispose of garbage or refuse within the city. This subsection shall not apply to the collection of garbage and refuse from commercial locations within the city by a person who does not have a contract to which the city is a party specifying the term...
Bin Placement Rules
Bellingham owners, occupants, and tenants must keep garbage in covered containers; if it's left to pile up, the city can clean it up and bill the property under BMC 9.12.070.
Bellingham Garbage Accumulation Duty
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 9.12.070
In case any owner, occupancy, or tenant within the city permits garbage or refuse to accumulate on the premises, and fails to deposit such garbage or refuse in covered containers as specified in this chapter, the city may, at the discretion of the director of public works, employ the contractor to collect and remove such garbage and refuse and in such case the entire expense of the collection a...
Recycling Requirements
Bellingham makes it unlawful to collect baled paper, cardboard, aluminum or other recyclable material from any premises without the owner's consent, unless you're the city's contracted hauler.
Bellingham Restricts Who May Haul Recyclables
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 9.12.020(B)
It is unlawful for any person, other than a contractor having a contract for garbage collection and disposal with the city, to collect, remove, haul or dispose of any of the following baled or packaged materials: (1) paper; (2) kraft material; (3) cardboard; (4) aluminum; and (5) any other recyclable material from any public or privately owned premises within the city, without first obtaining t...
Mandatory Organics Recycling
Bellingham Municipal Code § 9.12.020(C) makes it unlawful for anyone besides the city's contracted hauler to collect or remove food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard waste, and contractor-approved compostable packaging citywide, tying organics into the same exclusive-hauler system as garbage.
Bellingham Mandatory Organics Hauling Rule
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 9.12.020(C)
It is unlawful for any person, other than a contractor having a contract for garbage collection and disposal with the city, to collect, remove, haul or dispose of food scraps, food-soiled papers, yard waste, and contractor-approved compostable packaging.
Illegal Dumping
Bellingham Municipal Code § 9.04.050 bars dumping or depositing manure, garbage, offal, or any vegetable or animal matter or nauseous substance detrimental to health anywhere in the city without a special permit from the health officer. A companion accumulation ban and a misdemeanor penalty back it up.
Bellingham Illegal Dumping Prohibition
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 9.04.050
No manure, garbage, offal, or any vegetable or animal matter or nauseous substances detrimental to health shall be dumped or deposited at any place within the limits of the city except by special permit from the health officer.
Dumpster Rules
Commercial developments in Bellingham, Washington must screen dumpsters and recycling storage from arterial streets, walkways, and neighboring homes, enclosing them to match the building's architecture.
Bellingham Commercial Trash Enclosure Screening Rules
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 20.25.090(B)(2)(a)
Refuse and recycling storage areas shall be located so as to be screened from arterial streets, pedestrian walkways, and neighboring residential properties. (See Figure 20.25.090(E).) [IMAGE: <20.25.090E.png>]Figure 20.25.090(E) Screened Trash and Recycling Storage ii. Standard. Refuse containment areas shall be either placed in a building or within a structure that is...
Collection Schedule
Bellingham Municipal Code § 9.12.040(B) makes garbage collection and disposal service compulsory for every single-family dwelling unit and commercial location in the city, with only a narrow exception for combined multi-unit residences approved by the city.
Bellingham Mandatory Garbage Service Rule
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 9.12.040(B)
The universal and compulsory use of garbage collection and disposal for each and every single-family dwelling unit and commercial location is mandatory with the exception of residences of two, three and four single-family dwellings that have city approval for combined services.
Looking for Whatcom County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bellingham city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Whatcom County →