Trash & Recycling in Olympia, WA (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Olympia, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
In the City of Olympia, Washington, Olympia Municipal Code § 13.12.110 requires every occupant to keep suitable cans for garbage. A can must be watertight, no more than thirty-two gallons, no more than seventy pounds loaded and twenty-two pounds empty, with two secure handles, and G.I. type cans are not approved.
Garbage Can and Pickup Rules in the City of Olympia, Washington
Some RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code § 13.12.110
A. It shall be the duty of every person in possession of or control of any premises at all times to keep or cause to be kept suitable cans for the deposit therein of garbage and refuse, and to deposit or cause to be deposited such garbage and refuse therein. B. Such cans shall be watertight, constructed of material suitable to the solid waste section, of not more than seventy pounds in weight i...
Bin Placement Rules
In the City of Olympia, Washington, Olympia Municipal Code § 13.12.110(B) requires each garbage can to be located accessible to the collector within five feet of the stopping point of the collection vehicle. Cans must stay clean outside, and section 13.12.140 allows an extra charge for cans kept somewhere inaccessible.
Garbage Can Placement Rules in the City of Olympia, Washington
Some RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code § 13.12.110
Such cans shall be kept in a sanitary condition with the outside thereof clean and free from accumulating grease and decomposing materials. Each can shall be located accessible to the collector of garbage and refuse within five feet of the stopping point of the collection vehicle. G.I. type cans are not approved cans.
Recycling Requirements
In the City of Olympia, Washington, Olympia Municipal Code § 13.12.130 does not order residents to recycle. It gives a reduced garbage rate to customers who recycle at least two categories of material in a calendar month: aluminum cans, tin cans, newspapers, glass or mixed waste paper.
Curbside Recycling Requirements in the City of Olympia, Washington
Light RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code § 13.12.130
B. Customers are encouraged to participate in a recycling program. As an incentive, those customers who recycle are given a reduced garbage rate. For the purpose of this program, recycling is defined as follows: A customer must recycle at least two categories of material during a calendar month. Categories of materials include: aluminum cans, tin cans, newspapers, glass and mixed waste paper. T...
Illegal Dumping
In the City of Olympia, Washington, Olympia Municipal Code § 12.24.040 bars anyone from throwing, depositing or sweeping glass, metal, broken ware, yard debris, dirt, rubbish, garbage or recyclables into a public street, highway or other public property, or onto private premises, except in containers the City designates for that use. Violations are misdemeanors and civil infractions under § 12.24.160.
Olympia, WA Dumping Rubbish and Debris on Public Property
Some RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code §§ 12.24.040, 12.24.160
No person shall throw into or deposit upon or sweep into any public street, highway or other public property, or upon any private premises, any glass, metal, broken ware, yard debris such as leaves or grass clippings, dirt, rubbish or garbage or recyclables, except at such locations and in such containers properly designated by the City as appropriate for such use. ... A. Any person, firm, or c...
Yard Waste Collection
In the City of Olympia, Washington, Olympia Municipal Code § 13.12.070 gives the City's solid waste section the exclusive right to collect garbage and refuse, but carves out compost piles and the owner's or occupant's own hauling of grass clippings and hedge or tree clippings. City organics service is billed separately under § 4.24.010.
Olympia, WA Yard Waste: Self-Hauling and Organics Service
Light RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code § 13.12.070
The solid waste section of the city, by and through its authorized agents and employees, shall have the exclusive right to gather and collect garbage and refuse within the city, and it is unlawful for any person to collect or gather garbage or refuse, except the contents of any septic tank, cesspool or other sewage collection device, within the city or to deposit or dump the same, or cause the ...
Dumpster Rules
In the City of Olympia, Washington, Olympia Municipal Code § 18.36.060(I) requires dumpsters, carts, drop boxes and compactors on industrial, commercial, multi-family and mixed-use projects to be screened from public view by a Type II Visual Screen when visible from adjoining streets. A Type III Visual Buffer replaces it where screening would block access and service.
Dumpster Screening Rules in the City of Olympia, Washington
Some RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code § 18.36.060
I. Waste Containers, Mechanical Equipment and Open Storage. 1. Waste Containers and Mechanical Equipment: Solid waste containers (dumpsters, carts, drop boxes and compactors) and mechanical and electrical equipment in industrial, commercial, multi-family and mixed-use projects, which would otherwise be visible from adjoining streets shall be screened from public view by a Type II Visual Screen ...
Collection Schedule
In the City of Olympia, Washington, Olympia Municipal Code § 13.12.100 requires the solid waste section to collect all garbage and refuse in the residential districts at least once a week. Hotels, restaurants, apartment houses, schools, hospitals and business districts get more frequent intervals when the section finds conditions warrant.
Garbage Collection Schedule in the City of Olympia, Washington
Some RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code § 13.12.100
The solid waste section of the city shall collect, remove and dispose of all garbage and refuse in the residential districts of the city at least once a week; and from hotels, restaurants, boardinghouses, eating places, apartment houses, schools, hospitals and in the business districts of the city as designated from time to time by the solid waste section at such more frequent intervals as, in ...
Recycling Rules
In the City of Olympia, Washington, Olympia Municipal Code § 13.12.135 says recycle containers are issued to customers upon request. The container is the property of the city and is maintained by the city, and customers are charged for stolen or damaged containers due to customer neglect.
Recycle Container Rules in the City of Olympia, Washington
Light RestrictionsOlympia Municipal Code § 13.12.135
Recycle containers will be issued to customers upon request. Said container shall be the property of and maintained by the city. Customers will be charged for stolen or damaged containers due to customer neglect.
Looking for Thurston County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Olympia city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Thurston County →