Trash & Recycling in Port Townsend, WA (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Port Townsend, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Port Townsend requires curbside solid waste collection at least once a week for homes, arranged through the city's contracted hauler, with businesses allowed pickup as often as daily.
Port Townsend Weekly Trash Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsPTMC 6.04.070
Solid waste shall be collected from all residential (single-family and multifamily) tenantable or inhabited buildings of every kind, nature and description in the city at least once each week unless qualified for every other week service. Where sanitary conditions or convenience of customers requires more frequent collection, the solid waste contractor shall arrange the regular days for collect...
Bin Placement Rules
Port Townsend requires garbage, recycling, and yard-waste containers to sit at the curbside for collection, without blocking sidewalks, driveways, or on-street parking.
Port Townsend Trash Cart Curbside Placement
Some RestrictionsPTMC 6.04.030(A), (B)
All garbage, refuse and rubbish shall be kept in metal or heavy duty synthetic material containers that have sealable close-fitting lids or covers which will entirely prevent dogs, birds, rats, mice or flies from reaching the contents thereof, and will prevent odors and gasses from escaping therefrom. The solid waste contractor shall be authorized to require replacement of inadequate or unsafe ...
Bulk Item Disposal
Port Townsend's solid waste contractor collects bundled brush and yard waste every other week, but branches over four inches thick or bundles topping 40 pounds aren't picked up, and each address is capped at three units per visit.
Port Townsend Yard Waste & Brush Pickup
Some RestrictionsPTMC 6.04.090
Limbs and branches will not be collected unless they meet the following requirements: (1) they must not exceed four inches in diameter (except for Christmas trees); and (2) limbs and branches must be tied in bundles of not more than four feet in length; and (3) the bundles must not be more than two feet in diameter; and (4) the bundles of limbs and branches shall weigh not more than 40 pounds e...
Recycling Requirements
Port Townsend requires curbside recyclables in contractor-approved containers, and every developed property must subscribe to solid waste service.
Port Townsend Curbside Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsPTMC 6.04.030
Recyclable materials for curbside collection shall be set out in approved recycling containers provided by the solid waste collection contractor. B. The containers shall be placed at the curbside as defined in this chapter. Curbside placement of solid waste cans and bags, yard waste, and recycling containers shall not block sidewalks, driveways or on-street parking. C. All solid waste con...
Illegal Dumping
Port Townsend bans dumping refuse or garbage on property you don't own, public or private, unless the owner gives prior approval. Violations are declared nuisances enforced under Chapter 1.20.
Port Townsend Illegal Dumping Ban
Heavy RestrictionsPTMC 6.12.010
It shall be unlawful for any person or firm to place or deposit any refuse or garbage upon property not owned by said person or firm, whether or not said refuse or garbage is placed in a container, except that such deposit may be permitted with the express prior approval of the owner or manager of the premises upon which the garbage or refuse is placed or deposited.
Yard Waste Collection
Port Townsend's solid waste contractor collects yard waste biweekly, alternating with recycling, with strict bundle and container limits.
Port Townsend Yard Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsPTMC 6.04.090
Limbs and branches will not be collected unless they meet the following requirements: (1) they must not exceed four inches in diameter (except for Christmas trees); and (2) limbs and branches must be tied in bundles of not more than four feet in length; and (3) the bundles must not be more than two feet in diameter; and (4) the bundles of limbs and branches shall weigh not more than 40 pounds e...
Dumpster Rules
Port Townsend requires commercial dumpsters and drop boxes (roll-offs) to sit on the customer's own property, never in the public right-of-way or a public parking area, under the city's solid waste code.
Port Townsend Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsPTMC 6.04.010; PTMC 6.04.040(B)(4)(b)
“Dumpster” means an all‑metal container, with lidded or nonlidded cover, typically with capacity of one, one and one‑half or two yards, capable of being picked up by a mechanical device and dumped into solid waste collection vehicles. … Any solid waste containers used to hold solid waste prior to compaction shall be stored and maintained on the customer’s property and shall not be stored or mai...
Collection Schedule
Port Townsend requires every developed property and business to subscribe to the city's contracted solid waste service, with residential garbage picked up curbside at least once a week.
Port Townsend Mandatory Weekly Trash Pickup
Some RestrictionsPTMC 6.04.040, 6.04.070
It is mandatory for the owner of all developed property, all residential (single-family and multifamily) tenantable or inhabited buildings, and/or all places of business within the city to take a service that is provided by the city's solid waste contractor. ... Solid waste shall be collected from all residential (single-family and multifamily) tenantable or inhabited buildings ... at least onc...
Recycling Rules
Port Townsend residents and businesses must set recyclables out in the solid waste contractor's approved recycling containers, placed curbside without blocking sidewalks, driveways, or on-street parking.
Port Townsend Recycling Container Rules
Some RestrictionsPTMC 6.04.030
Recyclable materials for curbside collection shall be set out in approved recycling containers provided by the solid waste collection contractor. B. The containers shall be placed at the curbside as defined in this chapter. Curbside placement of solid waste cans and bags, yard waste, and recycling containers shall not block sidewalks, driveways or on-street parking. C. All solid waste con...