Trash & Recycling in Richland, WA (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Richland, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
In the City of Richland, Washington, basic residential service includes a gray household cart and a green yard waste cart, both collected weekly. RMC § 15.03.050(A) requires containers at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the assigned day, while recycling runs every other week.
Richland Weekly Trash Pickup Schedule
Some RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code § 15.03.050(A)
A. All residential account holders will receive basic service consisting of one gray container for household waste and one green container for yard waste. Additional containers may be provided upon request. All containers shall be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the customer's assigned collection day and will be picked up weekly, except that recycling containers will be collected every other...
Bin Placement Rules
In the City of Richland, Washington, curbside refuse containers must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day with the lid facing the collection truck. RMC § 15.03.030(D) also requires three feet of clearance around each container and removal from the right-of-way within 24 hours after pickup.
Richland Curbside Container Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code § 15.03.030(D)
D. Curbside. By 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection, containers to be picked up curbside shall be placed in a location accessible by the traveled roadway and positioned with the lid opening toward the collection vehicle when the container is dumped. Containers and any extra refuse shall maintain a minimum of three feet from all obstructions, including other containers. Any container placed out f...
Bulk Item Disposal
In the City of Richland, Washington, large cleanouts go through the city's voluntary roll-off container program rather than curbside bulk pickup. RMC § 15.03.090 establishes the service, and RMC § 15.03.100 sets a one-ton disposal minimum plus a $348.00 monthly fee if a box is not emptied at least monthly.
Richland Roll-Off Container Bulk Disposal
Light RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code §§ 15.03.090, 15.03.100
There is established a voluntary system for provision of larger "roll-off" container services as requested by customers of the city of Richland solid waste utility. ... Roll-off container services will be considered temporary for the first two months of service and charged per day rent charges accordingly. After two consecutive months of service, users will be considered permanent. Disposal fee...
Recycling Requirements
In the City of Richland, Washington, the blue recycling cart accepts only cardboard, plastic, newspaper, aluminum and tin. RMC § 15.03.020(J) bans glass entirely, and contaminating the cart with glass or other materials is a violation enforced under RMC § 15.05.010.
Richland Blue Recycling Container Contents Rule
Some RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code § 15.03.020(J)
J. The blue recycling container shall only contain cardboard, plastic, newspaper, aluminum and tin. No glass is allowed in the recycling containers. Contamination of the recycle container with glass or other materials is a violation subject to the provisions of RMC § 15.05.010.
Illegal Dumping
The City of Richland, Washington makes it a misdemeanor under Richland Municipal Code § 9.12.055 to bury, burn, dump, collect, remove, or otherwise dispose of refuse on any street, alley, public place, or private property unless it follows the collection rules of RMC Title 15, though a backyard compost heap that is not a nuisance is expressly exempt.
Richland Bans Illegal Dumping of Refuse
Significant RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code § 9.12.055
It is unlawful for any person to bury, burn, dump, collect, remove, or in any other manner dispose of or deposit refuse upon any street, alley, public place, or private property within the city other than as provided in RMC Title 15; except that this section shall not be taken to prohibit maintenance of any compost heap upon private property in a manner not constituting a nuisance. Every person...
Yard Waste Collection
In the City of Richland, Washington, the green yard waste cart is limited to grass clippings, prunings and woody trimmings four inches in diameter or less. RMC § 15.03.020(I) bars refuse, dirt, construction debris, bagged material and larger branches, and misuse is a violation enforced under RMC § 15.05.010.
Richland Green Yard Waste Container Rules
Some RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code §§ 15.02.145, 15.03.020(I)
"Yard waste" means leaves, grass, prunings and clippings of woody as well as fleshy plants. Yard waste does not include dirt and rocks. Small trees and Christmas trees will be considered yard waste if they have been cut and bundled to a maximum length of four feet. ... ... I. The green yard waste containers shall only contain vegetation material such as grass clippings and plant trimmings inclu...
Dumpster Rules
RMC § 23.22.020(B)(7)(g) requires any commercial dumpster or recycling collection area in the City of Richland, Washington within 75 feet of a residential zone to sit at least 20 feet back from the nearest residential property line and be screened by a solid enclosure blocking the view from every adjacent home.
Richland Commercial Dumpster Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code § 23.22.020(B)(7)(g)
Refuse Areas. Any dumpsters or area for collection of recycled materials shall be set back a minimum of 20 feet from the nearest residential property boundary and shall be screened from view by a solid screen sufficient to block its view from all adjacent residential properties.
Collection Schedule
In the City of Richland, Washington, every dwelling or structure that generates waste must take the city's refuse collection service under RMC § 15.01.040(A). Skipping service does not excuse the regular sanitation charge, and the city grants an exemption only when unusual or extraordinary circumstances prevail, decided case by case.
Richland's Mandatory Trash Service
Heavy RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code § 15.01.040(A)
A. Compulsory. It is compulsory for every person in possession, charge or control of any dwelling or structure within the city where waste is created or accumulated to take a collection service provided by the city for refuse. Failure to make use of such service shall not exempt any party from the payment of the regular charges established for that service. The city may, when unusual or extraor...
Recycling Rules
In the City of Richland, Washington, curbside recycling is an optional, request-only service. RMC § 15.03.050(D) delivers a blue container on request with pickup every other week, and RMC § 15.03.060(F) prices the commingled service and requires the same cardboard, plastic, newspaper, aluminum and tin mix.
Richland Optional Recycling Service Rules
Light RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code §§ 15.03.050(D), 15.03.060(F)
D. Recycling collection service will be available to all Richland residential customers upon request. If requested, a blue recycling container will be delivered to the customer, and recycling will be collected on an every-other-week basis on a designated collection day. ... ... F. Commingled residential recycling is an optional service at the rates described in the table found in this section. ...
Looking for Benton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Richland city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Benton County →