Trash & Recycling in Lewis County, WA (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Lewis County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
In unincorporated Lewis County, curbside recycling under RSA-1 collects recyclables every other week, per Lewis County Code § 8.10.080. Any customer subscribing to garbage collection through the franchised hauler gets a 95-gallon recycling cart under § 8.10.070, and can choose weekly, every-other-week, or monthly garbage pickup with a 65-gallon or 95-gallon can under § 8.10.100.
Curbside Recycling Pickup Rules in Lewis County
Light RestrictionsLewis County Code §§ 8.10.070, 8.10.080
§ 8.10.070. Collection bins. (1) One 95-gallon rolling recycling container will be provided to each participant in the program by the hauler. The hauler will recoup the capital investment through the rates established by the WUTC. ... ... § 8.10.080. Collection frequency. Recyclables will be collected every other week. Upon signing up for the program, the hauler will provide the participant wit...
Bin Placement Rules
LCC § 8.15.230 requires anyone in charge of a building, dwelling or business in unincorporated Lewis County to keep an approved solid waste container and put all non-bulky waste in it, keep the container clean and lidded except while filling or emptying, and bars heavy debris from it without health officer permission.
Garbage Container Requirements in Lewis County
Some RestrictionsLewis County Code § 8.15.230
§ 8.15.230. Containers. ... (1) Solid Waste Containers Required. It shall be the duty of every person in possession, charge or control of any building, dwelling, plant, rooming house, apartment house or eating place ... to keep or cause to be kept solid waste containers of approved size, type, and construction at all times and deposit or cause to be deposited therein all solid waste, except bul...
Bulk Item Disposal
Lewis County defines "bulky waste" (appliances, furniture, trees and stumps, demolition debris, and other oversized items) in LCC § 8.15.190(4) and exempts it from the container requirement in § 8.15.230(1), so residents must haul it themselves to a designated transfer station or landfill and pay the posted fee under § 8.15.250.
Bulky Waste Disposal Rules in Lewis County
Some RestrictionsLewis County Code §§ 8.15.190(4), 8.15.230(1), 8.15.250(1)
"Bulky waste" shall mean when used herein, large items of refuse such as appliances, furniture, trees and stumps, demolition, special and other oversized wastes. ... ... § 8.15.230. Containers. ... (1) Solid Waste Containers Required. It shall be the duty of every person in possession, charge or control of any building, dwelling, plant, rooming house, apartment house or eating place ... to keep...
Recycling Requirements
In unincorporated Lewis County (RSA-1), the county has adopted a curbside recycling program under LCC § 8.10.020 that is voluntary for every single-family residence, whether or not the resident also subscribes to garbage collection, per § 8.10.040(1). A WUTC-certificated hauler runs the program and sets the rates.
Curbside Recycling Program in Lewis County
Few RestrictionsLewis County Code §§ 8.10.020, 8.10.030, 8.10.040
§ 8.10.020. Curbside recycling program for RSA-1 adopted. The program design for a curbside recycling program for RSA-1 as set forth in the adopted 1993 Lewis County CSWMP update, adopted by Lewis County Resolution No. 93-505, and the 2000 Lewis County solid and moderate risk waste management plan (hereafter SMRWMP) update, adopted by Lewis County Resolution No. 00-266, and as identified in Art...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping solid waste anywhere in unincorporated Lewis County besides a designated transfer station, landfill, or exempt site violates LCC § 8.15.040. County officials treat the disposal site itself as a public nuisance they can sue to abate under § 8.15.140, and each day of noncompliance is a separate offense under § 8.15.130.
Illegal Dumping Penalties in Lewis County
Significant RestrictionsLewis County Code §§ 8.15.040, 8.15.130, 8.15.140
§ 8.15.040. Unlawful disposal of solid waste. It is unlawful for any person to dump or deposit or permit the dumping or depositing of any solid waste onto or under the ground or into any waters within the unincorporated areas of the county except at a disposal site that has been designated pursuant to LCC § 8.15.030 or exempted pursuant to LCC § 8.15.080, as amended from time to time ... ... § ...
Collection Schedule
Unincorporated Lewis County does not mandate trash service: LCC § 8.10.040(1) makes it voluntary, and residents in RSA-1 pick their own garbage collection level under § 8.10.100, ranging from a 32-gallon occasional bag up to weekly 95-gallon cart pickup, while the companion recycling cart is collected every other week under § 8.10.080.
Garbage Pickup Frequency Options in Lewis County
Few RestrictionsLewis County Code §§ 8.10.080, 8.10.100
§ 8.10.080. Collection frequency. Recyclables will be collected every other week. Upon signing up for the program, the hauler will provide the participant with written information about the recyclables to be collected, proper preparation of the materials, responsibilities of the participant, and a calendar indicating the pickup dates. ... ... § 8.10.100. Incentives for participation. (1) In ord...
Recycling Rules
Unincorporated Lewis County runs curbside recycling through Recycling Service Area RSA-1, which under Lewis County Code Chapter 8.10 now covers the entire unincorporated county. Single-family homes get a voluntary, every-other-week recycling pickup with a 95-gallon container from the county's franchised hauler, at rates set by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.
Lewis County Curbside Recycling Rules
Light RestrictionsLewis County Code § 8.10.030, § 8.10.040, § 8.10.080, § 8.10.090
RSA-1 is defined as all unincorporated areas of Lewis County. ... Service will be made available to all single-family residences in RSA-1 on a voluntary basis. Residents will be eligible for participation in the program regardless if they subscribe to regular garbage collection service. Subscribers signing up for only the recycling service will not be charged a garbage collection fee. ... Recyc...
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