Yakima, WA Property Maintenance: Trash Bin Storage (2026)

Yakima's solid-waste service is the City of Yakima Refuse Division — a municipal, city-operated utility. YMC Chapter 4.16 governs storage, collection and disposal. Key sections: (1) YMC 4.16.070 — 'Refuse containers for residential use shall be furnished by the city. The city retains ownership of the containers. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to store or permit the storage of refuse on or about the premises occupied by them unless such refuse is kept in those certain containers hereinafter provided.' (2) YMC 4.16.080 — 'Containers and all materials deposited in them shall not be removed by anyone other than city of Yakima solid waste staff or designee.' (3) YMC 4.16.170 — residential collection regulations: (a) only city-provided containers are emptied; carts must be at curbside by 6 a.m.; (d) the city provides a 32-gal or 96-gal cart, weight limits 112 lb / 300 lb (over-weight carts are tagged and left); (e) carts must be kept on residential property at all times; 'No carts shall be kept or stored on any public alley, street, or within any public right-of-way' except a reasonable time before/after pickup; (e)(2) optional carry-out service must be approved by the Refuse Division manager; (f) free assistance for elderly/disabled residents under WAC 308-96B; (g) the owner/occupant must keep carts in a clean and sanitary condition and prevent spills by dogs or other sources, secured 'to render them inaccessible to marauding animals.' (4) YMC 4.16.150 — Disposal of garbage and refuse by private citizens is compulsory; a base fee applies to every refuse account whether the cart is suspended or not. (5) YMC 4.16.020 — it is unlawful to scatter or allow accumulation of refuse on any premises, public or private. (6) YMC 4.16.025 — illegal dumping in another person's cart is unlawful. (7) Property Maintenance backstop — YMC 11.40.302.1 (Sanitation) requires exterior property to remain 'clean, safe and sanitary' and not constitute a nuisance; chronic overfilled or out-of-place carts are addressable under YMC 11.40. (8) WA RCW Chapter 70A.205 (Solid Waste Management — Recovery and Recycling, formerly RCW 70.95) authorizes city solid-waste regulation and county/state coordination. Customer service: City of Yakima Refuse Division (509-575-6005); after-hours/curbside disputes through the Office of Code Administration (509-575-6126).