Trash & Recycling in District of Columbia (2026)
8 rules on the books across District of Columbia, 1 city or county. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Bin Placement Rules
Where to position trash and recycling carts, when they may go to the curb and must come back, and the screening or enclosure rules for where bins live between pickups.
Recycling Requirements
Mandatory recycling rules including which materials must be separated, contamination penalties, and composting requirements.
District of Columbia: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsWashington DC requires everyone to separate discarded solid waste into three streams at the point of discard…
Read full rule →Washington
Some RestrictionsEvery private property in the District must give residents equal capacity to recycle as to throw away trash: D.C. Code…
Read full rule →Mandatory Organics Recycling
Curbside organics collection mandated by California SB-1383 (and equivalent state laws), residential opt-out rules, and edible-food-recovery requirements.
Illegal Dumping
Penalties and enforcement for dumping trash, debris, or hazardous materials on private or public property without authorization.
Yard Waste Collection
Rules for separating grass clippings, leaves, branches, and other yard waste from regular trash, including pickup days and bag/bin requirements.
Collection Schedule
Day-of-week pickup schedules by neighborhood, set-out and take-back time windows, and where to find your specific block's schedule.
Recycling Rules
Which items can and cannot go in residential single-stream recycling bins, contamination penalties, and rules for hazardous-waste drop-off.