Yakima, WA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

Cart-placement rules sit inside the operational framework of YMC Chapter 4.16 (Garbage Storage, Collection and Disposal) and the city's published refuse customer guidelines. Customers must place the city-owned cart at the curb or alley line by 6:00 a.m. on the day of pickup; collection trucks make a single pass and crews are not required to return for carts set out late. Each cart must have at least 4 feet of clearance from any obstruction — other garbage or yard debris carts, parked vehicles, fences, mailboxes, power poles, basketball hoops, planters — so the automated truck arm can grasp the cart cleanly. Place the cart with the wheels facing your residence and the lid opening facing the road; alley-collection customers position the cart on the designated alley side. Avoid placing the container under low-hanging tree branches, wires, building eaves, or other overhead obstructions that would prevent the truck arm from lifting the cart over the truck. All garbage must fit inside the cart with the lid closed — overflow garbage piled around the cart will not be collected. Carts are city property under YMC 4.16, must remain assigned to the address, and may not be removed by anyone other than city solid waste staff or designee. Customers should return carts off the right-of-way the same day after collection.