Port Townsend, WA Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Collection frequency
- Every other week, opposite recycling
- Branch diameter limit
- Under 4 inches
- Bundle size limit
- 4 ft long, 2 ft diameter, 40 lb
- Units per pickup
- 3 max, bags/bundles/cans combined
- Large-item pickup
- Not offered; self-haul required
Summary
Port Townsend's solid waste contractor collects bundled brush and yard waste every other week, but branches over four inches thick or bundles topping 40 pounds aren't picked up, and each address is capped at three units per visit.
Limbs and branches will not be collected unless they meet the following requirements: (1) they must not exceed four inches in diameter (except for Christmas trees); and (2) limbs and branches must be tied in bundles of not more than four feet in length; and (3) the bundles must not be more than two feet in diameter; and (4) the bundles of limbs and branches shall weigh not more than 40 pounds each. Customers shall deposit residential yard waste for pickup as follows: in a three milliliter plastic or paper bag or in a container of not more than 34-gallon capacity, painted “YARD WASTE” on at least two locations and on the container lid, in letters not less three inches in height. On each scheduled pickup day, the solid waste contractor shall be responsible for collecting a maximum of three units of yard waste (i.e., three bundles, three bags or three cans, or any combination thereof, not to exceed three units) from each residential customer. (Ord. 2800 § 1, 2002; Ord. 2620 § 2, 1997).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3364, passed May 18, 2026).
Full Breakdown
PTMC 6.04.090 requires the city's contractor to collect residential yard waste on alternating weeks, opposite the recycling pickup, plus Christmas trees during the first two collections after December 25th. Branches only qualify if under four inches in diameter, bundled to no more than four feet long, two feet across, and 40 pounds; anything bigger isn't collected. Bagged yard waste is capped at a 34-gallon container marked 'YARD WASTE,' and each address gets a maximum of three units per pickup day. The code sets no separate large-item or furniture pickup; residents must self-haul bulky junk under PTMC 6.04.040(B)(2).
Violations & Fines
Branches over four inches thick, oversized bundles, or more than three units left curbside won't be collected; unauthorized accumulation of solid waste or junk on a property is a nuisance enforceable under Chapter 1.20 PTMC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Port Townsend pick up bulky items like old furniture or appliances?
How big can brush be for curbside collection in Port Townsend?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Port Townsend
Compare Port Townsend to another location·View the Washington trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.