Ada County, ID Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum frequency
- Once per week per residential customer
- Route rule
- Use backways/alleys, least public delay
- Access requirement
- Owners cannot deny contractor reasonable access
- Oversight
- Solid waste management division (5-2-6)
- Contract basis
- Exclusive county contract, section 5-2-8-1
Summary
Ada County Code 5-2-8-2(D) requires the county's contracted hauler to collect solid waste from every residential customer at least once a week, following streets, alleys and walkways and returning each cart to its place with the lid back on after emptying it.
D. The contractor shall collect solid waste from each residential customer at least once each week. The contractor shall follow the traveled portion of the streets, alleys and roadways, or sidewalks or walkways while on private property, and shall take care in loading solid waste so that none of the material to be collected is left upon private property or the streets, alleys or roadways. The contractor shall return the containers with all properly prepared and legal contents removed and replace the lid thereon.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-15: Code current through: Ord. 1018, passed 3-24-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 5-2-8-2 lists the specifications every waste collection and disposal contract issued for unincorporated Ada County must contain, and subsection D sets the pickup frequency: "The contractor shall collect solid waste from each residential customer at least once each week. The contractor shall follow the traveled portion of the streets, alleys and roadways, or sidewalks or walkways while on private property, and shall take care in loading solid waste so that none of the material to be collected is left upon private property or the streets, alleys or roadways.
" Subsection G reinforces how the route is run day to day: the contractor may not obstruct traffic while collecting, must make collections in the manner causing the least delay and inconvenience to the public, and is directed to use backways and alleys wherever possible rather than blocking through streets. Subsection F requires the contract to grant the hauler a right of ingress and egress across public streets, alleys and rights of way, and makes it unlawful for anyone to deny the contractor reasonable access to a premises to collect waste, which keeps a single blocked gate from breaking the weekly schedule for a whole route.
These specifications apply because Ada County runs its residential collection through one exclusive contract under section 5-2-8-1 rather than allowing competing haulers to set their own pickup days.
Violations & Fines
The general chapter penalty at section 5-2-10(N) applies to collection-contract violations of chapter 5-2, making them misdemeanors punishable under Idaho Code section 18-113, with each day an uncured violation continues after citation counted as a separate offense. Residents whose service is skipped or whose cart is left unemptied or access-blocked should report it to the solid waste management division, which oversees the contractor's performance under section 5-2-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is trash picked up in unincorporated Ada County?
Can I block my contractor's access to stop a scheduled pickup?
Who do I contact if my scheduled pickup is missed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ada County
Compare Ada County to another location·View the Idaho trash & recycling overview
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