Snohomish County, WA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SCC 7.42.040(2)(b)
- Single-family cadence
- Weekly
- Multi-family cadence
- At least every two weeks
- Deviation requires
- Proof of equal or better participation
- Effective date
- Aug. 1, 1990 (single-family)
Summary
SCC 7.42.040(2)(b) sets the pickup cadence in the county's recycling service zone: weekly recycling collection for single-family homes and at least biweekly for multi-family buildings, unless the hauler proves a different schedule works as well.
(b) Recycling collection for single-family dwellings shall be provided weekly from each dwelling, preferably on the same day as garbage collection, unless the collection company can demonstrate to the county that an alternative collection schedule can result in the same or higher levels of participation and recovery. Recycling collection for multi-family residences shall be at least once every two weeks, unless the collection company can demonstrate to the county that an alternative collection schedule can result in the same or higher levels of participation and recovery.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
040(2)(b) requires collection companies to provide recycling collection for single-family dwellings weekly from each dwelling, preferably on the same day as garbage collection, unless the collection company can demonstrate to the county that an alternative collection schedule can result in the same or higher levels of participation and recovery. Multi-family residences must receive recycling collection at least once every two weeks under the identical demonstration standard. The 'demonstrate to the county' language means haulers cannot unilaterally stretch out pickup frequency; any deviation from the default weekly (single-family) or biweekly (multi-family) schedule requires the hauler to show the solid waste management division that participation and recovery rates would hold up or improve.
030, the areas the county has determined are dense and serviceable enough to support curbside recycling economically. 040(4), which has no fixed calendar and is instead offered on a routing basis. 080.
Violations & Fines
The schedule requirement runs against the franchised hauler, not the household, so a missed can isn't a resident violation. A collection company that shortens its recycling schedule below weekly (single-family) or biweekly (multi-family) without first demonstrating equal participation and recovery to the solid waste management division is out of compliance with SCC 7.42.040(2)(b) and subject to correction by the division and rate or franchise scrutiny by the WUTC. Residents whose recycling is missed can escalate a persistent scheduling failure to the division for enforcement against the hauler.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must recycling be picked up at my house?
Can my hauler switch me to biweekly recycling pickup?
Is the schedule different for apartment buildings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
Compare Snohomish County to another location·View the Washington trash & recycling overview
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