Lewis County, WA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Recycling pickup
- Every other week
- Garbage options
- Weekly, biweekly, or monthly
- Smallest option
- 32-gallon occasional bag
- Rate-setter
- WUTC, not county board
- Service area
- RSA-1: all unincorporated county
- Subscription
- Voluntary, not mandatory
Summary
Unincorporated Lewis County does not mandate trash service: LCC § 8.10.040(1) makes it voluntary, and residents in RSA-1 pick their own garbage collection level under § 8.10.100, ranging from a 32-gallon occasional bag up to weekly 95-gallon cart pickup, while the companion recycling cart is collected every other week under § 8.10.080.
§ 8.10.080. Collection frequency. Recyclables will be collected every other week. Upon signing up for the program, the hauler will provide the participant with written information about the recyclables to be collected, proper preparation of the materials, responsibilities of the participant, and a calendar indicating the pickup dates. ... ... § 8.10.100. Incentives for participation. (1) In order to encourage residents to choose the lowest level of garbage service to meet their needs, and thereby encourage participation in a recycling program, several options for garbage service will be provided to residents in RSA-1. These options include a minimum of the following: (a) One 65-gallon container, picked up once per month; (b) One 95-gallon container, picked up once per month; (c) One 65-gallon container, picked up every other week; (d) One 95-gallon container, picked up every other week; (e) One 65-gallon container, picked up every week; (f) One 95-gallon container, picked up every week; (g) Occasional collection of a 32-gallon bag upon request by the customer.
Full Breakdown
Garbage is hauled by a private company certificated by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, not county crews. 100(1) lists the minimum service levels a hauler must offer in RSA-1: a 65-gallon or 95-gallon container picked up once a month, every other week, or every week, plus an occasional 32-gallon bag collected on request. 080). 060(2)). 110). 15 LCC.
Violations & Fines
There is no LCC fine for skipping garbage service altogether since subscription is voluntary under § 8.10.040(1). But once waste exists, disposing of it anywhere but a hauler pickup or a designated transfer station or landfill is a separate misdemeanor under LCC § 8.15.040, enforceable under § 8.15.130 no matter which pickup frequency a household selected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to subscribe to garbage collection in unincorporated Lewis County?
What garbage pickup frequencies are available?
How often does the recycling cart get emptied?
Who sets the rates for garbage and recycling service?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lewis County
Compare Lewis County to another location·View the Washington trash & recycling overview
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