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Thurston County, WA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Legal basis: RCW 36.58.040 election
Program term: 5-year period, RCW 81.77.150
Rate authority: WUTC, RCW 81.77.030/.160
Certificated haulers: 5 named companies
Regulator: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

Summary

Thurston County assigns its residential recycling collection program to five certificated solid waste haulers rather than running curbside pickup itself, under Code Section 8.24.040. The board asked the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to carry out the program for a five-year term through the WUTC's own regulated collection rates, covering companies such as Pacific Disposal, Rural Refuse, and Butler's Cove Refuse.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Thurston County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Pursuant to RCW 36.58.040, the Board of Thurston County Commissioners hereby elects to use the certificated solid waste collection companies currently operating within Thurston County which are subject to the jurisdiction of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to implement the residential recycling collection program outlined in this chapter, and hereby notifies and requests the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to carry out and implement this recycling program for a five-year period as permitted by RCW 81.77.150 through collection rates as authorized by RCW 81.77.030 and .160 and as requested solely by the following certificated haulers with the following certificate numbers: Pacific Disposal, G-97; Eastern Grays Harbor Disposal, G-24; Joe's Refuse, G-98; Rural Refuse, G-98; Butler's Cove Refuse, G-98.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 77).

Full Breakdown

24. 150. 160, not county-set fees. The ordinance names the certificated haulers by company and WUTC certificate number: Pacific Disposal (Certificate G-97), Eastern Grays Harbor Disposal (Certificate G-24), Joe's Refuse (Certificate G-98), Rural Refuse (Certificate G-98), and Butler's Cove Refuse (Certificate G-98). 020. 150.

Violations & Fines

Chapter 8.24 itself does not set a separate misdemeanor or civil penalty for collection-schedule disputes; because the haulers operate under WUTC certificates, service and billing complaints are enforced through the state utilities commission's regulation of those certificates rather than through a county citation, while disposal-site violations connected to the same waste stream fall under the civil penalty schedule in Chapter 8.34 TCC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who picks up recycling in unincorporated Thurston County?

The county doesn't run its own trucks. Section 8.24.040 elects to use certificated solid waste haulers already regulated by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, naming Pacific Disposal, Eastern Grays Harbor Disposal, Joe's Refuse, Rural Refuse, and Butler's Cove Refuse as the companies authorized to implement the residential recycling program.

Who sets recycling collection rates in Thurston County?

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission does, not the county. Section 8.24.040 requests the WUTC carry out the recycling program using collection rates authorized under RCW 81.77.030 and RCW 81.77.160, since the program runs through state-certificated private haulers rather than a county-operated service.

How long does Thurston County's hauler agreement last?

The county requested the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission implement the recycling collection program for a five-year period, the term permitted under RCW 81.77.150, per Section 8.24.040. After that period the arrangement is subject to renewal rather than running indefinitely.

Sources & Official References

[1]Thurston County Code § 8.24.040 (Municode)

Other rules in Thurston County

Bulk Item DisposalSignificant Restrictions Recycling RulesLight Restrictions Pickup Rules & SchedulesSignificant Restrictions Illegal DumpingSome Restrictions Bin Placement RulesSome Restrictions Recycling RequirementsSome Restrictions Yard Waste CollectionSome Restrictions Dumpster RulesSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Thurston County rules

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