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Island County, WA Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Duty holder
Owner, operator or occupant of the property
Core section
§ 13.02A.100, Chapter 13.02A
Illegal dumping ban
§ 13.02A.090, except at permitted sites
Uncovered-load surcharge
$3 cars, $5-$10 trucks (§ 13.02A.095)
Penalty
Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 / 90 days

Summary

Unincorporated Island County doesn't run its own curbside pickup route; instead, section 13.02A.100 puts the job on you. Every owner, operator or occupant of a home, business or industrial property is personally responsible for making a satisfactory, legal arrangement, such as a licensed hauler contract or a haul to a permitted disposal site, to remove solid and hazardous waste from their property.

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

The owner, operator, or occupant of any premise, business establishment, or industry shall be responsible for the satisfactory and legal arrangement for the handling and disposal of all solid and hazardous waste accumulated/generated by them on their property.

View official code

Full Breakdown

02A, Solid Waste Disposal, and is the county's core statement on who must get the trash handled: the owner, operator or occupant of any premises, business or industry, not the county, bears responsibility for a satisfactory and legal arrangement for handling and disposing of all solid and hazardous waste generated on the property. Related sections fill in what 'legal' means. 090 makes it unlawful to dump or deposit solid waste onto the ground or into state waters except at a permitted disposal or interim handling site, unlawful to bring waste collected outside Island County in for disposal without an interlocal agreement, and flatly unlawful to dispose of hazardous waste in the county. 110 separately bars taking waste collected inside unincorporated Island County out of the county without Board-approved authority. 655.

Violations & Fines

Failing to arrange for legal disposal under section 13.02A.100, illegal dumping under 13.02A.090, or removing waste from the county without authorization under 13.02A.110 are all misdemeanors under section 13.02A.120, carrying a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of the violation a separate offense. An uncovered load hauled to a county disposal site also draws the surcharge set in section 13.02A.095.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for getting my trash picked up in unincorporated Island County?
You are. Section 13.02A.100 of the Island County Code puts the owner, operator or occupant of the property in charge of making a satisfactory, legal arrangement for handling and disposing of the solid and hazardous waste generated there, rather than assigning the county a pickup role.
Can I just dump my own trash on my own land?
No. Section 13.02A.090 makes it unlawful to dump or deposit solid waste onto or under the ground or into state waters unless it's at a permitted disposal site, even if the land is yours, and hazardous waste disposal anywhere in the county is flatly prohibited.
Do I have to cover my load hauling trash to the transfer station?
Yes. Section 13.02A.095 requires loads delivered to a staffed solid waste site to be tied, covered or confined so nothing escapes in transit, and charges a surcharge, three dollars for cars and five to ten dollars for trucks, when a load isn't secured.
Can I bring garbage collected outside Island County to dispose of here?
Not without authorization. Section 13.02A.110 makes it unlawful to deliver waste collected outside unincorporated Island County into the county for disposal unless it's covered by an interlocal agreement or contract approved by the Board of County Commissioners.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Island County

Bulk Item DisposalLight RestrictionsRecycling RulesLight RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingHeavy RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsFew RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingLight RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesFew RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome Restrictions

All Island County rules

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