Anchorage, AK Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Free recycling cart
- 1 per refuse customer (A.1)
- Contamination fee
- $30.00 per incident (A.3)
- Cart replacement fee
- $158.80 (A.8)
- Curb placement
- Within 3 ft of roadway, 3 ft clearance
- Governing section
- AMC 26.70.070
Summary
Anchorage's Solid Waste Services gives every residential refuse customer one recycling roll cart free of charge under AMC 26.70.070.A.1, run alongside weekly trash pickup. Put the wrong material in it, though, and SWS can tag the cart, dump the contaminated load as regular trash, and bill the account $30.00 under subsection A.3.
1. SWS shall provide one roll cart container for the collection of recyclable materials free of charge when used in combination with residential refuse service. The roll carts shall be unique in color or labeling such that refuse collection and recyclable collection are readily distinguishable. The customer is responsible for cleaning roll carts. 3. Customers will be provided with a list of accepted recyclables. SWS may inspect the contents of any recycling collection container. Containers found to contain contaminants shall be tagged, notifying the customer that unacceptable materials were found. Contents of the container shall be collected as refuse, and the customer shall be billed $30.00 each time a container is found to contain contaminants.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5010260; v11 updated 2026-09-01).
Full Breakdown
70. 1; SWS colors or labels the recycling and trash carts differently so crews can tell them apart on collection day, and the customer is responsible for keeping the cart clean. 2. 00 every time contamination is found. 4. Carts must go to the curb or alley within three feet of the drivable roadway, with three feet of clearance from poles, mailboxes, vehicles, other carts, or snow berms, and residents are responsible for clearing snow blocking access to their own containers. 80 per cart for replacement.
Violations & Fines
There's no fine for putting the wrong item in the bin on a first pass. Instead AMC 26.70.070.A.3 lets SWS tag a contaminated cart, redirect its entire contents to landfill disposal as regular refuse, and bill $30.00 to the account for that pickup, a charge that repeats every time inspectors find contamination again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is curbside recycling free in Anchorage?
What happens if I put trash in my recycling cart by mistake?
Where do I put my recycling cart on collection day?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anchorage
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