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Kennewick, WA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing chapter
KMC Chapter 9.04, Garbage
Segregation authority
City Manager can order it
Hauler exemption
No franchise needed for recyclables
Enforcing agency
Kennewick City Manager
Max penalty
$5,000 civil infraction

Summary

Kennewick sets no blanket curbside recycling mandate: city code lets the City Manager order residents to segregate recoverable materials, and haulers don't need a solid-waste franchise just to collect cans, bottles and newspapers.

(7)Segregation of Garbage. In order to facilitate recovery of materials, recycling or other measures to reduce the volume of unreclaimed garbage, the Manager may order the segregation of solid waste into recoverable components and require separate cans or receptacles or other means of disposal of such material. ... No franchise is necessary to haul or collect recyclable materials such as cans, bottles and newspapers.

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 19 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

Kennewick Municipal Code Chapter 9.04 governs solid waste generally rather than through a stand-alone recycling ordinance. Under KMC 9.04.030(7), the City Manager can order the segregation of solid waste into recoverable components when doing so would facilitate recovery of materials or recycling, and require separate cans or receptacles for that material. Separately, KMC 9.04.090(1) exempts anyone hauling recyclable materials -- cans, bottles and newspapers -- from the franchise Kennewick otherwise requires of solid-waste collectors. There is no citywide mandatory participation requirement in the code.

Violations & Fines

Violating Chapter 9.04's solid-waste provisions is a civil infraction with a civil penalty up to $5,000, or a misdemeanor for knowing solid-waste violations, under KMC 9.04.120.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Kennewick require residents to recycle?
No. City code doesn't mandate curbside recycling participation, but KMC 9.04.030(7) lets the City Manager order segregation of recoverable materials and require separate collection receptacles for them.
Do recycling haulers need a City franchise in Kennewick?
No. KMC 9.04.090(1) exempts anyone hauling recyclable materials like cans, bottles and newspapers from the solid-waste collector franchise Kennewick otherwise requires.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kennewick

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsBulk Item DisposalSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingSignificant RestrictionsYard Waste CollectionSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Exotic PetsHeavy RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet LimitsSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree TrimmingSome Restrictions

All Kennewick rules

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