Olympia, WA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Self-hauling exception
- Owner or occupant may haul own grass, hedge, and tree clippings
- Compost piles
- Maintenance of compost piles is outside the exclusive-collection rule
- Organics rate
- $11.51 monthly per City-owned 95-gallon cart or each 1/2 yard
- Collection frequency
- Organics collected every other week
- Drop box fees
- No delivery or rental fee for source-separated yard waste
- Contaminated load
- Disposal fees plus 16.1 percent service charge, delivery, rental
- Citation
- Olympia Municipal Code § 13.12.070
Summary
In the City of Olympia, Washington, Olympia Municipal Code § 13.12.070 gives the City's solid waste section the exclusive right to collect garbage and refuse, but carves out compost piles and the owner's or occupant's own hauling of grass clippings and hedge or tree clippings. City organics service is billed separately under § 4.24.010.
The solid waste section of the city, by and through its authorized agents and employees, shall have the exclusive right to gather and collect garbage and refuse within the city, and it is unlawful for any person to collect or gather garbage or refuse, except the contents of any septic tank, cesspool or other sewage collection device, within the city or to deposit or dump the same, or cause the same to be dumped or deposited, upon any lot of land or any water or waterways within the corporate limits of the city except as provided in this chapter; provided, this chapter shall not apply to the maintenance of compost piles or to the collection and hauling of grass clippings, hedge or tree clippings or to the hauling to the landfill of ashes, tin cans or other noncombustible refuse, or rubbish, from any premises where the hauling is to be done by the owner or occupant of the premises; provided, further, the city council may engage private agencies to perform the collection and disposal functions of the solid waste section as provided in Section 13.12.030.
Full Breakdown
Olympia Municipal Code § 13.12.070 is the governing rule for yard debris collection. The solid waste section of the City, through its authorized agents and employees, has the exclusive right to gather and collect garbage and refuse within the City of Olympia, and it is unlawful for any other person to collect or gather it or to dump it on any lot or in any waterway in the City. The same section states that the chapter does not apply to the maintenance of compost piles or to the collection and hauling of grass clippings, hedge or tree clippings from any premises where the hauling is done by the owner or occupant of the premises. The City Council can engage private agencies to perform collection under § 13.12.030.
Two related sections limit where yard debris can go. Section 12.24.040 bars anyone from throwing, depositing or sweeping yard debris such as leaves or grass clippings into any public street, highway or other public property, or onto any private premises, except at locations and in containers properly designated by the City. Section 13.12.080 treats burning separately: brush, grass, weeds and cuttings from trees, lawns or gardens can be burned within the premises, or upon obtaining a permit from the fire chief as provided by law, upon the lot where the premises is located.
For City service, § 4.24.010(C)(4) sets the residential and commercial organics rate for every other week collection at $11.51 per month per City-owned 95-gallon cart or each 1/2 yard of material collected. Under § 4.24.010(C)(15), fees for special pickups and yard waste drop-off site disposal are established by the City Manager based on cost of service, including labor, equipment, distance traveled and volume. City-owned drop boxes used to haul source-separated yard waste for composting carry no delivery or rental fee. If the material is contaminated, the customer is charged current disposal fees and a 16.1 percent service charge on the disposal fee, plus delivery and daily rental fees.
Violations & Fines
Section 13.12.070 makes it unlawful for any person other than the City's solid waste section or its engaged agencies to collect or gather garbage or refuse in the City of Olympia, or to dump it on a lot or in a waterway, outside the yard-clipping and compost exceptions. Section 12.24.040 separately bars leaving yard debris on public property or private premises outside City-designated containers and locations. The text quoted prints no penalty amount of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I haul my own yard clippings in the City of Olympia?
What does Olympia charge for organics collection?
Can I sweep leaves or grass clippings into the street?
Is burning brush allowed in the City of Olympia?
What happens to a City drop box of yard waste that is contaminated?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Olympia
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