Richland, WA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

RMC § 15.02.145 defines "yard waste" as leaves, grass, prunings and clippings of woody as well as fleshy plants, but excludes dirt and rocks; cut Christmas trees and other small trees count as yard waste only if bundled to a maximum length of four feet. RMC § 15.03.020(I) carries that definition into the green cart: it may hold only vegetation such as grass clippings and plant trimmings, including woody material up to four inches in diameter, and bars refuse, dirt, construction and demolition debris, bagged or packaged material, branches over four inches thick, or rubble.

Every residential account receives a green container as part of basic service under RMC § 15.03.050(A), collected weekly along with the gray household container, though the city can suspend yard waste pickup during extended freezing periods. A residence where all landscaping is commonly owned, such as a condominium complex with a homeowners' association, can drop the yard waste container and its fee entirely once the public works director verifies the exemption under RMC § 15.03.050(B). Because RMC § 15.03.020(I) expressly ties misuse to RMC § 15.05.010, a contaminated yard waste cart is handled through the same administrative track as other container violations: a compliance tag first, then an administrative notice of violation with a fine of $10.00 to $100.00, escalating to a civil infraction under RMC § 10.02.050(E) after a second unresolved notice.