Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Thurston County

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

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

Key Facts

Drop-off site
Waste and Recovery Center (WARC), Lacey
Billing basis
Per ton, minimum charge under 400 lbs
Accepted material
Leaves, clippings, small branches, shrubs, trees
Governing section
Thurston County Code § 8.12.020(D)
Mixed loads
Billed at full solid waste rate

Summary

Thurston County accepts yard and garden trimmings at the Waste and Recovery Center in Lacey for a per-ton fee; residents must separate leaves, clippings, and branches from other trash.

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

Yard and Garden Trimmings. This category only applies to yard and garden trimming loads deposited at the WARC. ... Yard and garden trimmings for purposes of this section generally include materials such as leaves, grass clippings, small branches, small trees, shrubs, and other designated organic material including pre and post consumer food waste.

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 77).

Full Breakdown

Thurston County Code § 8.12.020(D) sets the disposal terms for yard and garden trimmings at the Waste and Recovery Center (WARC) in Lacey. Loads are billed per ton for under ten cubic yards, per ton for ten cubic yards or more, with a minimum charge for loads under 400 pounds. The category covers leaves, grass clippings, small branches, small trees, shrubs, and other organic material the water and waste management director designates, plus pre- and post-consumer food waste. Trimmings not properly prepared and separated from other refuse lose the yard-waste rate and get billed at full municipal solid waste rates instead.

Violations & Fines

Mixing yard waste with other refuse voids the yard-waste rate: the whole load gets billed at the higher municipal solid waste rate at the WARC scale house.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drop off yard waste anywhere besides the WARC?
No. Thurston County's per-ton yard and garden trimmings rate under § 8.12.020(D) applies only to loads deposited at the Waste and Recovery Center in Lacey.
What counts as yard and garden trimmings?
Leaves, grass clippings, small branches, small trees, shrubs, and other organic material the water and waste management director designates, plus pre- and post-consumer food waste.
What happens if my load isn't separated from other trash?
It loses the yard-waste rate and gets charged the full municipal solid waste rate under § 8.12.020(A) instead.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Thurston County

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsBulk Item DisposalSignificant RestrictionsRecycling RulesLight RestrictionsPickup Rules & SchedulesSignificant RestrictionsIllegal DumpingSome RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Thurston County rules

Compare Thurston County to another location·View the Washington trash & recycling overview

Get notified when Yard Waste Collection in Thurston County, WA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.