Spokane Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Yard Waste 2026
Find your Spokane collection day, recycling week, food & yard waste cart, bulky items, and Waste to Energy Facility information.
City of Spokane · Solid Waste Collection Department · Updated May 2026
Find Your Spokane Collection Day
Select your collection day to see your garbage, recycling, and food & yard waste schedule — plus 2026 holiday impacts. Your exact day and recycling week are address-based; use the official map tool to confirm.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete Spokane collection schedule.
⚠ Not sure of your day or recycling week? Use the Trash Pickup Day Map for your garbage day and the Recycle Map Tool for your recycling week. Or call 311. More contact options ↓
Spokane Waste Collection — Quick Facts
The City of Spokane’s Solid Waste Collection Department provides three-cart curbside service: garbage (required weekly), blue recycling (every other week), and an optional green food & yard waste cart. All three services run on the same weekday. The city operates its own Waste to Energy (WTE) Facility, which converts trash to electricity. Weekly garbage collection is mandatory for all occupied residences within city limits.
Monthly (Dec, Jan, Feb)
Spokane’s Three-Cart System — Garbage, Recycling & Yard Waste
All three services run on the same weekday, with the lid opening facing the street or alley. Washington state law (effective August 31, 2025) requires garbage carts purchased after that date to be gray or black. The city continues distributing existing brown carts until supply runs out — residents may receive brown or gray carts depending on inventory.
Brown/Gray Cart — Garbage
All non-recyclable, non-compostable household waste. Multiple size options; rates based on cart size. Mandatory weekly service.
Weekly • RequiredBlue Cart — Recycling
Single-stream. Plastics #1–7, paper, cardboard, metal, glass. Loose, clean, dry — no bags. Every other week. 90-gal cart available on request.
Every Other Week • IncludedGreen Cart — Food & Yard Waste
Food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard debris all accepted. Optional service. Weekly Mar–Nov; once/month Dec, Jan, Feb.
Seasonal Freq. • Optional⏰ Cart Placement Rules
- All carts out by 6:00 a.m. on collection day — remove by 9 p.m. the same day.
- Lid must open toward the street or alley.
- Keep each cart at least 3 feet from other carts, vehicles, and obstacles. Don’t place under eaves or basketball hoops.
- Keep carts within 2 feet of the curb.
- 200-pound weight limit per cart. Do not overload.
- Do not let material extend outside the cart. Extra bundled material no longer than 4 feet can be placed next to the cart for an extra fee.
🚚 Cart Size Options & Rates
Residents choose their garbage cart size; rates are charged accordingly. Smaller carts = lower monthly rates. Recycling is included at no extra charge. Food & Yard Waste service is optional with its own monthly rate. See the current Utility Rates page at my.spokanecity.org for exact 2026 pricing. Extra bags: $5.85 per bag (one extra bag, bundled, placed next to cart).
Spokane Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
The City of Spokane observes five holidays with a one-day delay. When a holiday falls on a collection day, that day and all remaining days in the week shift one day later. Friday collection moves to Monday (the city does not collect on weekends). Independence Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, so there is no weekday impact.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Impact | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri | Fri → Mon (no weekend service). Mon–Wed: normal that week. |
| MLK Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Normal | Not observed by Solid Waste. Full service. |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal | Not observed by Solid Waste. Full service. |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue; Tue → Wed; Wed → Thu; Thu → Fri; Fri → Mon. Full week shifts. |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal | Falls on Saturday — no weekday impact. Regular service all week. |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue; Tue → Wed; Wed → Thu; Thu → Fri; Fri → Mon. Full week shifts. |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Normal | Not observed by Solid Waste. Full service. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri; Fri → Mon. Mon–Wed: normal that week. |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | 1-Day Delay | Fri → Mon. Mon–Thu: normal that week. WTE Facility also closed. |
Spokane Blue Cart Recycling — What’s Accepted
Spokane uses single-stream recycling in the blue cart, collected every other week on the same day as your garbage. Materials go to the Spokane Materials and Recycling Technology (SMaRT) Center, owned and operated by Waste Management. Spokane accepts plastics #1 through #7 — a broader range than most US cities. All items must be empty, clean, and dry, placed loose (never in bags).
📌 Special Spokane Recycling Features
- Household batteries: Place in a clear plastic bag and set on top of the blue cart lid for collection. Alternatively, drop off at the HHW area at transfer stations. Lithium-ion batteries pose fire risk — do not place in trash or recycling containers; visit Battery Smart Spokane for safe disposal.
- Extra cardboard: Neatly stack broken-down moving boxes and packing paper (up to 1 yard) next to your blue cart — the recycling driver will pick it up if it doesn’t fit in the cart.
- Shredded paper: Must go in the garbage — not in the recycling cart. Shredded paper tangles sorting equipment.
✅ Accepted in the Blue Cart
- Plastics #1–7: bottles, jugs, tubs, clamshells, jars (all shapes, rinsed)
- Paper: newspaper, magazines, office paper, junk mail, paper bags
- Cardboard: flatten corrugated and non-corrugated boxes; extra goes beside the cart
- Aluminum: cans, foil (clean)
- Steel & tin cans (food cans, rinsed)
- Small scrap metal pieces
- Glass bottles and jars (food & beverage, rinsed) — no lids
- Batteries in a clear bag on top of lid
🚫 Not Accepted in the Blue Cart
- Plastic bags or film → grocery store drop-off
- Bagged recyclables of any kind
- Shredded paper → garbage
- Food or liquid contamination
- Styrofoam → WTE Facility or transfer station
- Electronics → E-Cycle Washington drop-off
- Lithium-ion batteries → Battery Smart drop-off
- Household chemicals → HHW at transfer stations
- Fluorescent bulbs → HHW drop-off or LightRecycle
- Contaminated cart: charged at refuse rate
Spokane Green Cart — Food & Yard Waste Collection
The Food & Yard Waste service is an optional, subscription add-on with a green cart. Unlike many cities that separate food scraps from yard waste, Spokane accepts both in the same green cart. All contents are composted. The service has a year-round schedule but shifts to once-a-month in winter (December, January, February). Signup requires a one-year commitment per cart.
📅 2026 Seasonal Schedule
- March through November: Weekly collection on the same day as garbage.
- December, January, February (winter months): Once-a-month collection, during the first full week of the month.
- 2026 Winter collection weeks: January 5–9 • February 2–6 • December 7–11.
- Store your green cart in a secured location (garage, shed, or near your house) on non-collection weeks in winter. Food & Yard Waste trucks do not operate on non-collection weeks; refuse trucks will not pick up green carts. If you need the cart emptied on a non-collection week, call 311 — it will be dumped as garbage at a charge of $16.50 per dump.
✅ Accepted in the Green Cart
- Food scraps: meats, dairy, fruits & vegetables, breads, eggshells, nutshells, coffee grounds, tea bags
- Food-soiled paper: pizza boxes, paper towels & napkins, non-shiny paper plates & cups, paper egg cartons, paper grocery bags with food scraps, coffee filters
- Yard debris: grass clippings, leaves, weeds, pine needles, thatch, plant trimmings, small amounts of sod, branches less than 3 inches in diameter
🚫 Not Accepted in the Green Cart
- Plastic bags of any kind — no plastic bags in the green cart
- Treated, painted, or stained wood
- Rocks, soil, or concrete
- Branches over 3 inches in diameter → bundle for extra-fee pickup or WTE drop-off
- Pet waste or kitty litter
- Diapers or hygiene products
- Regular household garbage
Bulky Items & Extra Waste in Spokane
For large or bulky items that don’t fit in your garbage cart, Spokane offers several options. Call 311 in advance to schedule bulky item pickup on your regular collection day — this ensures the right truck is dispatched. Within city limits, temporary dumpsters may only be rented from the City of Spokane Solid Waste Collection, not private companies.
🗒 Extra Bags at the Curb
One extra bag, bundle, or box of garbage placed next to the cart will be picked up for $5.85 per item. Material must be bundled and no longer than 4 feet. Charge is added to your utility bill.
🚚 Bulky Items — Call Ahead
Call 311 before your collection day to arrange bulky item pickup. This ensures the proper truck is dispatched. Items too large for the garbage truck require advance notice.
📦 Temporary Dumpsters
Rent from the City only (private rental dumpsters prohibited in city limits). Four sizes available; 2-day to 6-month rentals. Call 509.625.7956 or download the 2026 Temporary Dumpster Rental Form at my.spokanecity.org.
✅ Disposal Pass Program
Starting March 2, 2026, City residents can request a $30 Disposal Pass valid for 30 days at the WTE Facility (2900 S. Geiger Blvd). Request online at my.spokanecity.org/account. Good for one trip; passes are available until program funding is expended.
Waste to Energy Facility & Transfer Stations
Spokane operates the Waste to Energy (WTE) Facility at 2900 S. Geiger Blvd, which converts non-recycled waste to electricity. The WTE Facility also accepts self-hauled trash, recyclables, yard waste, and HHW from residents 7 days a week (except observed holidays). Two additional county-operated transfer stations serve the broader region.
🚩 Waste to Energy Facility (City)
2900 S. Geiger Blvd, Spokane
Open 7 days a week: 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
All services during open hours. Closed: New Year’s, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
2026 Trash Rate: $152.60/ton, min $24.93 (up to 320 lbs) + $2.68 transaction fee. Green/yard waste: $76.95/ton, min $8.19 (up to 200 lbs).
🚩 North County Transfer Station (County)
22123 N. Elk-Chattaroy Road (at Elk-Chattaroy Rd & Hwy 2)
Open 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., 7 days a week.
HHW accepted: Saturdays & Sundays only, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
🚩 Valley Recycling & Transfer Station (County)
3941 N. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley
South of Trent Ave, across from Spokane Industrial Park.
Open 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., 7 days a week.
HHW accepted: Saturdays & Sundays only, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
✅ What the WTE Facility Accepts
Trash (tipping fee), clean recyclables (free drop-off), household hazardous waste, yard waste & green debris, sharps (in puncture-proof containers), fire-damaged materials (with asbestos survey). Electronics not accepted at WTE — use E-Cycle Washington locations.
Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics in Spokane
HHW is accepted free of charge at the City and County transfer stations from residential customers only. The WTE Facility accepts HHW during all open hours (7 days a week). The two County transfer stations accept HHW on Saturdays and Sundays only, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
🔥 HHW Drop-Off Rules
- Materials from residential homes or vehicles only — no commercial waste.
- Containers must be leak-proof with contents labeled on the outside.
- No containers greater than 5 gallons.
- Waste containers cannot be emptied and returned.
- Accepted items: paints, solvents, pesticides, motor oil, antifreeze, pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, cleaning chemicals, batteries (non-lithium), and more. See the HHW Quick Guide (PDF).
🔌 Batteries
Household batteries (alkaline): Place in a clear plastic bag on top of the blue recycling cart lid for pickup.
Lithium-ion batteries (rechargeable): Fire risk — do not place in any cart. Visit Battery Smart Spokane for drop-off locations.
Both types also accepted at HHW area at transfer stations.
💾 Electronics (E-Waste)
Washington has a free statewide E-Cycle program. Computers, TVs, monitors, cell phones, and more are recycled free at drop-off locations. Visit ecyclewashington.org or call 1-800-RECYCLE (732-9253) to find the nearest location.
Local options include Best Buy, Earthworks Recycling (1904 E. Broadway Ave), Inland ReTech, Recycle Techs.
Electronics are NOT accepted at the WTE Facility.
💊 Medications & Sharps
Medications: Free mail-in prepaid envelope or kiosk drop-off via MED-Project.
Sharps: Place in a puncture-resistant container (coffee can, detergent bottle) labeled “Sharps.” Dispose at HHW area at transfer stations. Never flush or place in recycling.
💡 Fluorescent Bulbs
One broken fluorescent bulb can contaminate 7,000 gallons of water with mercury. Accumulate up to 10 burned-out bulbs and bring them to the HHW area at any transfer station — free disposal.
Other locations at lightrecycle.org.
What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Spokane
- Confirm your collection day. Use the Trash Pickup Day Map and the Recycle Map Tool to confirm your exact day and recycling week.
- Check for a holiday delay. New Year’s, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas each cause a one-day delay. Friday delays move to Monday (no weekend service). Independence Day (Saturday) has no impact.
- Verify cart placement: Out by 6 a.m., lid facing street or alley, at least 3 feet from obstacles, within 2 feet of the curb, not under eaves or basketball hoops, not overloaded (200 lb limit).
- Report the missed pickup online at Spokane311.org or call 311 (inside city limits) or 509.755.2489 (outside city limits). The city will make every effort to return the same day or the next. Note: Friday missed pickups are serviced on Monday (no weekend runs).
Spokane Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Spokane or Just Moved In?
Find your collection day at the Trash Pickup Day Map and your recycling week at the Recycle Map Tool. Call 311 or 509.755.2489 to add, suspend, or change services. Weekly garbage is mandatory for all occupied residences. If you’d like the optional Food & Yard Waste green cart, sign up at Spokane311.org or call 311. You can also put your garbage service on hold (vacation hold) up to twice per year for 2+ weeks at a time.
❄️ Winter Weather Tips
Spokane winters can affect collection. When snow or ice accumulates, please: clear snow in front of and around your carts, remove snow from lids, sand icy areas, and keep vehicles from blocking cart access. Crews may work late into the evening during inclement weather to complete routes. Be patient and check my.spokanecity.org for any service alerts.
🚫 5 Common Mistakes Spokane Residents Make
- Putting shredded paper in the blue recycling cart — shredded paper must go in the garbage
- Placing plastic bags in the recycling or green cart — no plastic bags in either cart; grocery stores have drop-off bins
- Leaving carts out after 9 p.m. — carts must be removed from the curb by 9 p.m. the same day as collection
- Expecting Friday collection to move to Saturday on holiday weeks — Friday collection on holiday weeks moves to Monday, not Saturday (no weekend service)
- Using a private temporary dumpster — within Spokane city limits, only the City’s rental dumpsters are permitted; private company dumpsters are prohibited
Contact Spokane Solid Waste Collection
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Spokane 311 (Main) | Dial 311 (inside city limits) or 509.755.2489 (outside city limits) • Missed pickups, service changes, cart requests, bulky items, add/suspend services |
| Spokane311.org (Online) | myspokane311.my.site.com — report missed pickups, add or suspend services, change cart size, replace cart |
| Trash Pickup Day Map | maps.spokanecity.org — Trash Pickup Day layer — find your collection weekday by address |
| Recycling Week Map | my.spokanecity.org/solidwaste/recycling/map — find your every-other-week recycling schedule by address |
| Solid Waste Department | 📞 509.625.6580 • solidwaste@spokanecity.org |
| Solid Waste Collection Calendar (2026) | 2026 Calendar PDF — full annual schedule for garbage, recycling, and food & yard waste including winter collection weeks |
| Waste to Energy Facility | 2900 S. Geiger Blvd, Spokane • 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., 7 days/week (except 5 holidays) • Trash, recycling drop-off, HHW, yard waste |
| Temporary Dumpster Rental | 📞 509.625.7956 • City-only within city limits • 2026 Rental Form PDF |
| E-Cycle Washington (Electronics) | ecyclewashington.org • 1-800-RECYCLE (732-9253) • Free statewide electronics recycling program |
| Battery Smart Spokane | batterysmart.org — safe disposal for lithium-ion batteries |
| MED-Project (Medications) | med-project.org — free medication mail-in or kiosk drop-off |
| Disposal Pass Program | my.spokanecity.org/account — request a $30 disposal pass for the WTE Facility (available from March 2, 2026) |
Frequently Asked Questions — Spokane Trash Pickup
Still Need Help Finding Your Spokane Collection Schedule?
The Trash Pickup Day Map and Recycle Map Tool are the most accurate address-based tools for finding your collection day and recycling week. The city’s Spokane311 system handles all service requests online and by phone.
🔍 Official Spokane Solid Waste Lookup & Contact Options
All of the following are free and will confirm your exact schedule:
🔍 Trash Pickup Day Map ♻ Recycle Map Tool| Trash Pickup Day Map | maps.spokanecity.org — Trash Pickup Day — enter address to find your collection weekday |
| Recycling Week Map Tool | my.spokanecity.org/solidwaste/recycling/map — find your every-other-week recycling rotation |
| Spokane 311 Online | myspokane311.my.site.com — report missed pickups, add/suspend services, replace cart |
| Call 311 | Inside city limits: 311 • Outside city limits: 509.755.2489 |
| Solid Waste Main Page | my.spokanecity.org/solidwaste — all services, rates, locations, calendar PDF |
| 2026 Collection Calendar (PDF) | Download 2026 Calendar PDF — full annual schedule for all three carts |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above. The City of Spokane’s my.spokanecity.org is the authoritative source for all waste collection information.
Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities
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