Tacoma Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026
Find your Tacoma collection week, recycling day, food & yard waste schedule, Call-2-Haul bulk pickup, and holiday delays.
City of Tacoma · Environmental Services – Solid Waste Management · Updated May 2026
Find Your Tacoma Collection Schedule
Tacoma uses a rotating two-week system: garbage & recycling one week, then food/yard waste the next. Select your collection day to see your full schedule.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete Tacoma collection schedule.
⚠ Don’t know your exact week? Use the official address lookup at tacoma.gov/collectionschedule or call (253) 502-2100 (Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.). More contact options ↓
Tacoma Waste Collection — Quick Facts
Tacoma’s Solid Waste Management operates a rotating every-other-week system for all three streams. On Week A, residents set out garbage and recycling together. On Week B, residents set out food/yard waste. All bins are set out on the same weekday — your day never changes, only which bins go out. Use the official address tool at tacoma.gov/collectionschedule to confirm your specific week rotation.
Tacoma’s Rotating Collection System — How It Works
Every Tacoma single-family and duplex home gets three containers. Garbage and recycling go out together on Week A. Food and yard waste go out the following week on Week B. Your pickup day of the week never changes — only the bins rotate.
📅 The Two-Week Rotation at a Glance
Your exact Week A/B rotation depends on your address. Use the official schedule lookup at tacoma.gov/collectionschedule or download the Recycle Coach app for personalized reminders.
Garbage Bin — Black/Gray
Non-recyclable, non-organic household waste. Bag and tie all garbage before placing in bin.
Every other week • Week ARecycling Bin — Blue
Mixed recyclables: paper, cardboard, cans, plastics by shape. Loose, never bagged. Empty, clean, dry.
Every other week • Week AFood & Yard Waste — Brown
Food scraps, food-soiled paper (limited), grass clippings, leaves, branches. No plastic bags.
Every other week • Week B⏰ Set-Out Rules — All Bins
- All bins out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day (set out the evening before to be safe).
- Place bin with wheels toward the curb (lid opening facing the street).
- At least 4 feet from other bins, vehicles, poles, fences, and buildings.
- Remove bins from curb after collection; do not leave overnight.
- Do not overfill bins — overfilled bins may not be collected.
- Do not place items outside or on top of bins — they will not be taken.
- Bag and tie all garbage before placing in the garbage bin; never bag recyclables or food/yard waste.
Tacoma Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
Tacoma Solid Waste Management observes five holidays in 2026. When a holiday falls on or before your scheduled collection day within that week, your pickup shifts one day later. If the holiday falls on a weekend, curbside collection is not affected. The Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center and Recycle Center are closed on all observed holidays.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Curbside Impact | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri | Fri → Sat | Mon–Wed: normal that week |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Normal | Not an observed holiday for Tacoma Solid Waste. All collections on schedule. |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal | Not an observed holiday. All collections on schedule. |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue | Tue → Wed | All routes that week shift one day later. Saturday not affected. |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal | Falls on Saturday — no weekday curbside impact. RTC and Recycle Center closed Sat, Jul 4. |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue | All routes that week shift one day later. Saturday not affected. |
| Veterans’ Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Normal | Not an observed holiday for Solid Waste. All collections on schedule. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri | Fri → Sat | Mon–Wed: normal that week. Saturday not affected. |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | 1-Day Delay | All weekday routes delayed to Saturday. Mon–Thu: normal that week. |
Tacoma Recycling — What Goes in the Blue Bin
Tacoma uses single-stream (mixed) recycling, collected every other week on Week A — the same day as your garbage. All items must be empty, clean, and dry, placed loose (never bagged). The recycling symbol does not automatically mean an item is accepted in Tacoma — check at tacomarecycles.org.
✅ Accepted in the Blue Bin
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, paper bags, paperback books
- Cardboard — flattened
- Aluminum and steel cans, empty aerosol cans
- Rigid plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs — rinsed (plastic by shape, not by number)
- Cartons: milk, juice, soup (rinsed)
- Caps and lids (can be left on containers)
🚫 Never in the Blue Bin
- Glass → drop off at Recycle Center or glass stations
- Plastic bags or film → store drop-off or Recycle Center
- Styrofoam / polystyrene → Recycle Center
- Food or food-soiled items → brown food/yard waste bin
- Electronics or batteries → HHW Facility or designated drop-offs
- Tanglers: hoses, cords, wire hangers
- Tissues, paper towels, diapers, wax-coated cardboard
🚪 Plastic Bags — Not Curbside, But Recyclable
Plastic bags, stretchy plastic film, and zip-top bags are not accepted in the curbside blue bin — they jam sorting equipment. However, they can be recycled: drop off clean, dry plastic film at grocery store collection bins (look for in-store drop-offs) or at the Tacoma Recycle Center. Find locations at bagandfilmrecycling.org.
Tacoma Food & Yard Waste Collection — Brown Bin (Week B)
Tacoma collects food and yard waste separately from garbage and recycling, every other week on Week B. Service is included in your monthly garbage bill at no extra cost. Residents may request up to two 90-gallon brown bins free of charge; a third bin is available for $3/month. Collected materials are composted into organic material returned to enrich soil.
✅ Accepted in the Brown Bin
- All food scraps: fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, bones, shellfish, dairy
- Eggshells, coffee grounds
- Food-soiled paper used as liner: newspaper or paper bag (small amounts only)
- Yard trimmings: grass clippings, leaves, weeds, flowers
- Branches and sticks (check size limits)
- Houseplants and cut flowers
🚫 Not in the Brown Bin
- Plastic bags — even labeled “compostable” or “biodegradable” → garbage
- Compostable service ware (cups, utensils, plates) → garbage
- Paper coffee cups (plastic-lined) → garbage
- Pizza boxes → garbage (not accepted in Tacoma’s system)
- Pet waste or cat litter → garbage
- Dirt, sod, or rocks
- Treated, painted, or stained wood
- Glass, metal, plastic, or Styrofoam
🌿 TAGRO — Free Compost & Soil Products for Tacoma Residents
Tacoma converts collected food and yard waste into TAGRO — a line of high-quality compost and soil products made right here in Tacoma. TAGRO products are available to Tacoma residents and are sold seasonally. Visit tacoma.gov/tagro for current availability, pricing, and hours. Summer hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.–noon.
Tacoma Call-2-Haul — Free Bulk Pickup Twice a Year
Tacoma’s Call-2-Haul program provides residential Solid Waste customers with two free curbside bulk pickups per year — the cost is already built into your residential rates. You may also use your two free pickups as self-haul appointments at the Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center. Appointments are required; walk-ups are not accepted.
📅 How to Schedule Call-2-Haul
- Call the Call-2-Haul appointment line: (253) 573-2468 (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). You will need your utility account number, pickup address, and contact information. You can also initiate online through your MyTPU account.
- Provide an itemized list of items when you call. Items not disclosed at scheduling may be left behind. Schedule as early as possible — summer and year-end slots fill up several weeks in advance.
- Place all items at the front curb by 7:00 a.m. on your appointed day. Ensure there are no obstructions (vehicles, powerlines, buildings) around items.
- If the number of items exceeds the limit, the pickup counts as a double, using both of your annual free appointments. You may schedule a double Call-2-Haul upfront if needed.
✅ Accepted — Call-2-Haul
- Up to 3 large items: mattresses, sofas/couches, chairs, tables, dressers, bed frames
- Large appliances: washer, dryer, refrigerator, oven
- Barbecue grills (no propane tanks)
- Rolled carpet (up to 6 ft long, 1 ft diameter)
- Power yard equipment (drain oil/gas first; no riding mowers)
- Wheelchairs, walkers, exercise equipment
- AND/OR up to 15 boxes or bags of smaller items: small appliances, lawn chairs, broken toys, bicycles, boxed fans, strollers, clothing
🚫 Not Accepted — Call-2-Haul
- Regular household garbage, recyclables, or yard/food waste
- Hazardous materials → HHW Facility
- TVs, computers, monitors → E-Cycle Washington drop-off
- Construction or demolition debris
- Vehicle or automobile parts, tires
- Propane tanks
- Glass-top tables or large glass items
- Riding lawn mowers
Tacoma HHW & Recycle Center — Drop-Off Facility
The Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center (3510 S. Mullen St.) houses both the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility and the Tacoma Recycle Center — free for all City of Tacoma residents. The two facilities have different hours.
⚠ HHW Facility
3510 S. Mullen St., Tacoma, WA 98409
Hours: Friday – Monday, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Closed Tuesday–Thursday. Closed on observed holidays.
Drive-up only — no walk-ups or self-service. Up to 15 gallons or 220 lbs per visit, properly labeled.
♻ Recycle Center (Drop-Off)
3510 S. Mullen St., Tacoma, WA 98409
Hours: 7 days/week, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Closed New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
Free for all residents. No limit on recyclables drop-off.
✅ Accepted at HHW Facility
- Acids and caustics, household cleaners, solvents
- Antifreeze, motor oil (self-serve tank), automotive fluids
- Batteries: all types (automotive, rechargeable, alkaline)
- Fluorescent and CFL bulbs, tubes
- Paint: latex and oil-based
- Pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides
- Flammable liquids, glues, aerosols
- Propane tanks, gas and fuel
- Sharps/hypodermic needles (in puncture-proof, labeled container)
- Medications (prescription and OTC)
- Asbestos: by appointment only, fee applies
🚫 Not Accepted at HHW
- Commercial or business hazardous waste
- Explosives or ammunition
- Radioactive materials
- Regular household garbage
- Large appliances (use Call-2-Haul)
💻 Electronics (E-Waste) — E-Cycle Washington
Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, printers, tablets, phones) are not accepted in curbside bins. Tacoma participates in E-Cycle Washington, a free statewide program. Drop off at the Tacoma Recycle Center or check ecyclewashington.org for the nearest drop-off location. Cell phones, batteries, and chargers can also be recycled free at the Tacoma Municipal Building and the Tacoma Public Utilities Lobby.
🚪 Glass Drop-Off — Not Curbside
Glass bottles and jars are not collected curbside in Tacoma. Drop off rinsed glass (lids removed) at the Tacoma Recycle Center or at designated glass drop-off stations throughout the city. Find your nearest glass drop-off at tacomarecycles.org.
Apartments & Multi-Family Residents in Tacoma
The city’s online collection schedule tool is designed for single-family homes and duplexes only. If you live in a triplex or larger multi-family property, your collection schedule is set separately — it is not in the standard address lookup tool.
🚚 What Multi-Family Residents Should Know
- Contact Solid Waste at (253) 502-2100 to confirm your building’s collection day and schedule, or contact your property manager or HOA board.
- Multi-family properties can receive curbside mixed recycling, cardboard, and glass recycling — contact Solid Waste to set up service.
- Starting January 1, 2026, Tacoma businesses generating 96+ gallons of organic waste per week are required to set up organics management service under Washington State Organics Management Law.
- For food and yard waste service at your building, your property manager or HOA can contact Solid Waste at (253) 502-2100 or solidwaste@tacoma.gov.
- If your building does not offer recycling, talk to your property manager — Tacoma Solid Waste can assist with setting up a program.
What to Do If Your Pickup Was Missed in Tacoma
- Confirm your week rotation — use the Collection Schedule tool at tacoma.gov/collectionschedule or the Recycle Coach app. Tacoma’s system alternates weeks, so confirm you put out the correct bin(s) for this week.
- Check for a holiday delay. New Year’s, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all cause one-day delays. MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, and Veterans’ Day are not observed by Tacoma Solid Waste.
- Verify bin placement: out by 7:00 a.m., wheels toward curb, at least 4 feet from all obstructions, lid not overfilled, no items placed outside or on top of bin.
- Check for contamination. If prohibited items were in your bin (e.g., plastic bags in recycling, glass in the curbside bin, “compostable” bags in food waste), your bin may have been skipped. Remove offending items.
- Report the missed pickup by calling (253) 502-2100 (Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.) or emailing solidwaste@tacoma.gov.
Tacoma Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Tacoma or Just Moved In?
Find your address-specific collection calendar at tacoma.gov/collectionschedule or call (253) 502-2100. Download the Recycle Coach app to get automatic reminders for your Week A/B rotation. To start food/yard waste service, contact Solid Waste at the number above. Request up to two 90-gallon brown bins free of charge.
🌿 Get Free TAGRO Compost & Soil
Tacoma processes your food and yard waste into TAGRO — award-winning compost and biosolids-based soil products. TAGRO Mix (soil blend) and TAGRO Potting Soil are available for purchase at affordable prices at the TAGRO facility. Check tacoma.gov/tagro for seasonal hours and product availability.
🚫 5 Common Mistakes Tacoma Residents Make
- Putting glass in the curbside recycling bin — glass is not accepted curbside in Tacoma
- Using “compostable” bags or service ware in the brown food/yard waste bin — they go in the garbage bin
- Putting pizza boxes or paper coffee cups in the brown bin — not accepted in Tacoma’s composting system
- Missing your Week A/B rotation — always check your address-specific calendar; every two weeks matters
- Overfilling bins or placing items outside the bin — overfilled or exterior items are left behind
📅 Beyond the Bin — Community Reuse Events
Tacoma runs Beyond the Bin Community Reuse Events every Friday from April through September 2026 at the Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center (3510 S. Mullen St.), 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Drop off usable clothing, toys, housewares, small appliances, and furniture — items are donated to local nonprofits. Mattresses, large appliances, and hazardous waste are not accepted at these events.
Contact Tacoma Solid Waste Management
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Solid Waste Management | 📞 (253) 502-2100 — Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. • Email: solidwaste@tacoma.gov |
| Call-2-Haul Scheduling | 📞 (253) 573-2468 — Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. • Also via MyTPU account online |
| Collection Schedule Lookup | tacoma.gov/collectionschedule — official address-based tool (single-family & duplexes only) |
| Recycle Coach App | Free iOS & Android app — personalized A/B week reminders, “What Goes Where” lookup, schedule alerts |
| Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center | 3510 S. Mullen St., Tacoma, WA 98409 • Hours: Mon–Sat, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. • Lobby: Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| HHW Facility | 3510 S. Mullen St. • Fri–Mon, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. • Questions: (253) 591-5418 |
| Recycle Center (Drop-Off) | 3510 S. Mullen St. • 7 days/week, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. • Free for residents; no limit on recyclables |
| TAGRO Compost Products | tacoma.gov/tagro • Call (253) 502-2100 for availability and hours |
| Tacoma First 311 | Dial 3-1-1 from within Tacoma • General city services and non-emergency requests |
| E-Cycle Washington (Electronics) | ecyclewashington.org — free statewide e-waste drop-off program |
Frequently Asked Questions — Tacoma Trash Pickup
Still Can’t Find Your Collection Schedule?
The most reliable way to confirm your Tacoma collection schedule, Week A/B rotation, and next collection dates is through the official City of Tacoma address-based tool. Enter your address to generate your personalized calendar with all three collection streams.
🔍 Official Tacoma Schedule Lookup & Contact Options
The following are the official sources for Tacoma collection schedule information:
🔍 Open Official Schedule Tool 📞 Call (253) 502-2100| Official Schedule Tool | tacoma.gov/collectionschedule — enter your address to see your full calendar, Week A/B rotation, and next pickup dates. For single-family homes and duplexes. |
| Solid Waste Phone | (253) 502-2100 — Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Missed pickups, schedule questions, service setup, multi-family inquiries. |
| solidwaste@tacoma.gov — for non-urgent inquiries and service requests. | |
| Recycle Coach App | Free iOS & Android app recommended by Tacoma — personalized reminders for your Week A/B rotation, “What Goes Where” lookup for any item, and collection day alerts. |
| Solid Waste Website | tacoma.gov/solid-waste — service information, rates, Call-2-Haul, food/yard waste, HHW, and recycling guides. |
| Multi-Family or Apartments | The online tool does not cover triplex or larger buildings. Call (253) 502-2100 or contact your property manager for your building’s collection schedule. |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above. The official City of Tacoma schedule tool is the most complete source for address-based collection information.
Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities
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