Your Vancouver Trash Day — No More Guessing
If you live in Vancouver, Washington, your waste service can feel confusing at first because garbage service has multiple frequency options, recycling is mandatory every other week, organics is an optional every-other-week subscription, and bulky items follow a separate request-based program. This guide pulls everything into one place so you can find your exact pickup day, avoid missed carts, understand current 2026 pricing, and know what really changes on holiday weeks.
📑 What’s in this guide
Within Vancouver city limits, garbage, recycling, and organics are managed by the City of Vancouver through its contractor, Waste Connections of Washington. Residents can use the City’s RecycleRight tool or Waste Connections’ schedule page to look up collection days, get reminders, request bulky-item pickup, and check how to dispose of almost any item correctly.
solidwaste@cityofvancouver.us
How to Find Your Vancouver Trash Pickup Day
Vancouver does not use a one-size-fits-all schedule for every home. Garbage service can be monthly, every other week, or weekly depending on the cart and service plan you choose. Recycling runs every other week, and organics also runs every other week if you subscribe. Because of that, the address lookup tool is the safest way to confirm your day.
- Open the schedule lookup. Go to View My Schedule or use the City’s RecycleRight tool.
- Enter your address carefully. The tool pulls the active collection calendar for your exact service address.
- Check all services, not just garbage. Confirm your garbage frequency, recycling week, and whether organics service is active on the account.
- Sign up for reminders. Both the schedule tool and RecycleRight support reminders by app, email, or phone so you do not forget alternating-week service.
- Use the A-Z directory for problem items. The RecycleRight tool also shows how to reuse, recycle, or dispose of hundreds of items and lets you request bulky-item pickup.
Vancouver Garbage, Recycling & Organics Schedule
Residential service in Vancouver has three main parts: garbage, mandatory recycling, and optional organics. Garbage service has multiple cart sizes and frequencies. Recycling is every other week. Organics is also every other week for subscribed households.
| Service | Frequency | Required or Optional | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garbage | Monthly, every other week, or weekly depending on plan | Core service | Cart size and pickup frequency affect the rate |
| Recycling | Every other week | Mandatory in Vancouver city limits | 95-gallon mixed-recycling cart plus separate glass container |
| Organics | Every other week | Optional subscription | Food scraps and yard debris accepted |
| Bulky Item Pickup | On request | Available with active garbage service | One free pickup per calendar year up to 5 bulky items |
For most residents, the easiest rule is this: set out your carts by 6:30 a.m. on collection day. Vancouver guidance also recommends placing carts out in the morning, roughly between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m., instead of leaving recycling out overnight when possible.
2026 Vancouver Garbage & Organics Rates
Waste Connections publishes the current monthly residential rates for Vancouver city limits. Garbage pricing depends on both cart size and how often it is collected, while recycling has a separate mandatory fee and organics has an optional monthly fee based on cart size.
Garbage
Higher rates for every-other-week and weekly pickup
Recycling
Mandatory in city limits
Organics
20-, 32-, 64-, and 96-gallon carts
| Garbage Service Option | 2026 Monthly Rate |
|---|---|
| 32-gallon monthly | $11.52 |
| 20-gallon every other week | $15.35 |
| 20-gallon weekly | $19.19 |
| 32-gallon every other week | $19.19 |
| 32-gallon weekly | $25.59 |
| 64-gallon every other week | $25.59 |
| 64-gallon weekly | $51.18 |
| 96-gallon weekly | $76.77 |
| Organics Cart Size | 2026 Monthly Rate |
|---|---|
| 20-gallon | $5.73 |
| 32-gallon | $7.02 |
| 64-gallon | $8.32 |
| 96-gallon | $9.61 |
Residential customers are billed every other month, so two months of service normally appear on each bill. The City also notes that a state refuse tax applies to the garbage portion of the bill.
⭐ Best money-saving move
If your home recycles well and uses organics regularly, a smaller garbage cart or less frequent garbage service can make a noticeable difference. Vancouver’s pricing structure rewards homes that keep food scraps and yard debris out of the trash stream.
Organics is not mandatory, but for homes that cook often or do a lot of yard cleanup, it can reduce how fast the garbage cart fills up.
Vancouver Recycling Rules You Should Actually Follow
Recycling is mandatory within Vancouver city limits. Waste Connections provides a 95-gallon cart for mixed recycling and a separate container for glass. Recycling service runs every other week, so contamination is a bigger problem because a missed cart can sit for a long time.
Common accepted curbside recyclables:
- Paper and cardboard
- Metal cans
- Plastic bottles, jugs, and containers
- Glass in the separate glass container
Important rules residents miss:
- Put recyclables in loose — not in plastic bags
- Items should be empty, clean, and dry
- No broken glass or sharp/heavy objects in the recycling cart
- Check the A-Z directory when in doubt instead of guessing
Vancouver Organics Pickup (Food Scraps + Yard Debris)
Organics service in Vancouver is an optional every-other-week subscription available to residents inside city limits. This service accepts both yard debris and food scraps, making it more useful than yard-waste-only programs in many cities.
| ✅ Accepted in Organics | ❌ Keep Out of Organics |
|---|---|
| Food scraps | Plastic bags |
| Yard debris | Non-organic trash |
| Leaves, weeds, grass clippings | Materials that do not belong in organics service |
| Brush and woody material within local limits | Loose contamination from regular garbage stream |
Waste Connections says extra yard debris can be set out in kraft paper yard bags for an extra charge added to your bill. Food scraps, however, must go inside the organics cart and are not allowed in the extra bags.
Free Vancouver Bulky Item Pickup
Vancouver residents with active garbage service get one of the more useful bulky-item benefits in the region: one free curbside pickup per calendar year of up to five bulky items. Each item must weigh less than 100 pounds.
How the free bulky pickup works:
- You must have active Waste Connections garbage service
- You get one free curbside bulky pickup each calendar year
- Up to 5 bulky items are allowed
- Each item must weigh less than 100 pounds
- Requests can be made through RecycleRight or by contacting Waste Connections
Additional bulky pickups are available for a fee. Vancouver also offers one free major-appliance pickup per calendar year for residents with active garbage service, and additional appliance pickups can be scheduled through Waste Connections.
- Open RecycleRight or call Waste Connections. Use the official tools instead of leaving bulky items at the curb without approval.
- Count your items before you request service. The free program covers up to five bulky items.
- Check item weight. Each item must be under 100 pounds for the City’s free bulky-item program.
- Do not treat this like normal trash overflow. Furniture, mattresses, and oversized items should go through the bulky-item process.
- Use paid pickup only when you need extra service. If you already used your free annual pickup, Waste Connections can still arrange paid collection.
⭐ Local advantage many people miss
Vancouver does not just stop at regular curbside service. The city also runs a free spring cleanup coupon program for yard debris and tires, plus fall leaf-disposal coupons. If you plan ahead, you can avoid paying for extra disposal during the heaviest cleanup months.
Vancouver Trash Pickup Holiday Schedule 2026
Vancouver’s official holiday rule is narrower than many cities. The City says garbage, recycling, and organics are delayed by one day when Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day fall Monday through Friday. For other holidays, residents should simply make sure carts are out by 6:30 a.m. as usual.
| Holiday | Date (2026) | Effect on Collection |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1, 2026 | One-day delay for affected collections |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 26, 2026 | One-day delay for affected collections |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25, 2026 | One-day delay for affected collections |
That means Vancouver does not automatically delay service for every federal holiday. If it is not Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day, your regular service usually stays on schedule unless a special alert is posted.
What to Do If Vancouver Missed Your Pickup
If your garbage, recycling, or organics was not collected, contact Waste Connections as soon as possible. The hauler’s own service pages say missed pickups should be reported right away so they can be corrected.
- Make sure the cart was out on time. Vancouver guidance points residents to have containers ready by 6:30 a.m.
- Check cart placement. Keep carts 3 feet apart and 5 feet away from cars and obstacles.
- Make sure the lid was fully closed. Overfilled carts can cause problems or extra charges.
- Report the miss quickly. Call (360) 892-5370 or use the schedule/reminder tools.
- Use the City line if needed. For broader solid-waste questions, call (360) 487-7160.
Vancouver Spring & Fall Cleanup Programs
Vancouver offers several seasonal programs that make cleanup easier and cheaper than many nearby cities.
🌸 Spring Cleanup Coupons
Single-family residential customers with an active Waste Connections account receive free spring coupons for yard debris and tire disposal. They are generally valid from early April through June 30.
🍂 Fall Leaf Disposal Coupons
Residents can use free fall leaf-disposal coupons from October through December each year.
🛋️ Free Bulky Pickup
One free curbside pickup per year for up to five bulky items with active garbage service.
🔌 Annual Used Appliance Roundup
Residents with active garbage service may schedule one free pickup of a major appliance once per calendar year.
Where to Get Help for Vancouver Garbage & Recycling
The two most useful contacts are the City’s Solid Waste team and Waste Connections, the official contractor for residential service. The City is especially useful for local-program questions, while Waste Connections handles active service, billing-side service issues, and collection logistics.
📍 Waste Connections Office
9411 NE 94th Ave. Bldg A
Vancouver, WA 98662
☎️ Waste Connections
(360) 892-5370
customerservice2010@wcnx.org
Mon–Fri: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
☎️ City Solid Waste
(360) 487-7160
solidwaste@cityofvancouver.us
💻 Schedule & Disposal Tools
Use RecycleRight or View My Schedule for reminders, bulky requests, and the A-Z disposal directory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vancouver Trash Pickup
How do I find my Vancouver trash pickup day?
Use View My Schedule or the City of Vancouver’s RecycleRight tool. These are the official schedule sources for Vancouver, Washington.
Is recycling mandatory in Vancouver, WA?
Yes. Recycling is mandatory within Vancouver city limits, and Waste Connections provides a 95-gallon mixed-recycling cart plus a separate glass container.
How often is recycling collected in Vancouver?
Residential recycling is collected every other week.
Is organics weekly in Vancouver?
No. Organics is an optional every-other-week subscription service for residents within Vancouver city limits.
What time should I put my Vancouver carts out?
Vancouver guidance says containers should be ready by 6:30 a.m. on collection day. The local recycling guidance also recommends putting carts out in the morning, around 6:00 to 6:30 a.m., when possible.
Does Vancouver offer free bulky item pickup?
Yes. Residents with active garbage service can get one free curbside pickup per calendar year for up to five bulky items, with each item under 100 pounds.
Do I get a free appliance pickup too?
Yes. Residents with active garbage service may schedule one free pickup of a major appliance once per calendar year.
Which holidays change Vancouver collection?
According to the City, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day cause a one-day delay when they fall Monday through Friday. Other holidays generally do not shift collection.
Can I put food scraps in Vancouver organics service?
Yes. Waste Connections says Vancouver organics service accepts food scraps and yard debris.
Can I put extra food scraps into yard bags?
No. Extra yard debris may go in kraft paper yard bags for an extra charge, but food scraps must be placed in the organics cart.
Official Vancouver Trash Collection Resources
City of Vancouver Garbage & Recycling
Main City of Vancouver solid-waste page
Residential Service
Residential garbage, recycling, organics, and local programs
RecycleRight
Schedule, reminders, A-Z directory, and bulky-item requests
View My Schedule
Address-specific collection calendar and reminders
Bulky Item Pickup
Free annual bulky-item pickup details
Residential Rates
Current Vancouver city-limits rates for garbage, recycling, and organics
Service contact: Waste Connections at (360) 892-5370. City help: Vancouver Solid Waste at (360) 487-7160.