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Residential garbage

City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management picks up residential garbage once a week. Your collection day depends on the area of Tacoma you live. Each residential customer receives a City-supplied green garbage container available in four sizes, which determines your monthly rate. Learn ways to reduce your waste. You’ll not only save money by using a smaller garbage container, but you’ll also do your part to help protect the environment.

Accepted / not accepted garbage items
Before throwing something in the garbage, see if it is recyclable first. The more you recycle, the smaller garbage container you need, which saves you money on your monthly garbage bill.

If the item can’t be recycled, reused, repaired, composted or donated, check these lists of common items that are accepted and not accepted in your garbage container.

Garbage - YES

• Aluminum foil & trays (dirty)
• Ashes & charcoal briquettes (cold)
• Automotive oil/fluid containers (empty)
• Cardboard (dirty, food contaminated)
• Caps & lids (plastic & metal)
• Cat litter
• Cement bags (empty)
• Cigarette butts
• Clothing & fabrics (stained, non-reusable)
• Disposable diapers
• Feminine hygiene products
• Foam rubber
• Food waste
• Hypodermic needles or syringes (sealed inside rigid container)
• Paper plates and cups (dirty)
• Pet food bags
• Pet manure (securely bagged)
• Pizza boxes
• Plastic food wrap, sandwich & produce bags
• Styrofoam products
  Recycle packing peanuts at the Recycling Center or at most mail service stores.
• Tissues, toilet paper, paper towels, napkins
• Toys (broken)
• Wood pieces
• Woven plastic bags (sand & feed bags, etc.)

• Asbestos
  Learn ways to safely handle and dispose of asbestos.
• Hazardous materials or wastes (oil-based paints, household cleaners, solvents, auto products, flammable liquids, etc.). Find out how properly dispose of household hazardous waste.
• Hypodermic needles, syringes or medical waste
  Find out how to properly dispose.
• Large items (furniture, lumber, appliances, carpet, etc.) Learn more about disposal of large household junk. Or, find out options for disposing reusable items that still have life left in them.
• Liquids
• Tires
  Accepted at the Tacoma Landfill for a fee.
• Used motor oil
  Recycle motor oil at the Recycling Center or at select auto supply stores.

Have a question about something not listed? E-mail solidwaste@cityoftacoma.org, or call (253) 591-5543.

Please follow these guidelines when you set out your garbage container:

• Set container out by 7 a.m. on your pickup day. 
• Set container four (4) feet from things such as other containers, vehicles, telephone poles, fences and buildings.
• Place container with the lid opening toward the street or alley.
• Container must weigh less than 250 pounds and the lid must sit flat on top. You will be charged an additional fee for overfilled containers.
• If you leave other garbage within five (5) feet of your container, we will pick it up, but you’ll be charged an additional fee for extra garbage.
• Remove container from the curb or alley after garbage has been picked up.

If you forget to put your container out in time for pickup, call (253) 591-5543. We will try to pick it up the same day. An additional fee may apply.

Your garbage collection day
Your garbage day is determined by the area of Tacoma you live. Use this map to find your garbage day. If you're unable to determine where your residence is located from this map, type your address into the personalized collection calendar.

Solid Waste Management picks up garbage once a week. See the holiday schedule for days when collection will be delayed. To find your recycling and yard waste collection schedule, go to the personalized collection calendar or click on your garbage day on the map below.

If you're unable to determine your garbage day or recycling and yard waste collection schedule, e-mail solidwaste@cityoftacoma.org, or call (253) 591-5543.

Garbage container options and rates
Solid Waste Management provides green garbage containers for all single-family residential customers. You may choose among four sizes—20-, 30-, 60- and 90-gallons. (The 20-gallon size is an insert in a 30-gallon container. Removal of the insert will result in a higher charge.) Solid Waste Management recommends a family of four—who recycles—use a 30-gallon garbage can. The size you choose determines your monthly garbage rate.

2010 monthly residential garbage rates:

20-gallon

• 20-gallon container: $25.25
• 30-gallon container: $35.35
• 60-gallon container: $57.00
• 90-gallon container: $79.35

The more you recycle, reuse, donate, or compost, the smaller the garbage container you need. This saves you money and helps protect the environment. Learn more about how to reduce your waste.

Make sure your size is right
You're allowed to change the size of your garbage and recycling containers free of charge just once a year. After one size change, a $30 fee will be charged for additional container exchanges throughout that year.

Large amounts of garbage
If you are remodeling, moving or anything else that produces excessive amounts of garbage, request a temporary garbage box that can be used for large amounts of garbage removal. For a fee, Solid Waste Management will deliver the temporary box to your residence where you may throw away the same types of items accepted in your regular garbage container. There is no limit to how long you may keep the temporary box at your residence, but if it goes a month without being hauled, you will be charged $200 per month.

 Temporary garbage box sizes and rates--2010:

Large amounts of recycling
Solid Waste Management also provides drop off boxes for recycling. Learn more about renting a temporary box for recycling. 

For more information, e-mail solidwaste@cityoftacoma.org, or call (253) 591-5543.

Online account management

Manage your solid waste account online anytime – day or night – at www.TacomaServices.org. 

The free online service allows you to:

• Start or stop service – Just moved or going on vacation? Start or stop your garbage or recycling service online.
• Change your service – Change container size or request additional containers.
• Pay your bill – Pay your bill, sign up for automatic payments and check your balance.

Customers who have not yet accessed their account online must first register with your account number and create a password. If you’d prefer to handle your account questions over the phone, call (253) 591-5543.

E-mail web questions for this page: Community Relations