Collection crews pick up garbage Monday through Friday, year-round, except Christmas Day. If your scheduled collection day falls on Christmas, your garbage will be picked up the following day. All remaining collections that week will be one day later than normal. 

Use our interactive map to enter your address and find your scheduled service days, your recycling schedule (A or B), and weather disruption areas. Then, check the 2025 Recycling Collection Calendar below for your recycling schedule, including special programs like fall cleanup and curbside Christmas tree recycling.

View the 2025 Recycling Collection Calendar

On Collection Day:

• Place cans out for collection by 6:00 a.m.
• Place cans at least three feet from cars, trees, mailboxes or fences.
• Allow for a minimum of 14 feet above the container for overhead clearance.
• Place the cart's wheels as close to the curb as possible, and
• Close the lid.

Collection services may be disrupted during winter weather events. Please visit our Inclement Weather Disruption page to learn how operations will change and ways you can be informed through social media, flash alerts and our website. 

If you missed your pick-up or need an extra or secondary pick-up, please use our One-Time Pick Up Request form below or call (509) 942-7700. Please note: Call-back fees apply when containers are not at the curb on time.

Submit a One-Time Pick-Up Request

Please submit a Solid Waste Service Request to:

• Add or cancel additional containers
• Submit repair requests
  • Note: Lid repairs may be delayed due to workload or delays in shipments.
• Request replacement for missing, lost, or stolen containers

Requests are processed in the order received and may take up to 3 business days to complete. Please leave container to be repaired or picked-up accessible for our driver.

Submit a Solid Waste Service Request

We collect yard waste each week on your normal collection day, weather permitting. During the winter months, yard waste may not be collected due to frozen debris and container damage or hazardous road conditions. Staff will make announcements on the City's Facebook page if collection is delayed or cancelled. When yard waste set out rate is lower than 20%, yard waste will be collected with refuse truck.

Containers must be placed at the curb on your regular collection day by 6:00 a.m. Yard waste is composted at the Horn Rapids Landfill. Learn more about Richland yard waste collection and composting.

A residence may be considered exempt from having a yard waste container and fee if all landscape space is commonly owned, such as is found at condominiums with a homeowners’ association. Residences meeting this criteria will only be billed the “Refuse – No Yard Waste” fee once they have contacted the solid waste manager and the exemption has been verified.

If you are going to bag yard waste, please only use BPI certified compostable bags. Using compostable bags allows us to compost your yard waste at the landfill.

Starting October through the end of December, compost bags are available for free at Horn Rapids Landfill or City Hall for Richland residents. While supplies last, limit 15 per visit. Compost bags can also be purchased online or at local hardware stores.

Any yard waste that does not fit inside your green yard waste container is considered excess yard waste. Bag excess yard waste with a certified compostable bag (BPI Certified) and place it at the curb for collection at an extra charge (except during Fall Cleanup, November 10 - December 19, 2025, when excess yard waste collection is free).

Other options for disposing of extra yard waste:

• Get an extra yard waste container for $2 per month (one year commitment) 
• Use a mulching lawn mower to reduce yard waste
• Compost at home
• Place extra yard waste in your gray garbage can
• Bring extra yard waste to the Horn Rapids Landfill for free (Richland residents, clean yard debris only)

Yard waste (green) containers shall only contain vegetation material such as grass clippings, plant trimmings including organic material less than 12 inches in diameter.

Dirt , construction and demolition debris, tree branches of more than 12 inches in diameter, or rubble are not allowed in the yard waste containers. Failure to use this container as described will result in an additional refuse container fee added to the utility bill. 

Do:

• Place only loose grass, leaves, plant trimmings, garden debris like inedible fruits and vegetables, non-treated wood and branches less than 4" in diameter in the container
• Place dry, woody material at the bottom of the can to keep grass and leaves from getting compacted in the bottom
• Prop the lid open to control odor and allow moisture to escape
• Follow the weight guidelines on the container

Don't:

• Place dirt, rocks, treated or glued wood, animal waste, meat or processed food, or any other garbage in the container. Repeatedly using the yard waste container for disposal of regular garbage will result in a load contamination fee of $10
• Bag yard waste, unless using certified compostable bags (BPI Certified)
• Overloading the container too heavy or compacted with too much yard debris, the truck cannot empty the container. If we cannot empty the container due to weight, you will have to remove material and be charge a return fee to dispatch a truck for a second collection

Learn more about how to use your green yard waste container by watching this informational video.

Recycling collection service will be available to all Richland residential customers upon request. Collection will occur on a different day than your designated grey and green collection service. Collection crews pick up recycling every other week, Monday through Friday, year-round, except Christmas. If your scheduled collection day falls on Christmas, crews will pick up your recycling on the following day. All remaining collections that week will be one day later than normal.

On Recycling Collection Day:

• Cans should be placed out for collection by 6:00 a.m.
• Place containers at least three feet from cars, trees, mailboxes or fences.
• Place the cart's wheels as close to the curb as possible.
• Ensure the lid is closed.

Use our interactive map to enter your address and find your recycling schedule (A or B). Check the 2025 Recycling Collection Calendar below for your recycling schedule, including special programs like fall cleanup and curbside Christmas tree recycling.

View the 2025 Recycling Collection Calendar

Collection services may be disrupted during winter weather events. Please visit our Inclement Weather Disruption page to learn how operations will change and ways you can be informed through social media, flash alerts and our website.

Do Recycle

• Paper/Cardboard - Newspaper, catalogs, phonebooks, printer paper, junk mail, greeting cards, flattened pressboard boxes, cores from paper towels and wrapping paper
• Metal- Tin and aluminum cans
• Plastic- Containers with a neck smaller than the base and the number 1 or 2 stamped on the bottom. This includes beverage bottles and salad dressing, detergent bottles, etc.

Don't Recycle

• Food waste
• Unsanitary items or containers
• Batteries
• Plastic bags
• Hazardous waste
• Light bulbs
• Aerosol cans
• Glass*

*Glass is not accepted in the curbside recycling program. Repeatedly using the recycling container for disposal of glass or other prohibited items will result in a load contamination fee of $10.

Recycling Centers

Use drop boxes to dispose of:

• Cardboard
• Newspaper
• Tin
• Aluminum
• Plastic beverage containers
• Scrap paper (phone books, pressboard boxes and junk mail)

Drop boxes do not accept garbage or hazardous waste.

Find a Recycling Drop Box