Spokane Municipal Code

Title 13 Public Utilities and Services

Chapter 13.02 Solid Waste

Article VI. Recycling Rates

Section 13.02.0554 Clean Green Yard Waste Collection

1. Any customer may apply to the department for collection of “clean green” yard waste. Participation is voluntary.

1. 1. To be accepted as “clean green” yard waste, material must consist of grass, leaves, pine needles, pine cones, thatch, vines, weeds, and branches, or other such fresh yard waste type material, not putrefied. Food scraps and compostable paper products, such as uncoated paper plates and pizza delivery boxes, are acceptable.

1. 2. Woody material must be no more than three inches in diameter and not extend outside the approved collection container.

1. 3. Material may be bundled with rope or string next to the container not to exceed four feet in length.

1. 4. Total gross cart weight may not exceed two hundred fifty pounds.

2. In addition to subsection (A) of this section, customers are cautioned that “clean green” yard material may not contain any of the following:

1. 1. Sod (beyond small amounts).

1. 2. Rocks.

1. 3. Dirt.

1. 4. Gravel.

1. 5. Concrete.

1. 6. Glass.

1. 7. Metal.

1. 8. Plastic.

1. 9. Treated wood/bark.

1. 10. Animal feces.

1. 11. Paint residue.

1. 12. Christmas or holiday decorations.

1. 13. Non-compostable paper products.

1. 14. Flocking.

1. 15. Dimensional lumber.

1. 16. Stumps/roots.

1. 17. Charcoal/Ash

A load is further not considered clean green if it emanates a strong odor, detectable by an ordinary person at a distance of thirty feet. Loads submitted not acceptable as clean green will be left by clean green collection crews and must be handled as a category solid waste. The rate shall be as for a ninety gallon automated style container, as set in SMC 13.02.0502.

3. The collection day for clean green yard waste shall be on the same day as the customer’s regular solid waste collection. Service is weekly during the months of March through November; service is one week each month during December, January and February. The one week per month collection is generally the first full week of the month but subject to change. Service is provided only in ninety gallon carts supplied by the department.

4. The service is billed and payable monthly, as follows:

Clean Green Yard Waste Collection	2025	2026
Monthly	$18.01	$19.27
Extra Dump	$5.55	$5.94

Clean green yard waste carts that are out in the designated collection area during December, January, and February on non-collection weeks are assumed to be out for collection and will be charged an extra dump.

5. Yard waste cart packout charged at same rate as refuse (one half of standard sixty gallon refuse rate for each  fifty feet for items not within six feet of semi-automated pickup location or two feet of automated pickup location).

6. There is no container delivery charge for the first delivery to a given customer. Thereafter, the redelivery charge is the same amount as the container pickup fee as listed below.

1. The container pickup fee is:

2025	2026
$37.61	$40.24

if requested within twelve months of the initial delivery.

7. The minimum length of time that a customer may a request a clean green yard waste cart for is three months. If customer cancels service within the first three months, they will be subject to a charge equal to three months of service total and the container pick up fee as described in this subsection (F).

8. The customer is responsible for the cost of cart replacement in case of loss or damage.

 

Date Passed: Monday, October 14, 2024

Effective Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2025

ORD C36589 Section 49