Official website of the
City of Vancouver, Washington

Garbage & Recycling

Talking Trash - Latest news and events

Keep drains and pipes fat free!

Grease is one of the main causes of clogged household plumbing. Even a small amount of grease can stick to pipes and cause a messy, expensive backup in your kitchen or bathroom. You can protect your pipes and get rid of grease safely: Carefully pour or scrape grease and fat into a can, cover and freeze it. Then toss the can in the trash. Wiping out the pan with a paper towel or napkin before washing helps protect pipes and plumbing, too. Never pour grease down the sink, disposal or toilet! If you have leftover cooking oil, there’s a special solution for that, too. The Central Transfer and Recycling Center and West Van Material Recovery Center will accept up to 5 gallons of cooking oil – not grease – in a sealed container per residential customer per day during regular hours of operation. For more recycling information, please call (360) 696-8186 if you're unable to locate the information you need on this Web site.

Free Leaf Coupon for Vancouver and Clark County Residents

Please don't sweep leaves into streets where they can clog stormwater catch basins and cause pooling.

Instead, get a free coupon for disposal of leaves here!

Adobe Reader Required

The coupons are good for Oct. 1 to Dec. 20, 2009, and for Vancouver and other Clark County residents only. Coupons must be presented at the drop-off site, so you'll need to print out the one above or pick up a coupon from one of many City of Vancouver locations. If you need more information, please call Vancouver's Solid Waste Services at 360-619-4120.  

Handy hints: If you bring leaves in plastic bags instead of heavy Kraft bags, be aware that you'll need to empty the bags at the disposal sites mentioned on the coupon. Also remember that only leaves will be accepted for free with the coupon. Yard debris or mixed loads will be charged at the regular price.  

Block Foam Collections Events Are Here!

Recycle your clean, dry block foam, also known as polystyrene or Styrofoam (TM), at the free event being held in our community. Participation is open to residents of Vancouver and Clark County. Washington-licensed cars or pickups only! Participants must wait on site to have materials accepted. No loads larger than what fits in a passenger van, please. Questions? Please call Vancouver Solid Waste Services at our new phone number: 360-619-4120. Please note: NO packing peanuts of any type and NO polyurethane foam can be accepted at these events.

• Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fishers Landing Transit Center, 3510 SE 164th Ave., Vancouver  
• Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Clark College Yellow 1 Parking Lot, Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver

2008 Annual Report 

You can now view Vancouver's Solid Waste Services Annual Report for 2008 here.

Adobe Reader Required

How's the Weather?

Severe weather can whip up a number of garbage and recycling related issues. Here are some tips and facts that you should know:

• When strong, high winds are forecast, please do not put out garbage and recycling until the morning of collection, if possible. You'll avoid having containers tipped over, and your neighbors will thank you, too! Just remember to have your items at the curb in the morning, when pickup begins at 6:30 a.m. 
• Downed limbs and trees on private property are the responsibility of the private property owner. Resources for yard debris may be found here.
• City of Vancouver Operations Center crews respond to trees and limbs that fall into the street and block traffic. You can use our online Service Request to report non-emergency Public Works requests, including street maintenance, traffic signals, parks and other City facilities, water, sewer, and drainage issues. For Vancouver Public Works 24-hour emergency service requests, please call 360-693-9302.
• Get more information here about inclement weather and its potential impact on garbage and recycling collections.  
• To report power outages, please contact Clark Public Utilities’ PowerLine at (360) 992-8000.
• To learn about protecting trees, hiring a tree care professional or meeting the city's requirements, please visit our Urban Forestry pages.

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