Organics management for local governments

Visit the Organics Recycling Collection Areas map.

To create this map, we use data from the Office of Financial Management’s annual population estimates and Small Area Estimates Program as well as census tract data from the US Census Bureau. This map is updated every year by September.

Organics collection requirements for 2027

By April 1, 2027, local governments in an ORCA must have year-round organics collection service provided in their jurisdiction. Year-round is defined as 26 weeks or more of service, annually.

Service must be: 
•    Source-separated, so food and yard waste are placed in a separate container from other recyclables and trash.
•    Provided to all single-family residents. 
•    Provided to business customers that generate more than 0.25 cubic yards (approximately 45 gallons) of organic waste per week. This does not include multifamily units where residents share collection containers.

Cities impacted by ORCA are also required to establish a compost procurement ordinance (CPO) and an associated annual report. A CPO is a plan to purchase and use local compost in public projects.

Organics collection requirements for 2030

By April 1, 2030, organics collection services provided in the ORCAs become non-elective for customers. All single-family homes and businesses generating 0.25 cubic yards of organic waste per week must have mandatory service provided. Additionally, the local government’s collection service must accept food waste and collect organic waste separately from garbage and recycling.

Extensions and exemptions

ORCA service and frequency waivers

Counties and their respective cities in an ORCA where service is required to be provided but is unable to be arranged by the legislative deadline may apply for a renewable service waiver that lasts up to five years when one or more of the following is true and documented:

• The distance to transport organic materials to an organic management facility is too far to make service economical.
• Nearby facility capacity is not sufficient to handle the volume of incoming organic materials generated in an area.
• The estimated increase to rate payers in the area makes organics collection service unfeasible.
• The transport of organic materials is restricted under Washington’s apple maggot quarantine (Chapter 17.24 RCW).
• Organics collection  would have disproportionate impacts on an overburdened community.

One type of ORCA service waiver for jurisdictions is to reduce the collection frequency requirements. A jurisdiction must be using an alternative type of organics management system or technologies that will reduce the volume, odor, or both of collected food waste. 

Only counties can apply for a service and/or frequency waiver but may do so on behalf of their impacted cities,urban growth areas (UGAs), or census tracts. A county may apply up to one year in advance of a compliance deadline. For example, for 2027 requirements, the earliest a county may apply is  2026. For 2030 requirements, the earliest a county may apply is  2029. We are currently developing these waivers and the application process for jurisdictions.

Local exemptions for individual customers

A resident may be exempt from organics collection service if they manage organic material in an equal or better environmental way.. We are developing guidelines on individual exemptions for jurisdictions, who will be responsible for administering exemptions for customers within their service areas.

Implementation

For questions on the implementation of the organics management law in your jurisdiction or its impact to local solid waste management plans, please contact organics@ecy.wa.gov or your Ecology region’s lead local government planner. 

Sign up for Organics Management updates

1.    Visit Ecology’s GovDelivery subscription webpage
2.    Enter your email address
3.    Navigate to "Solid Waste Management Program”
4.    Select “ECY-ORGANICS-MGMT”