Plan Your Washington, MO Recycling & Compost Drop-Off Before You Drive
The City recycling facility is at 400 Recycle Drive. Check the current operating schedule, sort your materials before arrival, and use the City’s solid-waste contact for anything unusual rather than relying on an old map listing.
Washington, Missouri 63090
Quick Answer for a Washington Recycling Center Trip
Use 400 Recycle Drive, Washington, MO 63090 for the City recycling and compost drop-off. Current City material shows the center closed Sunday and Monday, open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and open Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Do not use City Hall or the Struckhoff Sanitary Landfill address for a normal recycling-center trip. Call the City’s Streets & Solid Waste office at 636-390-1032 when your load includes an unusual appliance, questionable plastic, large yard-waste load, paint, electronics, oil or another special material.
On this page
Washington MO Recycling Center Hours
| Day | Published Schedule | Trip Planning |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | Do not plan a routine Recycle Drive visit. |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM | Allow enough time to sort and unload before closing. |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM | Verify a holiday or weather notice if one applies. |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM | Call first for unusual or large loads. |
| Friday | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM | Earlier closing than Tuesday–Thursday. |
| Saturday | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM | Useful weekend option; sort before arrival. |
| Sunday | Closed | Choose another operating day. |
“Open now” map labels are useful for navigation but should not be the final authority. A City closure, weather interruption or special-event arrangement can change what is actually available that day.
Address, City Contact and the Number to Use
Recycling / Compost Center
400 Recycle Drive
Washington, MO 63090
Use this address for normal recycling-center and compost-center directions.
Streets & Solid Waste Contact
636-390-1032
This is the current City contact associated with Streets & Solid Waste and recent recycling notices.
Do Not Navigate to City Hall for Drop-Off
City Hall is at 405 Jefferson Street, but that is not the recycling-center drop-off address. Enter 400 Recycle Drive into your GPS or map application when you are taking recyclable or compostable material to the center.
What Can You Take to the Washington MO Recycling Center?
The previous article contained a detailed accepted-material list covering cardboard, paper, selected plastics, glass, metal, appliances, motor oil, shoes and organics. That information remains useful for planning, but the City’s current public site does not expose one complete, easily verifiable material table through its present web pages.
For that reason, use the material groups below as a sorting and verification checklist, not as permission to unload every listed item without checking current rules.
| Material Group | Previously Listed / Supported Items | What to Do Before Driving |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | Cardboard, newspaper, magazines and office paper | Keep clean and dry; flatten cardboard and remove packing trash. |
| Plastic | #1 PET and #2 HDPE bottles and jars were previously listed | Check the container type and current City rule; do not assume every numbered plastic is accepted. |
| Glass | Clear, brown and blue glass were previously listed | Use bottles/jars as the safest assumption and verify mirrors, ceramics, bulbs or window glass separately. |
| Metal | Aluminum cans, tin, scrap metal and appliances | Call first for heavy scrap or appliances requiring special unloading. |
| Organics | Leaves, grass clippings, brush, branches and real Christmas trees | Keep yard material free from trash, plastic bags and construction debris. |
| Special | Used motor oil and other historically listed specialty streams | Call before visiting; never mix oil or unknown liquids. |
Plastic Numbers Do Not Guarantee Local Acceptance
A recycling symbol identifies the resin family, not a promise that the local program takes that item. When you have tubs, buckets, toys, film, foam, bags or another plastic that is not clearly an accepted bottle or jar, call before making the trip.
Keep Recycling Clean and Separated
Do not bury recyclable material under garbage, food waste or yard debris. Clean separation is especially useful when your vehicle contains several material types because each stream may have a different unloading location.
Leaves, Brush and Compost Material at Recycle Drive
The City specifically directs residents to the Recycle Center at 400 Recycle Drive when they miss seasonal curbside leaf collection. That provides current official confirmation that leaves are part of the Recycle Drive service.
Leaves
Keep leaves separate from regular garbage, rocks and non-organic material.
Grass & Brush
Keep natural yard material separate from bags, wire, construction debris and household trash.
Christmas Trees
Remove decorations, lights, hooks, stands, tinsel and plastic before treating a real tree as organic material.
Paint, Electronics, Appliances and Other Special Materials
Some recyclable materials use special collection events rather than the everyday Recycle Drive setup. That distinction matters because the event may occur at another address, follow a shorter time window or charge item-specific fees.
Upcoming Electronics Recycling Event — October 17, 2026
The City has announced an electronics recycling event for Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Washington Fairgrounds, Swine Pavilion, 11 Fairgrounds Street.
The event is rain or shine. Participants are directed to enter from Veterans Drive at the south gate, follow event signage and leave through the north gate onto North Park Drive.
Do not drive to 400 Recycle Drive for this event merely because it is a recycling program. Follow the event location and current City instructions.
Paint Is Event-Based
The City’s May 30, 2026 paint recycling event accepted latex paint, water-based stains and primers at $1 per pound. Oil-based paint, spray cans, industrial paint, unknown liquids, leaking containers, solvents and empty cans were excluded from that event.
That event has already passed, and its rules should not be treated as an everyday Recycle Drive acceptance list. For current paint disposal, check for a newly announced City event or contact Streets & Solid Waste.
Appliances
City material from its electronics collection program has directed washers, dryers, refrigerators and similar appliances to the City Recycling Center during regular operating hours. Because appliances can contain refrigerants, compressors or other components requiring special handling, call first before bringing a large appliance.
Used Motor Oil and Unknown Liquids
Keep motor oil in a sealed container and do not mix it with gasoline, antifreeze, solvents, paint, pesticides, brake fluid or unknown liquids. If you cannot positively identify the liquid, call the City before moving it.
Washington’s 2026 Curbside Recycling Schedule Is Separate
Washington changed its residential curbside collection schedule on September 1, 2026. Trash is now collected every Tuesday citywide, while recycling runs every other Tuesday according to the resident’s assigned section.
Weekly Trash
Residential trash is collected every Tuesday citywide under the new schedule.
Alternating Recycling
Recycling alternates between Section A and Section B every other Tuesday. Residents should confirm their section and current calendar.
The City’s August announcement also says one bulk item may be placed at the curb during the resident’s scheduled recycling week. This curbside system does not change the physical Recycle Drive address or turn the recycling center into a curbside service office.
Review the City’s September 2026 collection change
Recycling Center vs Struckhoff Sanitary Landfill
These are different City facilities with different purposes. Do not use landfill rates or landfill acceptance rules to make assumptions about the Recycling/Compost Center.
| Facility | Address | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| Recycling / Compost Center | 400 Recycle Drive | Recycling and compost-related drop-off under City rules. |
| Struckhoff Sanitary Landfill | 925 Struckhoff Lane | Municipal solid waste, bulky waste, construction/demolition waste and other landfill-authorized loads. |
The landfill has its own operating hours, fee schedule and prohibited-material list. Current landfill information specifically excludes major appliances, waste oil, computer equipment and yard waste from ordinary landfill acceptance, reinforcing why those materials should not simply be redirected there when a recycling question arises.
How to Prepare Your Drop-Off Load
- Identify every material. Separate normal recyclables, yard waste, appliances, electronics, oil, paint and trash before deciding where each item belongs.
- Confirm the service. Determine whether your material belongs at Recycle Drive, curbside, the landfill or a special event.
- Check the day and time. Use the City schedule and look for current closure notices before loading a vehicle.
- Use 400 Recycle Drive for the recycling center. Do not substitute City Hall, Washington Fairgrounds or the landfill address.
- Flatten clean cardboard. Remove loose packaging, foam, food residue and household trash.
- Keep yard waste clean. Remove plastic bags, wire, rocks, garbage and construction material.
- Secure special liquids. Keep oil or other accepted liquids upright, closed and separate. Never combine chemicals.
- Call when the item is uncertain. Use 636-390-1032 instead of risking a rejected load.
Common Reasons a Washington Recycling Trip Can Fail
| Problem | Why It Happens | Better Action |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong facility | City Hall, landfill, Recycle Drive and Fairgrounds events serve different purposes. | Match the material to the correct location first. |
| Holiday closure | Municipal closures can override normal hours. | Check City notices before a holiday trip. |
| Mixed load | Trash, yard material and recyclable containers may need different handling. | Sort at home before loading the vehicle. |
| Paint or electronics brought on a normal day | Special programs can be event-based. | Use the current event notice rather than assuming routine acceptance. |
| Unknown plastic or liquid | Not every plastic resin or liquid is acceptable. | Call 636-390-1032 before driving. |
| Old phone number | Third-party and older pages can retain outdated contact information. | Use the City’s current Streets & Solid Waste contact. |
Washington MO Recycling Center Map
The map is set to the Recycling/Compost Center at 400 Recycle Drive. Use it for navigation; use City information for hours, closures and accepted-item decisions.
Official Sources to Check Before You Go
Use the official City website for municipal notices, holiday closures and current service information.
Open City of Washington
Covers the September 1, 2026 curbside change and alternating recycling sections.
Open schedule announcement
Use this source for the upcoming e-waste event location, time and access directions.
Open electronics event notice
Use only when your material belongs in the landfill stream and review its separate fees and restrictions.
Open landfill information
Related Recycling Guides
Find the Right Recycling Center
Useful when an item does not fit Washington’s local drop-off route or you need a different specialty recycler.
Plastic Recycling
Use this guide when a plastic item falls outside the clearly accepted bottle or jar categories.
Scrap Metal Recycling
Helpful when deciding between municipal appliance/scrap handling and a private scrap or buyback facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Washington MO Recycling Center?
The City Recycling/Compost Center is at 400 Recycle Drive, Washington, MO 63090. Do not use the City Hall or landfill address for a normal recycling-center trip.
What are the Washington MO Recycling Center hours?
The published schedule is Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8 a.m.–4 p.m., with Sunday and Monday closed. Holiday or emergency closures can override those hours.
What phone number should I use for recycling questions?
Current City information lists 636-390-1032 for Streets & Solid Waste. Use that number when you need to confirm an unusual material, large load or current service rule.
Can I take cardboard to the Washington Recycling Center?
Yes. Current City collection information specifically directs residents with excess cardboard to their recycling toter or the Recycling Center. Flatten boxes and keep cardboard clean and dry.
Can I take leaves to the recycling center?
Yes. City leaf-collection notices direct residents who miss curbside leaf pickup to the Recycle Center at 400 Recycle Drive. Keep leaves free from household trash and other contamination.
Can I drop off paint every day at Recycle Drive?
Do not assume so. The City has used special paint recycling events with specific dates, accepted paint types and fees. Check for a current event or contact the City before transporting paint.
Where is the October 2026 electronics recycling event?
The October 17, 2026 electronics event is scheduled for the Washington Fairgrounds Swine Pavilion at 11 Fairgrounds Street from 9 a.m. to noon. It is not advertised as a regular Recycle Drive event.
Is curbside recycling the same as the Recycling/Compost Center?
No. Curbside is a collection service, while 400 Recycle Drive is a physical drop-off site. Since September 1, 2026, residential recycling is collected every other Tuesday according to Section A or Section B.
Is the Struckhoff Landfill the same as the recycling center?
No. The landfill is at 925 Struckhoff Lane and has separate operating hours, rates and acceptance rules. Do not use landfill information as if it were Recycle Drive policy.
Is Recycling-Centre.org the official City of Washington website?
No. Recycling-Centre.org is an independent information guide. The City of Washington remains the final authority for operating hours, closures, accepted materials, special events and service changes.
Before You Load the Vehicle
For a routine Washington recycling trip, start with 400 Recycle Drive and the published operating schedule. Then check the exact material: normal recyclables and clean organics may follow the regular drop-off route, while electronics, paint, landfill waste and other special materials can require a different location or date.
The most important improvement over the older version of this page is not more keywords—it is clearer routing. Use 636-390-1032 when the City’s current website does not clearly answer your material question, and check official notices before holiday or event-day travel.