ORCA is coming. Is your community prepared?
ORCA will require many Washington communities to offer expanded organics collection in the coming years.
Washington is taking a major step toward reducing the amount of organic waste sent to landfills. Through the Organics Recycling Collection Area (ORCA) requirements, communities across the state will soon offer expanded organic waste collection and processing. These changes are designed to cut climate-warming emissions, strengthen local recycling systems, and create cleaner, more efficient waste practices for everyone.
Here’s what the legislation requires and why it presents new opportunities for cities, counties, and customers.
By April 1, 2027, any city or county located within an ORCA must provide year-round organics collection service to:
This service must be offered at least 26 times per year.
Starting April 1, 2030, the program becomes mandatory for nearly all customers in ORCA areas. Food waste must be allowed in organics containers, or the local government must create another approved method for collecting it.
An important nuance is that ORCA applies city by city, not countywide. Only cities with more than 25,000 residents are required to comply. This means some counties with smaller individual cities will not fall under the legislation.
Organic waste—especially food waste—makes up a large portion of what ends up in landfills. When buried, these materials decompose without oxygen and create methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide.
By collecting and processing organic materials through composting or anaerobic digestion, communities can:
When done well, organics collection is one of the most effective tools communities have to reduce waste and improve environmental outcomes. And because Washington has set a goal to remove 75% of organic materials from landfills by 2030, these programs will play an important role in meeting statewide climate and waste-reduction goals.
While the benefits are clear, many cities will need to make significant updates to their current systems. Some communities already offer yard waste service but do not allow food waste because their processors aren’t permitted to handle it. Others lack the infrastructure, education programs, monitoring tools, or data systems needed to make organics collection successful.
This is the gap ORCA is designed to close, and where the right support becomes essential.
Resource Synergy works with cities, counties, and public agencies to prepare for ORCA requirements and ensure their programs succeed long after launch. Our team helps communities:
We also help communities avoid costly missteps—such as launching programs without adequate processing capacity, underestimating education needs, or relying on systems not designed to handle food waste.
With the right planning and support, ORCA compliance becomes more than a mandate. It becomes an opportunity to modernize local waste systems, reduce environmental impact, and build programs that serve communities for decades to come.
Washington’s organics legislation is a meaningful investment in cleaner air, healthier communities, and more resilient waste systems. While cities and counties will face new requirements, they will also gain new tools and possibilities. And as deadlines approach in 2027 and 2030, Resource Synergy is ready to help communities navigate the transition with confidence.
If you’d like help evaluating your current system or planning for compliance, our team is here to partner with you every step of the way.
