Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Cottage Lake
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your street address.
Recycling
Collected every other week on the same day as your regular trash service.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on your regular collection day for enrolled subscribers.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential waste services in Cottage Lake are managed directly by Waste Management (WM) for unincorporated North King County and invoiced every three months.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Grey or Green Bin (Trash)
All regular garbage should be securely bagged to prevent litter and pests. Place the cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with the lid completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter (double-bagged)
- ✓Diapers and cold ashes (bagged)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all items loosely in the blue cart—never bag your recyclables. Ensure all food and beverage containers are Empty, Clean, and Dry. Lids should be removed from glass jars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, unwaxed cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film wrap
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food residue and liquids
- ✕Scrap metal
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags. Layer wet food scraps with dry yard waste or newspaper to minimize odors. Branches must be shorter than 4 feet and less than 4 inches in diameter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves, branches, and brush
- ✓Fruit and vegetable scraps
- ✓Meat, dairy, and bones
- ✓Coffee grounds and food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On demand (requires scheduling)
Placement
Once scheduled, place your bulky items at the curb securely on the morning of your confirmed pickup date to ensure safe right-of-way access.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and large chairs
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances (non-freon)
- ✓ Oversized household junk
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquid paints and solvents
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Automotive batteries
- ✕ Computers and televisions (e-waste)
Extra fees apply for all bulk collections. Contact Waste Management Northwest customer service at 1-800-592-9995 to request a quote and secure a pickup date.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste Management Northwest observes Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your collection day falls on or after a weekday holiday, service is delayed by one day for the remainder of the week (e.g., Thursday customers picked up Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the standard garbage routes.
For all other holidays, including Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day, your trash will be collected on its normal schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to FebruaryCottage Lake's wooded roads make it susceptible to snow and ice delays. During severe winter weather, WM may suspend routes for safety. If this happens, you can leave up to twice as much material at the curb on your next regular collection day at no extra charge.
Fall
October to NovemberAutumn brings heavy leaf drops across King County. Ensure branches are cut down to fit loosely inside the yard waste cart so they don't jam the container. Excess debris can be placed in biodegradable paper bags next to the cart.
Spring
March to MaySpring cleaning often generates extra refuse. Remember that overweight carts will not be serviced by the automated trucks. If you have extra garbage, place it in sealed bags next to your bin (extra fees apply), or schedule a bulk pickup for major cleanouts.
Local Tips & Community Info
Get a Little Extra Cash for Your Cans and Bottles in the Cottage Lake Area!
Hey Cottage Lake neighbors! While Cottage Lake itself might not have a dedicated bottle return center right on its doorstep, don't let those aluminum cans and plastic bottles go to waste. King County, where Cottage Lake is located, participates in Washington's statewide $.10 deposit program. This means you can take eligible beverage containers to redemption centers. A good bet for folks in and around Cottage Lake would be to check out places like the PCC Community Markets in Kirkland or Issaquah, as they often have return machines, or search for 'bottle redemption centers' near Redmond for more options. It’s a simple way to turn your recycling into a few extra bucks!
Give Your Unwanted Stuff a Second Life: Cottage Lake Edition
Thinking about tossing something that's still in decent shape? Before it heads to the landfill, consider donating it to a local charity. For those of us in Cottage Lake, the Eastside Baby Collective in Bellevue is a fantastic option, accepting gently used baby and children's items. You could also check out the Sno-Valley Senior Center's thrift shop in Carnation, which supports local seniors and often has a great selection of clothing, housewares, and books. And if you've got furniture or home goods, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Renton is always looking for donations that help build homes in our community.
Keeping Cottage Lake Tidy: What to Do About Bulky Items & Illegal Dumping
We all want to keep Cottage Lake beautiful! If you have oversized items that don't fit in your regular bins, check with your waste hauler (likely Waste Management for this area) about their specific procedures for bulky waste pickup – sometimes there's a special process or a small fee involved. For anything that looks like illegal dumping, which is a real bummer for everyone, it's best to report it. King County has a hotline and an online form for reporting illegal dumping. You can find the details on the King County Solid Waste Division website. Reporting it helps keep our natural areas clean and safe for all of us to enjoy.
Drop-off Facilities
Houghton Recycling & Transfer Station
11724 60th Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98033
Materials Accepted
Factoria Recycling & Transfer Station (Household Hazardous Waste)
13800 SE 32nd St, Bellevue, WA 98005
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides garbage collection for Cottage Lake, WA?
As a census-designated place in unincorporated King County, residential garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection in Cottage Lake is provided by Waste Management (WM) Northwest.
How do holidays affect my trash pickup in Cottage Lake?
WM Northwest delays service by one day only for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your pickup day falls on or after one of these holidays, service slides to the next day. All other federal holidays operate on a normal schedule.
What happens to my garbage pickup if it snows?
If winter weather and icy roads prevent safe collection, WM may delay or skip service. However, on your next regular collection day, you can set out up to twice as much material at no extra charge.
Can I put food scraps in my yard waste bin?
Yes. Washington State encourages organics diversion. You can put all kitchen food scraps, including meat, dairy, bones, and coffee grounds, directly into your green yard waste cart.