Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Martha Lake
Washington state municipal collections operate on weekly zone-based routes. Specific days are determined by your Organics Recycling Collection Area (ORCA).
State Mandate
Comply with the WA Organics Management Law. E-waste and hazardous materials are strictly prohibited.
Grey Bin (Trash)
All trash should be bagged and fit inside the cart with the lid completely closed. Place at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with wheels facing your home.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Pet waste (double-bagged)
- ✓Diapers
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be loose (never bagged) and placed directly into the cart. Ensure all containers are Empty, Clean, and Dry before disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, unwaxed cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (lids removed)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food residue
- ✕Scrap metal
- ✕Needles or medical waste
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags. Cart weight limits apply. Excess yard waste can be placed next to the cart in heavy-duty kraft paper yard bags for an additional fee.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and branches
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, vegetables)
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
- ✓Food-soiled paper towels and pizza boxes
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On demand (requires scheduling)
Placement
Once scheduled, place your bulky items at the curb no earlier than 24 hours before your agreed-upon collection date to avoid code violations.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and large chairs
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances (non-freon)
- ✓ Oversized household junk
Not Accepted
- ✕ 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.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after an observed holiday, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday collections move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard and food waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage and recycling.
Waste Management Northwest only observes these three major holidays. Your schedule will not change for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, or Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Return Plastic Bags to the Store
Flimsy plastic bags and stretch wrap are the worst contaminants in the recycling stream. Never bag your recyclables, and take your grocery bags back to local retail drop-off bins instead of putting them in your blue cart.
Keep Pet Waste Out of Compost
While food scraps are welcome in the green yard waste bin, pet waste and kitty litter are strictly prohibited. These carry pathogens that ruin the compost pile; they must be double-bagged and placed in the garbage.
Remove Lids from Glass Jars
While glass bottles and jars are perfectly fine to recycle in Martha Lake, the metal lids can cause issues. Remove lids and throw them in the regular garbage before placing the glass in your recycling bin.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to FebruaryDuring South Snohomish County snow and ice events, Waste Management may suspend routes for safety. If your collection is missed due to weather, a double load will typically be collected on your next scheduled service day at no extra charge. Check the WM Service Alerts page online.
Fall
October to NovemberAutumn winds and heavy rain bring down branches and leaves. Cut large branches to fit loosely in your 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 is prime time for home improvement. Remember that construction and demolition debris, such as drywall, concrete, and heavy lumber, cannot go in standard curbside bins and must be hauled to a county transfer station.
About Martha Lake Waste Management
Reliable Waste Management for Martha Lake
As a growing unincorporated community in Snohomish County, Martha Lake relies on Waste Management Northwest to maintain its clean, suburban environment. Curbside garbage, recycling, and optional yard waste collections keep neighborhoods running smoothly. To guarantee your bins are emptied, place them at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. It is essential to leave a three-foot clearance around each cart, including space away from cars, trees, and mailboxes, so the automated truck arms can safely grasp and lift them.
Mastering the Empty, Clean, Dry Rule
Snohomish County enforces strict recycling standards to reduce contamination at local Material Recovery Facilities. Residents of Martha Lake using the blue recycling cart must ensure all materials are Empty, Clean, and Dry. This means taking a moment to wipe out peanut butter jars or rinse soda cans before tossing them in. Keep all items loose in the bin—never bag your recyclables, as plastic garbage bags severely jam the sorting equipment and can ruin entire batches of clean paper and cardboard.
Food Scraps and Yard Debris Diversion
Washington State heavily promotes organics diversion to decrease landfill emissions and produce valuable compost. If you subscribe to the green yard waste cart in Martha Lake, you can dispose of more than just grass clippings and branches. Acceptable organics include fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and even meat and dairy scraps. However, pet waste, dirt, rocks, and 'compostable' plastics must go in the regular garbage, as they cannot be processed by the local commercial composting facilities.
Scheduling Bulky Waste Pickups
For large items that do not fit into your standard curbside cart, such as broken furniture, old mattresses, or large appliances, standard pickup will not suffice. Martha Lake residents must contact Waste Management Northwest at least one week in advance to schedule a special bulky item collection for an additional fee. Alternatively, households can save money by hauling their large loads directly to nearby Snohomish County transfer stations, such as the Airport Road facility in Everett or the Southwest facility in Mountlake Terrace.
Safely Disposing of Hazardous Household Chemicals
Household hazardous waste—such as motor oil, oil-based paints, pesticides, and cleaning solvents—poses a serious threat to the Martha Lake environment and must never be dumped in curbside bins or down storm drains. Snohomish County provides a dedicated Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Facility located in Everett, where residents can safely and legally dispose of these toxic materials. Keeping these items out of the regular trash prevents dangerous truck fires and protects local waterways.
Drop-off Facilities
Southwest Recycling & Transfer Station (SWRTS)
21311 61st Pl W, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
Materials Accepted
Snohomish County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off
3434 McDougall Ave, Everett, WA 98201
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides garbage collection in Martha Lake, WA?
Waste Management Northwest is the franchised solid waste hauler for the Martha Lake area and much of unincorporated Snohomish County.
What should I do if my garbage was missed today?
If you placed your bins out by 6:00 a.m. and they were missed, contact Waste Management Northwest directly at 1-800-592-9995 to report the missed pickup and request a recovery.
How are garbage days affected by holidays in Snohomish County?
Waste Management only delays collection for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. For those weeks, service is pushed back one day. All other federal holidays have normal collection schedules.
Where can I recycle old computers and TVs near Martha Lake?
Electronics (e-waste) are banned from the garbage. You must take them to an authorized E-Cycle Washington drop-off location or a participating county transfer station for safe recycling.