Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Mill Creek East
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 or Green Bin (Trash)
Place the cart at the curb with the lid completely closed. Maintain a 3-foot clearance from cars, trees, mailboxes, and fences, and keep the wheels against the curb.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam packing peanuts and blocks
- ✓Pet waste and diapers (double-bagged)
- ✓Plastic lids and caps
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected weekly. Items must be empty, clean, and placed loosely in the blue cart without using any plastic garbage or grocery bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper, mail, and newspaper
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (unbroken)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam packing
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Plastic lids and caps
Yard Waste Bin
Optional subscription service. Do not put yard waste in plastic bags. Dirt, rocks, and conventional plastics are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, vegetables, bones)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, coffee filters)
- ✓Untreated wood and branches
- ✓Plant trimmings and weeds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-call basis; scheduling and fees apply.
Placement
Do not place bulky items at the curb without an appointment. Place approved items out on your scheduled day, keeping them clear of regular automated carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major household appliances
- ✓ Console televisions
- ✓ Couches and large furniture
- ✓ Certain building materials
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Liquid paint
- ✕ Lithium-ion batteries
- ✕ Loose dirt or rocks
Bulk pickup requires an additional fee. Alternatively, you can self-haul bulk waste to a Snohomish County Transfer Station. Call 800-592-9995 to schedule.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
WM officially observes Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your scheduled collection day falls on or after one of these holidays, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Independence Day (July 4th) only delays garbage service; recycling and yard waste are collected normally.
Your normal collection schedule will not be interrupted by Memorial Day, Labor Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, or Presidents' Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Double Bag Messy Trash
WM explicitly requires that residents double-bag messy items like pet waste, kitty litter, packing peanuts, vacuum dust, and cold ashes. This prevents hazardous dust clouds and fly-away litter when the automated truck dumps the cart.
Leave Glass Lids Off
Unlike some neighboring counties, Snohomish County WM DOES accept glass bottles and jars in the blue recycling cart. However, you must completely remove all metal and plastic lids and throw them into the garbage to prevent them from slipping through the sorting grates.
No Shredded Paper in Recycling
While regular office paper and junk mail are highly recyclable, loose shredded paper is explicitly banned from the blue cart by WM. The tiny pieces blow around the neighborhood and heavily contaminate other valuable material streams at the Cascade Recycling Center.
Seasonal Information
Summer
JulyWM has a highly unique schedule for Independence Day (July 4th) in Snohomish County: Garbage collection is paused and delayed by one day, but recycling and yard waste routes run completely normally on schedule [2.1.3].
Autumn
October to NovemberDuring heavy leaf-drop season, residents with extra yard trimmings that don't fit in the green cart can use heavy paper yard bags, 32-gallon cans labeled 'Yard,' or bundles tied with sisal twine. Extra fees will apply on your utility bill.
Winter
December to FebruaryIf severe Pacific Northwest winter weather, such as snow or ice, causes WM to delay service, real-time alerts will be posted on the WM Service portal. Leave your carts at the curb; drivers will prioritize collection once roads thaw.
About Mill Creek East Waste Management
Unincorporated Snohomish County Services
Because Mill Creek East is an unincorporated community bordering the City of Mill Creek, residential solid waste services are not managed by a localized municipal utility. Instead, Waste Management (WM) Northwest acts as the exclusive franchised hauler for all residential garbage, recycling, and yard waste in this section of South Snohomish County. Residents must set up and manage their accounts directly through WM's regional portal.
The Spatula Clean Rule for Plastics
WM Snohomish County accepts a wide variety of plastics in the curbside blue cart, including plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs. However, to prevent contamination of paper bales, all food tubs (like yogurt or margarine containers) must be completely empty and at least 'spatula clean.' Additionally, all plastic lids, caps, and straws must be completely removed and thrown into the grey garbage cart before recycling.
Food Scraps & Organics Composting
Residents who subscribe to the optional yard waste service can do their part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by composting organic kitchen waste. WM allows residents to toss food scraps—including meat, dairy, bones, and food-soiled paper—directly into the green yard waste cart. Just ensure that no conventional plastic bags, glass, or pet waste contaminate the organic load.
Strict Weight Limits and Robotic Arms
WM operates highly efficient trucks equipped with automated robotic lifting arms. To ensure these arms do not snap and cause safety hazards, strict weight limits are enforced in Mill Creek East. A standard 32-gallon cart cannot exceed 65 pounds, and a large 96-gallon cart cannot exceed 180 pounds. Overweight containers will be tagged and left at the curb until they are lightened.
Snohomish County Transfer Stations
There are no free community-wide bulk waste pickup events in unincorporated Mill Creek East. For large furniture, mattresses, or significant yard clearing debris, residents must either schedule a paid curbside bulk collection with WM or self-haul their waste to a Snohomish County Transfer Station, such as the nearby Southwest Recycling & Transfer Station (SWRTS) in Mountlake Terrace.
Drop-off Facilities
Southwest Recycling & Transfer Station (SWRTS)
21311 61st Pl W, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
Materials Accepted
Snohomish County Household Hazardous Waste Facility
3434 McDougall Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who picks up my trash in Mill Creek East?
Because Mill Creek East is an unincorporated section of Snohomish County, your service is managed directly by the franchised private hauler, Waste Management (WM) Northwest, not the City of Mill Creek.
Can I put glass in my blue recycling bin?
Yes! Unlike some neighboring areas, WM Snohomish County accepts intact glass bottles and jars of all colors in the blue curbside cart. However, you must completely remove all lids and throw them in the trash.
How does July 4th affect my pickup schedule?
WM has a highly unique rule for Independence Day in Snohomish County: Garbage collection is paused and delayed by one day, but recycling and yard waste routes run completely normally as scheduled.
How do I dispose of a bulky couch or mattress?
Since there is no free community-wide bulk pickup in unincorporated Snohomish County, you must call WM at 800-592-9995 to schedule a paid bulky item pickup, or self-haul it to the Southwest Recycling & Transfer Station in Mountlake Terrace.