Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Mountlake Terrace
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 (varies by standard WM cart) Bin (Trash)
Please bag all garbage before placing it in the cart. Double bag messy items like pet waste, sawdust, and cold ashes. The cart must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. with the lid completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam and foam packaging
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter (double-bagged)
- ✓Diapers and cold ashes (double-bagged)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All items must be empty, clean, and loose. Do not bag recyclables or nest items inside boxes. Give food containers a quick rinse.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, unwaxed cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film wrap
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food residue and liquids
- ✕Glass (check local drop-off options or specific WM route rules)
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags. Layer food scraps with yard waste to absorb liquids. Extra yard waste can be placed in 35-gallon cans labeled 'Yard', paper leaf bags, or tied in bundles (4'x2' limit).
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves, branches, and brush
- ✓Fruit and vegetable scraps
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
- ✓Approved compostable bags for kitchen scraps
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On demand (requires scheduling)
Placement
Schedule your bulky item collection with WM customer service. Place approved items at the curb only on your confirmed special pickup date.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Household appliances
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Building materials (within limits)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Liquid household hazardous waste
- ✕ Oil-based paints and solvents
- ✕ Chemicals and pesticides
- ✕ Propane tanks
- ✕ Automobile fluids
Special arrangements and additional fees apply for all bulky item collections. You must contact WM Customer Service at 1-800-592-9995 to receive a quote and finalize your schedule.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
WM 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.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling follow the exact same one-day delay schedule as regular garbage for the three major winter holidays.
Garbage collection will not take place on July 4th (a double load is collected on the next scheduled day). Recycling and yard debris services occur as normal on July 4th.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Recycling and Compost
Flimsy plastic bags and stretch wrap are the worst contaminants for both recycling and composting facilities. Never bag your recyclables, and do not use plastic bags for your kitchen food scraps. Use approved compostable bags or brown paper bags for organics instead.
Double Bag Messy Trash Items
To keep WM drivers safe and prevent messy spills in your neighborhood, always double-bag items like pet waste, kitty litter, vacuum dust, sawdust, and cold fireplace ashes before putting them in your standard garbage cart.
No 'Compostable' Serviceware
Even if a cup or utensil is labeled 'compostable,' it should not go in your Mountlake Terrace green yard waste cart. The commercial composting facilities that process Snohomish County organics cannot break down compostable plastics or serviceware.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to FebruaryDuring heavy Pacific Northwest snowstorms or ice events, Snohomish County collection routes may be delayed for safety. Check the WM Northwest Service Alerts page. If your street is impassable, leave your carts at the curb for recovery when conditions improve.
Summer
JulyRemember the unique July 4th rule: Garbage is not collected on Independence Day, and a double load is picked up on your next service day for free. However, your recycling and yard waste will still be picked up on July 4th as normal.
Fall
October to NovemberAutumn brings heavy leaf drops. If you exceed your yard waste cart's capacity, you can place extra leaves in Kraft paper yard bags, 35-gallon cans labeled 'Yard', or tie branches with natural twine (up to 4'x2'). Extra fees may apply.
About Mountlake Terrace Waste Management
WM Northwest Solid Waste Collection for Mountlake Terrace
Residents of Mountlake Terrace rely on Waste Management (WM) Northwest for dependable curbside solid waste services. Single-family households receive weekly garbage collection, paired with alternating every-other-week pickups for recycling and food/yard waste. To ensure trucks can efficiently service your neighborhood, all carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Be sure to leave at least three feet of clearance around each bin to allow the automated truck arms to grasp them safely.
Food and Yard Waste Composting Guidelines
Mountlake Terrace participates in a robust organics recycling program, allowing residents to combine yard debris and kitchen food scraps in a single green cart. Acceptable items include fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and yard trimmings. A helpful tip from WM is to layer your wet food scraps with dry yard waste or newspaper to absorb liquids and minimize odors. Never place plastic bags, glass, pet waste, or even 'compostable' serviceware into the yard waste cart, as they contaminate the commercial composting process.
Recycling Right: Empty, Clean, and Loose
Snohomish County emphasizes strict recycling rules to keep contamination rates low at the local Material Recovery Facility (MRF). When using your blue recycling cart, remember the mantra: Empty, Clean, Loose. Give food containers a quick rinse and shake them dry before disposal. Most importantly, do not bag your recyclables. Flimsy plastic bags cause severe jams in sorting machinery; all items must be tossed directly into the cart unbagged.
Handling Extra Waste & Bulky Items
If a weekend project leaves you with more garbage than usual, you can set out extra trash, but be aware that any garbage preventing the cart lid from closing completely will incur an extra charge. For significant household cleanouts involving old mattresses, broken appliances, or building materials, standard curbside pickup is not an option. Residents must schedule a special bulk item collection by calling WM Customer Service directly to receive a quote and arrange a pickup date.
The Unique Independence Day Collection Rule
While Mountlake Terrace follows a standard one-day delay for major winter holidays, the 4th of July operates under a very specific and unique schedule. Garbage collection is completely suspended on Independence Day. Instead, residents can set out a double load of garbage on their next scheduled service day at no additional charge. However, recycling and yard debris routes operate completely normally on July 4th and will be collected as scheduled.
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 trash collection service for Mountlake Terrace, WA?
Waste Management (WM) Northwest is the official residential solid waste service provider for homes in Mountlake Terrace, offering weekly garbage and alternating bi-weekly recycling and yard waste pickups.
How are garbage days affected by holidays in Mountlake Terrace?
WM only delays service by one day for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. For the 4th of July, garbage collection is skipped entirely (with a free double load picked up the next week), but recycling and yard waste are collected normally on July 4th.
Can I put extra garbage bags next to my cart?
Yes, but there is an additional charge for any extra garbage that does not fit inside your primary cart with the lid completely closed. Be sure to bag all standard garbage.
Where can I take large appliances or extra garbage myself?
Mountlake Terrace residents can utilize the Snohomish County Southwest Recycling & Transfer Station (SWRTS) conveniently located at 21311 61st Pl W, Mountlake Terrace, WA to dispose of extra garbage, yard waste, and appliances.