Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Seattle
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.
Black Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the cart with the lid completely closed. Extra garbage set next to the bin incurs a per-unit fee. Carts must be at the curb or alley by 7:00 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene)
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Broken glass and ceramics
- ✓Chip bags and candy wrappers
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected every other week. Never put recyclables in plastic bags; place them loosely into the blue cart. Ensure containers are completely empty and reasonably clean.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
Yard Waste Bin
Mandatory for all residents. Never use plastic bags. If you prefer to bag your kitchen scraps, you must use Cedar Grove-approved compostable bags or plain kraft paper bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins)
- ✓Leaves, grass clippings, and weeds
- ✓Branches and twigs (up to 4 feet long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand by appointment
Placement
Place the scheduled bulk items at your regular collection point (curb or alley) by 7:00 a.m. on the confirmed pickup day. Ensure they do not block sidewalks or driveways.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major appliances (washers, dryers)
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers
Not Accepted
- ✕ Liquid paints and solvents
- ✕ Hazardous household chemicals
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Large quantities of dirt and concrete
Fees are $30 for most furniture and $38 for appliances containing CFCs. Utility Discount Program customers are eligible for up to 2 free pickups per year.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your collection day falls on or after an observed holiday during the week, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Food and yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as garbage and recycling.
SPU only delays citywide for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Normal service occurs on Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, and Veterans Day. MLK Day may have partial route delays due to local union agreements.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Plastic garbage and grocery bags jam the sorting machinery at King County recycling facilities. Always toss your recyclables loosely into the blue bin and take film plastics to local grocery store drop-offs.
Strict Ban on Batteries in Bins
Seattle strictly prohibits household batteries (alkaline and lithium-ion) in any curbside cart because they cause dangerous fires in collection trucks. Use SPU's special item pickup service or local drop-off locations.
Compost Your Greasy Pizza Boxes
Because oil ruins paper fibers, pizza boxes cannot be recycled. Seattle requires that you tear up food-soiled paper and throw it into your green yard waste cart instead.
Seasonal Information
Fall
NovemberTo help manage heavy leaf drop, SPU traditionally offers free extra yard waste collection during the month of November. You can set out extra leaves in paper yard bags next to your green cart.
Winter
Late December - JanuarySPU offers free curbside holiday tree composting. Trees must be cut into sections no longer than 4 feet and placed next to your green cart. Flocked or artificially decorated trees are treated as garbage.
Winter
December - FebruaryIf ice or snow prevents trucks from navigating Seattle's hills, do not leave your bins out indefinitely. Wait for the next scheduled day to put out double the waste at no extra charge.
About Seattle Waste Management
Seattle's Zero Waste Initiative and Three-Cart System
Seattle is a national leader in sustainability, utilizing a rigorous three-cart curbside system managed by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). To meet aggressive landfill diversion goals, the city strictly enforces sorting rules across its black garbage carts, blue biweekly recycling carts, and green weekly organics carts. Fines and non-collection tags can be issued for poorly sorted waste.
Mandatory Composting Since 2015
Unlike many U.S. cities, composting is strictly mandatory in Seattle. Municipal code prohibits residents from throwing food scraps, coffee grounds, and food-soiled paper (like greasy pizza boxes) into the garbage. These materials must go into the green food and yard waste cart to be transformed into nutrient-rich compost for local Pacific Northwest agriculture.
Special Item and Bulky Waste Pickups
Seattle charges a fee for standard curbside bulk item disposal, such as $30 for furniture and $38 for CFC-containing appliances like refrigerators. However, the city is rolling out new benefits: starting in 2026, residents receive one free Special Item Pickup per year, while households enrolled in the Utility Discount Program (UDP) receive up to two free bulky item pickups annually.
Convenient Self-Hauling at SPU Transfer Stations
For residents undertaking large cleanouts or renovations, SPU operates two high-efficiency transfer stations: the North Transfer Station in Wallingford and the South Transfer Station in South Park. Both facilities charge a flat minimum fee (currently $35 for up to 420 lbs of garbage) and require that all incoming loads be safely secured with a tarp to avoid additional fines.
Navigating Seattle's Steep Hills During Winter Storms
Seattle's unique topography combined with winter ice storms can make garbage trucks unsafe to operate on steep hills in neighborhoods like Queen Anne and Capitol Hill. When SPU declares a weather delay, residents are instructed to pull their carts in and can set out double their usual volume on the next regularly scheduled collection day without incurring overage charges.
Drop-off Facilities
North Transfer Station
1350 N 34th St, Seattle, WA 98103
Materials Accepted
South Transfer Station
130 S Kenyon St, Seattle, WA 98108
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to dump at the Seattle North Transfer Station?
The minimum fee for general garbage is $35 per trip, which covers up to 420 pounds. If your load is heavier, the rate is $165 per ton. Clean, separated yard waste has a lower minimum fee of $24.
Does Seattle pick up trash on Memorial Day or the 4th of July?
Yes. SPU does not delay service for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, or Labor Day. The only holidays that cause a citywide one-day delay are Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or sofa in Seattle?
You can request a Special Item Pickup from Seattle Public Utilities by calling 206-684-3000. There is a $30 fee for furniture items. Alternatively, you can haul it yourself to the North or South Transfer Station.