Personal checks no longer accepted at King County solid waste transfer facilities starting Dec. 5

October 21, 2022

Summary

King County’s Solid Waste Division will no longer accept personal checks to pay for disposal services at its transfer stations and drop boxes effective Dec. 5. Customers can continue to use cash, debit card, or credit card, and are encouraged to reduce costs by using facilities with recycling and yard waste disposal services.

Story

King County’s Solid Waste Division will soon join the growing number of businesses and service providers that no longer accept personal checks as payment for services. The new rule goes into effect on Monday, Dec. 5, when cash, credit card, or debit card will be the only accepted forms of payment for waste disposal fees at King County transfer stations and drop boxes.  
 
Most self-haul customers already use cash or card to complete transactions, and there are growing concerns over fraudulent checks being passed. Commercial customers with invoiced business accounts are exempt from the new rule.  

Customers can reduce their disposal costs by pre-sorting loads and using King County facilities that accept recycling and yard waste. There is no fee to recycle many common household items such as cardboard, metal, and glass, and the $16 yard waste disposal fee is lower than the $28.64 fee self-haulers pay for garbage disposal.  

Some residents may be eligible for the CleanupLIFT discount of $14 off the fee to dispose of garbage, yard waste, clean wood, mattresses, and refrigerant-type appliances by presenting a ProviderOne, EBT, or ORCA LIFT discount card upon entering the facility. 

For questions about the rule, please contact the King County Solid Waste Division at 206-477-4466 or 711 TTY Relay.  

RELEVANT LINKS 
King County recycling & transfer stations, drop box facilities
Disposal Fees - solid waste, recycling, unsecured loads, and Cleanup LIFT discount 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: 
Annie Kolb-Nelson, King County Solid Waste Division, 206-477-5373