Disposal Fees - solid waste, recycling, unsecured loads, and Cleanup LIFT discount
2021 disposal fees
Effective Jan. 1, 2021, the per ton fee to dispose of solid waste will increase by $0.30 to $151.63. The minimum fee will remain the same at $25.50. The solid waste fees for charitable organizations will also increase slightly. This increase is due to a rate schedule approved by the King County Board in 2018 that set increases in the moderate risk waste surcharge for the four-year period 2019-2022.
Customers must verify eligibility to use King County recycling and garbage facilities
Beginning June 16, 2021, the King County Solid Waste Division will require customers who come to a King County recycling and garbage facility to show proof they live or do business within King County's 37-city and unincorporated service area, which excludes the cities of Seattle and Milton. Learn more Download PDF 1.75 MB
Self-haul customer safety during COVID-19
King County's Solid Waste Division is following Gov. Jay Inslee's May 13 update to the Washington state mask mandate. Learn more…
Cleanup LIFT Discount
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This discount gives eligible customers $12 off the cost to dispose of each type of waste (garbage, yard waste, clean wood, and refrigerant-type appliances), each visit. Residential customers currently enrolled in ProviderOne, EBT, or ORCA LIFT who haul their garbage and recyclables to a King County recycling and transfer facility are eligible for the discount. To receive the discount, eligible customers need to show their ProviderOne, EBT, or ORCA LIFT card at the facility entrance and exit. (Skykomish Drop Box customers, see details here.)
Note: Residents of the cities of Seattle and Milton are not eligible for this discount; those cities are part of other solid waste systems. The discount is not offered at the City of Seattle's North and South Transfer Stations. The discount does not apply to the charitable organizations fee, special waste fees, or the unsecured load fee. This discount is not available to businesses.
Eligible customers can save money at King County’s recycling and garbage transfer facilities.
Payment methods accepted:
Cash, checks (payable to "KCSWD"), Visa® and MasterCard® (debit/credit)
|
Solid waste fees effective Jan. 1, 2020 |
King County basic fee |
Moderate risk waste surcharge 2 |
WA state refuse tax (3.6%) |
Total |
|
Minimum fee 1 |
$22.53 |
$2.12 |
$0.89 |
$25.50 |
|
Per-ton Fee |
$140.82 |
$5.54 |
$5.27 |
$151.63 |
|
Charitable organizations |
|
|
|
|
|
Minimum fee |
$17.35 |
$2.12 |
$0.70 |
$20.17 |
|
Per-ton fee |
$108.43 |
$5.54 |
$4.10 |
$118.07 |
|
Special waste |
|
|
|
|
|
Minimum fee |
$27.04 |
N/A |
$0.97 |
$28.01 |
|
Per-ton fee |
$169.00 |
N/A |
$6.08 |
$175.08 |
|
Minimum extra handling charge3 |
$31.54 |
N/A |
$1.14 |
$32.68 |
|
Per-ton extra handling charge3 |
$197.00 |
N/A |
$7.09 |
$204.09 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Refrigerant type appliances4 for recycling - limit three per load. No commercial appliances. |
$30.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
$30.00 |
|
Clean wood (untreated) for recycling – separate materials before arriving at the station |
|
|
|
|
|
Minimum fee |
$12.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
$12.00 |
|
Per-ton fee |
$75.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
$75.00 |
|
Yard waste for recycling – separate materials before arriving at the station |
|
|
|
|
|
Minimum fee |
$12.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
$12.00 |
|
Per-ton fee |
$75.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
$75.00 |
|
Unsecured load fee – strictly enforced |
$25 |
N/A |
N/A |
$25 |
1 The total minimum fee is rounded to the nearest $0.25 per King County Code 10.12.030.
2 In 2018 the King County Board of Health, which sets the moderate risk waste surcharge amount that funds hazardous waste programs throughout the county, approved a rate schedule with an increase each year for the four-year period 2019-2022
3 The special waste extra handling charge applies only to special waste, such as asbestos-containing material, that requires special clearances and extra handling for proper disposal. The extra handling fee, which is charged in place of the special waste fee, is intended to more accurately reflect the cost of disposing of these materials.
4 Fee is per refrigerant type appliance. Appliances that contain or contained refrigerants include refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and heat pumps.
Additional information
- Garbage loads: Sedans and hatchbacks pay only the minimum fee. All other vehicles will be weighed in and out, and charged for the actual weight disposed based on the per ton fee, with a minimum fee of $25.50.
- Yard waste or clean wood loads for recycling: The minimum fee covers the first 320 pounds. Sedans and hatchbacks are charged a per entry fee of $12.00. All other vehicles, including station wagons, vans, mini-vans, pickup trucks, recreational vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, and sports utility vehicles, are weighed in and out and charged for actual weight recycled, based on the per-ton fee. Materials must be separated for recycling before arriving at the station.
- Unsecured loads: King County Code 10.12.040 requires a fee to be charged to all vehicles with unsecured loads arriving at any transfer station or landfill in King County. State law (RCW 46.61.655) requires loads to be secured on every street, road or highway in the state. An unsecured load is a load of solid waste that has not been secured with tarps, rope, straps, netting, or chains so as to prevent the covering or any part of the load from becoming loose, detached or leaving the vehicle while the vehicle is moving. Gravity, speed, and weight are not load securing devices.
- Important: Sort it Out: Customers must recycle clean wood (unpainted, untreated lumber and pallets), yard waste, scrap metal, and corrugated cardboard boxes at King County facilities that offer recycling for those materials. There is no fee to recycle scrap metal or corrugated cardboard boxes. Questions? Learn more…
