Disposal Fees - solid waste, recycling, unsecured loads, and Cleanup LIFT discount

Correcting Misinformation about transfer stations

The King County Solid Waste Division is aware of a flyer with incorrect information that is being distributed to neighbors living near our transfer stations and drop boxes. While it is true that the Solid Waste Division has decided to halt weekend disposal operations at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill beginning July 2021, this action is not expected to impact our transfer station neighbors. The change is being made in response to the fact that the Solid Waste Division receives about two-thirds less garbage at transfer stations on the weekends than it does during the week.

This change may result in some additional garbage being stored in trailers at transfer stations on weekends or at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill and follows a normal practice the Solid Waste Division has used for many years with very few impacts to our neighbors.

We are committed to being good neighbors and we ask that you call us at 206-477-4466 to report concerns or complaints so we can investigate and correct any problems.

Self-haul customer safety during COVID-19

In adherence to Gov. Jay Inslee's statewide mask mandate external link , the King County Solid Waste Division requires all self-haul customers visiting County recycling and garbage transfer stations to wear masks/face coverings to protect the public health of customers and employees, and to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Solid Waste Division will make masks available to any customer who needs one, and customers who do not wear masks or face coverings will not be allowed to dispose of their waste or recycling at a King County facility.

King County does not accept waste from jurisdictions outside our service area.

All customers must show proof they live within King County's service area

Means of verifying residence include: government-issued ID, vehicle registration, utility bill, or rental agreement. Residents of Seattle and Milton will not be allowed at King County facilities because they are outside the service area. Seattle residents may use the household hazardous waste drop-off services at the Factoria Recycling & Transfer Station in Bellevue.

Self-haul customers should expect lines and possible service delays up to two hours due to social distancing measures in place at the transfer stations. Check the line at your nearest station in real time.

We also ask self-haul customers to:

Pay with a card rather than cash
If paying by cash, please use exact change. There is currently a national coin shortage, making it increasingly difficult to provide change for customers
Stay in their vehicle while waiting at the scales
Stay at least six feet from other customers and employees

If you are sick or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or if someone in your household is, do not visit our facilities.

Thank you for doing your part to protect public health and safety, and for your patience during this unprecedented time.

For questions about COVID-19, visit kingcounty.gov/covid, view Service changes because of COVID-19 and subscribe to the Public Health Insider blog.

Cleanup LIFT Discount

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 (Covers up to 320 pounds)	$22.53	$2.01	$0.89	$25.50
Per-ton Fee	$140.82	$5.25	$5.26	$151.33
Charitable organizations (To qualify for this fee, charitable organizations must meet the criteria as defined in King County Code, Title 10. Solid Waste, Chapter 10.04.020. )
Minimum fee	$17.35	$2.01	$0.70	$20.06
Per-ton fee	$108.43	$5.25	$4.09	$117.77
Special waste (With Waste Clearance only)
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
Recycling fees
Refrigerant type appliances⁴ for recycling - limit three per load. No commercial appliances. (Accepted at Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Factoria, Shoreline and Vashon only. Must be recycled at these facilities.)	$30.00	N/A	N/A	$30.00
Clean wood (untreated) for recycling – separate materials before arriving at the station (Accepted at Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Factoria and Shoreline only. Must be recycled at these facilities)
Minimum fee (Covers up to 320 pounds)	$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 (Accepted at Bow Lake, Cedar Falls, Enumclaw, Factoria, Shoreline and Vashon only. Must be recycled at these facilities.)
Minimum fee (Covers up to 320 pounds)	$12.00	N/A	N/A	$12.00
Per-ton fee	$75.00	N/A	N/A	$75.00
Unsecured load fee – strictly enforced Visit the Secure Your Load page for more information about how to properly secure your load.	$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…

Contact Us

Send us an email

Call: 206-477-4466

TTY Relay: 711

Fax: 206-296-0197

King County Solid Waste Division mission: Waste Prevention, Resource Recovery, Waste Disposal