Waste Less & Recycle More at King County Transfer Stations & Drop Boxes
Did you know?
- 70
percent of what we send to the King County Cedar Hills Regional Landfill
could have been reused, recycled, or composted.
- Most
King County transfer stations and drop boxes accept recyclable
materials.
-
Thanks
to a wider range of accepted recyclable materials and an increase in the
number of transfer station customers who keep their recyclable and
compostable materials separate from their garbage, transfer station
recycling is on the rise - up 41% compared to 2015.
If you do not have curbside recycling service or if you have
recyclable or compostable items not accepted in your curbside recycling
program, find out what recyclable and compostable materials are accepted at
each facility by calling King County Solid Waste Division at 206-477-4466 or
selecting the Recycling Services link on these transfer station and drop box
web pages: Bow Lake, Cedar Falls, Enumclaw, Houghton, Renton, Skykomish, Shoreline and Vashon.
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Types of recyclable and compostable materials accepted differ by facility, and many materials can be recycled at no charge. These include: cardboard, paper, metal cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic containers, scrap metal, bikes and bike parts, and textiles. While fees are charged for major appliances, clean wood, and yard waste, those fees are lower than the garbage fee.
Before heading to a transfer station or drop box that offers recycling services, keep your recyclable and compostable materials separate from your garbage, make sure your load is secure, and,
if desired, use the facility web pages to check the length of lines at specific
transfer stations or drop boxes. If you have questions when you arrive, ask staff members, follow the signs that apply to you, and check out the recycling signs near each recycling area or bin.
Enumclaw Transfer Station
Curbside Collection for Recyclable Materials
Curbside collection is the most environmentally sustainable method of collecting recyclable materials; it uses fewer resources by collecting from our entire community, on one single day. If all of your recyclable materials do not fit in your curbside recycling cart, you may place extra bins or bags next to your cart.
 Quick
and Easy Plastic Sorting
One
rule of thumb when deciding if your plastic items are recyclable is: all
bottles, jugs and tubs are recyclable. Rinse them out, remove the lids, and
you're good to go! Remember
to refer to your hauler's recycling guide about other plastics which might be
accepted in your community. Find your city here.
If you have questions
about recycling, contact us or check out the Solid
Waste Division website.
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Countertop Food Waste Collection
There
are many different countertop food waste collection containers available in
stores. If you don't want to buy one, you can use an old plastic container or
paper bag for collection before dumping into your curbside yard waste bin.
Congratulations! You're composting AND reusing something -- double waste
reduction!
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Beyond Tupperware:
Food Storage Techniques to Know
Your produce will stay fresh longer if you store it
thoughtfully! Here are a few tips.
- Onions and garlic should be stored away from
potatoes – they can emit gases and moisture that make the other spoil faster.
Both should be in a cool dark place.
- For longer shelf life, wash produce right before
you plan to eat it. Earlier washing can make it spoil faster in the
refrigerator.
- Wrapping banana stems in a small piece of cling
wrap can help slow down the ripening process.
- Trim the stems of leafy herbs (cilantro,
parsley), and store them upright in the fridge, in a glass of water, covered on
top.
For more fun facts, here is our food
storage guide.
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Repair Café Video
The King County EcoConsumer public outreach program has repair groups and events in King County, where people can bring small household items and clothing. This video is from a recent event in Kirkland, at the Lake Washington Institute of Technology.
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Announcements & Events
Upcoming EcoConsumer repair events include:
The Wastemobile is coming to a city near you to collect household hazardous waste! Here is the schedule of upcoming locations.
King County recently recognized eight schools for their King County Green Schools achievements! This program helps schools and school districts to engage their students and employees in learning about and practicing resource conservation.
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