Your Guide to Seattle’s Trash and Recycling Collection Schedule

If you live in Seattle, you know that staying on top of your trash and recycling collection schedule is key to keeping your neighborhood clean. With over 760,000 residents across 145 square miles, Seattle Public Utilities provides garbage, recycling, and compost collection services to ensure the city runs smoothly.

This article will explain everything you need to know about Seattle’s trash and recycling collection schedules, including:

• How to look up your collection day
• What gets collected when
• Holiday schedule changes
• How to report missed collections
• Special item pickup

Looking Up Your Collection Day

The first step to managing your trash and recycling is knowing your assigned collection day. Collection days in Seattle are either Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday depending on your address.

You can easily look up your collection day using Seattle Public Utilities’ online tool here. Simply enter your address and it will display your collection schedule.

You can also call (206) 684-3000 to speak with a representative who can provide your collection day.

What Gets Collected When

On your collection day, Seattle Public Utilities will collect:

• Garbage – All household garbage goes in your black cart. Make sure not to overload it. Lid must be closed.

• Recycling – Clean paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, metal and more go in your blue cart. Check what’s recyclable here.

• Compost – Food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard waste and more go in your green cart. Learn what’s compostable here.

Garbage, recycling, and compost are collected weekly on your scheduled collection day.

Holiday Collection Schedules

Collection services are suspended on major holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Presidents’ Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

If your normal collection day falls on or after a holiday, your pickup will be delayed by one day that week. You can check the updated holiday collection schedule here.

Reporting Missed Collection

If your garbage, recycling, or compost was not collected on your scheduled pickup day, you can report the missed collection by:

• Calling (206) 684-3000
• Using the online form
• Emailing [email protected]

Be sure to include your name, address, and what cart(s) were not collected. Your report will be forwarded to the collection company to return and collect your carts.

Special and Bulky Item Pickup

Seattle residents can request special collection for extra garbage, bulky items like furniture or appliances, electronics, and household hazardous waste not accepted in regular trash.

Special item pickup costs $30 for up to 3 items, and $10 for each additional item. You can request special collection online or call (206) 684-3000.

Your Guide to Seattle Trash Collection

Now you have the inside scoop on Seattle trash and recycling pickups. By looking up your collection day, knowing what goes in each cart, planning for holidays, and reporting issues promptly, you can stay on schedule. Contact Seattle Public Utilities if you have any other questions about waste collection services.