Garbage, recycling, and compost

Learn about the Algona Transfer Station. Find information on facility hours, accepted materials, fees, and more.

Composting transforms yard debris and food scraps into a valuable soil amendment. It’s one of the best ways to reduce waste, cut garbage costs, and support healthy landscapes. Learn how to create and apply backyard compost, use an onsite commercial container, and more.

Learn about the Bow Lake Recycling & Transfer Station in Tukwila. Find information on facility hours, accepted materials, fees, and more.

Learn how to build a successful construction and demolition (C&D) diversion program, design for disassembly, create a C&D waste management plan, and more.

Learn about King County’s only remaining active landfill. Find information on landfill operations, community meetings, the gas-to-energy facility, and more.

Information on our twice-yearly Cedar Hills community meetings. Find out how to attend meetings, sign up for email notifications, and view meeting notes.

Read the most recent annual reports and environmental monitoring reports for the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill.

King County's circular economy work drives demand for recycled and reused materials. Our aim is to help create a strong regional market for secondary materials. A circular economy promotes investments in local sorting and processing infrastructure, addresses the climate crisis, and ensures everyone in King County has equitable opportunities to thrive.

Learn about mattress recycling in King County. Mattresses contain many recyclable materials like steel, foam, wood, and fabric. Recycling keeps these valuable materials in use and out of the landfill. It also supports green jobs and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. We're working with local businesses to increase mattresses recycling. Our efforts support King County's climate, waste reduction, and equity and social justice goals.

In 2022, over 30% of the waste sent to King County’s Cedar Hills Regional Landfill was organics. Organics are a valuable resource that can be prevented, diverted, or transformed into new products like compost. Recovering these materials is crucial to achieving King County’s climate and waste reduction goals.

In 2019, over 18% of the waste sent to King County’s Cedar Hills Regional Landfill was paper. Paper is a valuable resource that can be recovered from the waste stream and transformed into new products like copy paper.

In 2019, over 10% of the waste sent to King County’s Cedar Hills Regional Landfill was plastics. This significant amount of waste could be reduced through prevention efforts or recovered and turned into new products.

Every year, about 500 buildings in Seattle and over 400 homes in King County are demolished. This creates a large volume of lumber that is often as good as, or even better quality than new lumber. By collecting and reusing this lumber, and scrap lumber from new construction, we can create a more sustainable, circular system. But to do this, we need more regional infrastructure to process salvaged lumber. Learn about our work and resources concerning salvaged lumber.

Learn about ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve energy.

The Solid Waste Division maintains responsibility for 9 closed landfills throughout King County. These landfills are closed to the public except select sites where public activities are compatible with ongoing maintenance. Find information on the landfill locations, monitoring, and staff contacts.

Learn about your business or commercial property’s options for diverting food and yard waste.

Use the compost and topsoil calculator for site development planning.

Learn about our CompostWise Program, which helps public agencies make better use of compost. Find information on applying compost, the King County universal contract, our technical assistance program, and more.

Learn about our CompostWise Program, which helps public agencies use compost more effectively and meet policy goals for purchasing local compost products. Find information on the Compost Procurement Ordinance, applying compost, the King County universal contract, our technical assistance program, and more.

Learn more about our Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan, which sets strategies for managing solid waste over the next 6 to 20 years in King County. It guides the many public and private elements that make up the regional solid waste system.

The Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, King County's primary waste disposal site, is expected to reach capacity within 10–20 years. Once the landfill is full, King County will no longer have a local disposal option, making planning for what comes next critical.

Information on construction and demolition (C&D) disposal and recycling.

Information on recycling and disposal options for construction and demolition (C&D) materials.

Information about designated construction and demolition (C&D) facilities. These facilities accept mixed recyclable C&D or non-recyclable C&D waste from jobsites in King County’s service area.

Find information on the current rates, accepted payment methods, and CleanUp Lift discount at King County solid waste facilities. 

Information about material disposal restrictions at King County solid waste facilities.

Learn about donating food to hunger relief organizations that serve or distribute food to those experiencing limited access. In addition to helping feed members of our community, donating edible food can reduce waste, mitigate climate impacts, and provide cost savings for businesses.

Learn how to recycle electronics in a safe, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective way.

Our elementary programs are available at no charge to schools in King County, outside of the City of Seattle. These programs teach students how to make choices that contribute to a more environmentally sustainable school, community, and planet. Learn about the assemblies and classroom workshops available for the 2024-2025 school year.

Information about composting food and yard waste.

Save time and money by preventing food waste in your home with small, simple changes. Waste less and save more. Courtesy of King County’s Food: Too Good to Waste (FTGTW) program.

Learn effective strategies for reducing food waste.

From Appendix I of the King County 2025 Strategic Climate Action Plan

The King County Green Building Handbook is your guide to increasing efficiency in your next home project. Whether you’re building new, remodeling, or replacing old systems, we have strategies that will help you make healthier, more sustainable, and potentially cost-saving decisions.

The King County Green Building Team developed these resources to help capital project teams meet the requirements of the Green Building Ordinance (GBO). This page provides information and resources related to the Green Building Ordinance and King County Sustainable Infrastructure Scorecard.

Our Green Schools Program focuses on 7 sustainability areas, called benchmarks. Schools and districts can choose to complete projects and receive recognition for benchmarks in any order.

Learn sustainable practices for every stage of planning, building, development, and renovation. Whether you’re painting a room or building your dream home, green building techniques can improve your surroundings and environmental impacts. Find resources for green building certification, building guidance, affordable housing development, and more.

Learn best practices for composting food scraps in King County.

Information on how to report Illegal dump sites in King County.

Junk vehicles damage the environment and often attract illegal dumping. Find information below on how to request our no-cost junk vehicle affidavit service. This service helps you obtain documents that will allow you to legally remove the junk vehicle from your private property.

Our Green Schools Program helps school staff, district staff, and students understand sustainability. We provide tools and guidance for living more sustainably at school, at home, and in the community.

Learn how to meet King County’s post-construction soil standard. These regulations protect healthy soils to better manage stormwater. Permit holders must preserve topsoil, restore soils with compost, and other measures.

Learn about King County’s green building commitments and projects.

Learn effective strategies for composting food scraps and reducing contamination.

Learn about King County Solid Waste Division’s organics regional summits. These ongoing events focus on regional organics planning. Participants work together to address barriers, challenges, and opportunities to increase organics recycling.

An overview of what the Green Schools Program offers including our vision, program benefits, and structure.

Re+ is King County's approach to keeping valuable materials out of the landfill and reducing climate impacts.

King County offers funding opportunities for non-profits, businesses, entrepreneurs, educational institutions, and local governments to support innovative projects that further King County’s commitment to zero waste of resources by 2030.

This spring, we’re accepting applications for the second round of Re+ Circular Economy Grants. The Re+ Circular Economy Grant Program supports projects that minimize waste, keep materials in use longer, and regenerate natural systems. The grant focus areas include waste prevention, reuse, recycling and organics (food and yard waste) recycling.

Learn about our elementary and secondary school programs that explore sustainability, waste reduction, and environmental justice. Our educational services are available at no cost to schools and districts in King County, excluding schools in Seattle and Milton. This includes our activity guides, elementary school assemblies, and hands-on classroom workshops.

While climate change is a global challenge that requires systemic action, individual behaviors can significantly benefit the climate and strengthen communities.

 Aprende sobre cómo reducir, reusar, y reciclar, en King County. 

Learn effective strategies for increasing school recycling and reducing contamination.

Household purchases, including furniture, personal electronics, clothing, toys, and books, contribute approximately five metric tons of CO2 per household per year. Clothing and textiles make up approximately 25% of total goods emissions . One effective approach is to opt for more durable clothing and extend its use. Appropriate disposal is very important; this directory provides guidance.

Please consult a health professional before making significant changes in nutritional habits and diet   Food production accounts for about a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions yet an estimated 38% of the U.S. annual food supply goes to waste. In King County, more than 70,000 tons of edible food are discarded every year, making up most of the organic material going into landfills. To save money, reduce landfill waste, and protect our planet, we can take steps to avoid food waste by purchasing only what we need.

Learn about curbside food and yard waste collection services in King County. 

One of the easiest ways you can help contribute to King County's zero waste future is by choosing reuse and avoiding disposable items. Durable items such as reusable cups, bags, or food serviceware will help reduce the amount of waste you produce and can save you money over time.

Learn about how green schoolyards foster learning and sustainable school systems.

We provide classroom workshops at no charge to middle and high schools in King County, outside of the City of Seattle. Teachers can choose from a variety of 2025-26 workshops that explore current trends in waste reduction and recycling, resource consumption, and sustainability through interactive, hands-on lessons.

There is a $25 fee for vehicles that arrive to our solid waste facilities with an unsecured load.

Service interruptions and important facilities-related bulletins are posted here.

Find studies assessing King County's waste stream and waste practices.

Information on solid waste handling systems rules and regulations. Administrative responsibility for Washington's solid waste systems is divided between state and local jurisdictions.

Learn about our newest transfer station coming to south King County in 2026. The station will serve communities in and around Algona, Auburn, Federal Way, and Pacific.

Use our activity guides to teach your students about reuse, waste reduction and recycling, and natural resource conservation.

Find inspiration and resources for creating a student green team.

  Within King County, our food selections significantly shape our carbon footprint. Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products together contribute roughly 2.8 tons of CO₂e emissions annually. Although these items provide only a modest portion of our calorie intake, they impact our environment disproportionately—not only from the animals themselves but also from the energy-intensive crops grown to feed them. By choosing lower-carbon alternatives, you can reduce household emissions while strengthening our local food systems. For example, increasing your intake of locally produced vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, legumes, and nuts can cut emissions and reduce reliance on fossil-fuel intensive farming practices. Supporting local producers means embracing sustainable agricultural practices that improve soil health and minimize the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Explore green building resources and guidance to help local governments create sustainable communities.

  Sustainable shopping involves making informed, conscientious, and culturally driven decisions about the products we buy and use. By understanding the resources available and the impact of our choices, we can lead more sustainable lives and contribute positively to our communities. One of the key aspects of sustainable shopping is sustainable packaging. Opting for products with minimal, recyclable, or biodegradable packaging helps reduce waste and environmental impact. Before buying new items, explore options like repairing, repurposing, or buying second-hand. When buying new, this guide provides tips for buying more sustainable products, including understanding where items are made, looking for labels that indicate environmentally friendly practices. To reduce consumption-based emissions, it is essential to both consume less and choose lower-carbon alternatives.

Learn how to recycle your textiles with Threadcycle. Find locations that accept used clothes, shoes, linens, and other textiles for reuse or recycling. Even damaged items are recyclable if they're not wet, mildewed, or contaminated.

Find information on our Waste Clearance process, how to apply, and how to renew an existing permit.

Learn effective strategies for reducing school waste.

Discover how everyday consumption and impacts the climate. Learn practical tips for reducing waste and making choices that cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Learn impactful ways to protect local watersheds through water conservation.