Ammunition

Restrictions: Not accepted.

More information: Contact local law enforcement.

Appliances - major

Examples of major appliances include:

• Air conditioners
• Refrigerators
• Freezers
• Dehumidifiers
• Dryers
• Furnaces
• Stoves
• Water heaters
• Washing machines

Restrictions: Not accepted for disposal, except for dishwashers that are made of 50% or more plastic.

How to recycle: Business and residential customers can recycle major appliances at the Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Factoria, Shoreline, and Vashon transfer stations.

More information: Visit the appliances section of the What do I do with…? website or call 206-477-4466 for more disposal options.

Batteries

Restrictions: These types of batteries are not accepted:

• Rechargeable batteries including motor vehicle, lead acid and other types
• Button batteries

More information: For acceptance restrictions and disposal locations, visit the Hazardous Waste Management Program or call 206-296-4692.

Visit the batteries section of the What do I do with...? website or call 206-477-4466 for more disposal options.

Bulky and dense items

Items greater than 2 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet that weigh more than 200 pounds, such as:

• Concrete blocks
• Safes
• Wood stoves
• Stumps

Restrictions: Not accepted unless approved through Waste Clearance.

More information: Visit Waste Clearance or call 206-477-4466.

Cable, wire, and wire rope

Materials include plastic-coated items and barbed wire.

Restrictions: Not accepted unless approved for disposal through Waste Clearance.

May be recycled at Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Factoria, Houghton, Shoreline, and Vashon, where metal recycling is available. Lengths longer than 3 feet must be coiled and secured with ¾ inch steel banding in at least 8 places.

More information: Approval through Waste Clearance may be possible. Visit Waste Clearance or call 206-477-4466.

Cell phones and tablets

Restrictions: Not accepted.

More information: Visit electronics recycling or call 206-477-4466 for recycling options.

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste

Construction and demolition (C&D) materials include:

• Asphalt
• Carpet and carpet padding
• Concrete
• Drywall
• Insulation
• Masonry
• Packaging materials
• Roofing
• Siding
• Structural metal
• Wire
• Wood

As well as other materials that result from construction, remodeling, repair or demolition of buildings and other structures.

Restrictions: Not accepted from vehicles with hydraulic/mechanized dump beds or dump trailers unless the C&D waste makes up less than 20% of the load.

Vashon Island - not accepted unless approved for disposal through Waste Clearance.

Accepted loads of C&D waste must comply with all other disposal restrictions, including:

• no asbestos-containing waste
• no hazardous waste
• no materials that are burning or smoldering
• No dusty or odorous materials
• No bulky or over-length materials

More information: Visit C&D disposal or call 206-477-4466 for more options.

Cremated remains

Restrictions: Not accepted.

Dirt and soil - uncontaminated

Restrictions: Maximum one pickup truckload full. You must control dust while unloading. Light and sandy soils may require wetting.

More Information: Visit the landscaping and land clearing section of the What do I do with…? website or call 206-477-4466 for more options.

Dusty loads

Restrictions: Not accepted unless contained in plastic bags or wetted to the extent that they don’t become airborne when unloaded. Materials include:

• Sheetrock dust
• Insulation
• Silicon dust
• Sawdust
• Fiberglass dust
• Any other load that may become airborne when unloaded

Dusty loads you cannot control during disposal require approval through Waste Clearance.

More information: Visit Waste Clearance or call 206-477-4466.

Explosives

Restrictions: Fireworks, detonators, blasting caps, gunpowder, and ammunition are not accepted.

More information: Contact local law enforcement for disposal options.

Fire extinguishers

Restrictions: Fire extinguishers are not accepted for disposal if full or partially full. Fire extinguishers are not accepted for recycling.

Business fire extinguisher waste must be approved for disposal through Waste Clearance.

More information: Visit the Hazardous Waste Management Program or call 206-296-4692 for acceptance restrictions and hazardous waste disposal locations..

Businesses: Visit Waste Clearance or call 206-477-4466.

Flares - marine and roadside

Restrictions: Not accepted for disposal.

More information: For acceptance restrictions and disposal locations, visit the Hazardous Waste Management Program or call 206-296-4692.

Fluorescent lights and other mercury-containing bulbs and tubes

Restrictions: Not accepted for disposal. Recycling is available at Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Factoria, Shoreline, and Vashon transfer stations.

• Limit: 10 per vehicle per day
• No tubes longer than 8 feet
• Seal broken bulbs in a bag or box
• Incandescent, halogen, and LED bulbs are not accepted

More information: Visit the fluorescent lights section of the What do I do with…? website or call 206-477-4466 for more options.

For acceptance restrictions and disposal locations, visit the Hazardous Waste Management Program or call 206-296-4692.

Hazardous and dangerous waste

Materials are usually labeled Caution, Danger, Poison, or Warning and are hazardous to human health or the environment. Also includes materials generated by businesses who are responsible for designating their wastes.

Restrictions: Not accepted, unless the waste is designated as Washington State Special Waste and is approved for disposal through both the Health Department Waste Screening Program and through Waste Clearance.

More information: Visit Waste Clearance or call 206-477-4466. Visit the Hazardous Waste Management Program or call 206-296-4692 for information on managing hazardous and dangerous waste.

Household hazardous waste

Materials are usually labeled Caution, Warning, Danger, or Poison. Examples include:

• Many cleaning agents
• Pesticides
• Solvents
• Wood preservatives
• Motor fuels
• Crankcase oil
• Flares
• Chemicals used for home repairs

Restrictions: Not accepted.

More information: Visit the Hazardous Waste Management Program or call 206-296-4692 for acceptance restrictions and hazardous waste drop-off locations.

Liquids

Restrictions: Liquids must be sealed in a container. The total quantity cannot exceed 1 case or 5 gallons per visit. Larger quantities need approval for disposal through Waste Clearance.

More information: For larger quantities, contact Waste Clearance or call 206-477-4466.

Medicines

Restrictions: Unwanted, leftover, or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications are not accepted for disposal. That includes:

• Drugs
• Pharmaceuticals
• Controlled substances
• Anesthetics
• Antibiotics
• Antiseptics
• Balms
• Pills
• Capsules
• Ointments,
• Salves
• Sedatives
• Serums
• Tablets
• Tinctures
• Tonics
• Vaccines

More information: Visit Med Project for disposal options.

Metal scrap

Metal scrap includes ferrous and nonferrous metal items that are 50% or more metal, such as:

• Chain link and wire fencing
• Lawn furniture
• Aluminum window frames
• Screen doors
• Siding
• Small appliances such as blenders
• Microwaves
• Irons
• Plumbing parts
• Metal pipes without insultation
• Tire rims
• Barbeque grills
• Gutters
• Lawnmowers

Restrictions: Metal scrap is not accepted in the garbage at transfer stations that provide recycling, including:  Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Factoria, Houghton, Shoreline, and Vashon transfer stations.

All metal containers must be empty, and all fluids and batteries removed.

Metal items that are not accepted:

• Paint cans
• Sealed drums
• Pressurized containers
• Metal in concrete
• Ammunition and shell casings

More information: For metal wire and rope, please refer to the cable, wire, and wire rope section above. For more options, visit the What do I do with…? website, call 206-477-4466. Call 206-296-4692 for acceptance restrictions and hazardous waste disposal locations.

Motor vehicles and major vehicle parts

Restrictions: Vehicles that have Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) and parts like engine blocks are not accepted.

Metal truck canopies must be recycled at the Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Factoria, Houghton, Shoreline, and Vashon transfer stations.

More information: Visit the vehicles and vehicle-related items section of the What do I do with…? website or call 206-477-4466.

Oil filters

Restrictions: Not accepted unless drained for 24 hours or have been crushed and drained.

More information: For acceptance restrictions and disposal locations, visit the Hazardous Waste Management Program or call 206-296-4692.

Overlength items

Restrictions: Items over 8 feet in length that are rigid need approval from Waste Clearance for disposal.

More information: Visit Waste Clearance or call 206-477-4466.

Pesticides

Restrictions: Not accepted.

More information: For acceptance restrictions and disposal locations, visit the Hazardous Waste Management Program or call 206-296-4692.

Propane tanks and other tanks with compressed gasses

Restrictions: Tanks must meet the following conditions for acceptance: 

• The tank is completely empty
• The tank is 2 gallons or less (helium tanks - 5 gallons or less)

More information: For acceptance restrictions and disposal locations, visit the Hazardous Waste Management Program or call 206-296-4692.

For other options visit the propane tanks section of the What do I do with…? website or call 206-477-4466.

Recreational vehicles (RVs)

Restrictions: Vehicles like boats, campers, and travel trailers are not accepted without approval through Waste Clearance.

More information: Visit Waste Clearance or call 206-477-4466.

Sharps

Restrictions: Residential (home-generated) sharps are accepted in designated kiosks at Bow Lake, Factoria, Shoreline, and Vashon. Limit of two containers per visit (max. size 1.5 quarts). Sharps must be containerized and fully sealed in puncture resistant, secured leak-resistant containers labeled "Sharps."

Non-residential sharps (generated by businesses and other non-residential entities) are accepted at Vashon in designated sharps kiosks. They must be containerized and fully sealed in puncture-proof and leak-resistant plastic containers labeled "Sharps." Non-residential sharps at other stations require approval for disposal through Waste Clearance.

More information: Visit Waste Clearance or call 206-477-4466. For more options visit the medical waste section of the What do I do with…? website.

Televisions

Restrictions: Not accepted.

More information: Visit the electronics recycling page for disposal options.

Truck canopies

Restrictions: Metal canopies must be recycled at Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Factoria, Shoreline, and Vashon, where recycling is available.

More information: For more options, visit the What do I do with…? website or call 206-477-4466.

Wood - treated

Treated wood includes wood that has been painted, stained, or preserved with creosote or arsenic.

Restrictions:

• Treated wood is not accepted from businesses.
• Residential customers may dispose of treated wood that is 8 feet in length or less.

More information: Visit the construction and demolition section of the What do I do with…? website or call 206-477-4466.