Recycling, Compost, and Garbage Services
Curbside waste collection services are provided by Waste Management (WM) and include garbage, recycling, and compost.
Solid Waste Guidelines
In Kirkland, garbage carts are green 
, recycle carts are blue 
, and compost (food and yard waste) carts are gray 
.
Food scrap composting available by request for apartments and businesses.
Recycling Beyond the Cart
There are many ways to recycle items not accepted in the curbside recycling cart. Find out more on the recycling beyond the cart webpage.
Utility Rates and Billing
Rates are determined by the size of the garbage container. All residents and businesses in Kirkland must subscribe to waste collection service.
Service information
Find more information on curbside collection of extra materials, holiday schedules, and more.
Recycling Collection Events
We host multiple recycling collection events for materials that do not have other accessible recycling options.
Recycling Collection Events -
The best way to hear about upcoming events is to sign up for our recycling event email reminders.
Sign up for recycling event email reminders
Reducing your waste
Recycling is only one part of responsibly managing the waste from our community. We have waste reduction goals for our community to throw away less garbage
and reduce the amount of waste it produces overall (including recycle and compost). We need your help to make less waste!
Start composting with a free food scrap pail
Composting food instead of throwing it away is a simple change to reduce a household's environmental impact.
When food scraps are placed in the gray compost cart, they are turned into compost in a matter of weeks.
In comparison, food that goes to the landfill decomposes through a different process that releases methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas.
Countertop food scrap containers are available to residents at no cost. You may collect one by going to the Public Works desk located in the upstairs lobby of Kirkland City Hall (123 5th Ave, Kirkland, WA 98033).
Waste less food
The average American family tosses about a quarter of the food they buy — about 1,000 pounds of food per family of four, worth around $1,500!
When food is wasted, all the resources that went into growing and transporting it are also wasted.
Composting wasted food is good, but not wasting food in the first place is even better. Save your family money and help the planet at the same time —
win win! See our tips for eating more of the food you buy.
Bring Your Own (BYO) Reusables
The City encourages community members to help prevent and reduce waste by bringing your own reusable cups, water bottles, containers, napkins, and utensils.
The City has installed water bottle refilling stations at Marina Park, Juanita Beach Park, Peter Kirk Park, and Totem Lake Park. Find a water bottle refilling station location around Kirkland.
Learn more about the Cities partnership with other cities to promote bringing your own cup to coffee shops.
Food Service Sustainability Roadmap
The Lake Washington School District Food Service Sustainability Roadmap (FSSR) is a district-wide, coordinated, systematic approach to reducing food waste, decreasing organic materials (food waste) from going to landfill. The FSSR is meant to help improve food sustainability efforts at every level of the school district.
Click to learn more about the FSSR and read the document.