Trash, Recycling + Compost Service
Recycling Program News
2021 Recycling Guides
You should have received your 2021 Recycling Guide in the mail during December.
What's new in this year's guide:
- Plant pots are no longer accepted - there are limited markets for the material and they tend to be contaminated with dirt
- Loose plastic lids are no longer accepted - plastic lids should be screwed or snapped back on to containers - loose plastic lids often accidentally get sorted with paper, reducing its value and ability to be recycled
If you didn't receive your guide, email us to request a hard copy to be mailed to you. Please include your mailing address and whether you live in a house or apartment / condo. Email recycle@kirklandwa.gov to request a copy.
Errata: the Single Family guide contained a typo. The rates page is titled "2020" but the rates are correct for 2021. Solid waste rates did not increase for 2021.
Regional Waste News
Give King County Input on Where to Locate a New Transfer Station
In 2020, King County's Solid Waste Division began a process to find a site for a new recycling and transfer station in northeast King County. The new facility will replace the aging and limited Houghton Transfer Station in Kirkland. After considering many locations, King County has selected four possible sites for the new station. Two possible locations are in Kirkland, another on the Kirkland-Redmond border, and the last in Woodinville.
Take King County's survey by Feb. 9 to help them decide which two or three locations to study further in an Environmental Impact Statement.
Statewide Plastic Bag Ban Delayed
Washington State's plastic bag ban was originally intended to take effect at the start of 2021, but Governor Inslee proclaimed a 30-day delay. The State legislature is expected to delay the bag ban for six months or longer. Businesses should continue to follow Kirkland's plastic bag reducation policy until the new state policy takes effect.
Winter Service Alerts
Winter Weather Delays
If Waste Management determines that weather conditions make collection unsafe, they may postpone collection until the following week, when customers can put out twice their regular amount of material. They may also choose to start service later the same day to allow road conditions to improve, but may not have time to collect all materials, in which case missed customers can put out twice their regular amount of material the following week. No credits or refunds will be issued for collection delays due to weather.
Get daily service updates about weather delays at Waste Management's Weatherboard or call Waste Management at 1-800-592-9995.
How to Sign Up for Service Alerts by Phone
If you would like to receive phone alerts about winter weather service delays (may not receive till the afternoon on the day service is cancelled), you can sign up to receive them. If you have received calls from WM in the past, you do not need to do anything. Sign up through the Our Kirkland service portal.
- On the first step, you do not need to provide a location.
- For the issue, go to Garbage/Water/Sewer Billing, then select "I Want to Receive Waste Management Alerts"
- Provide your phone number, service address, and whether you are owner or tenant.
You will be signed up within a week or so, when we next sync our records with Waste Management.
Pandemic Waste Service Updates
Waste Service and Program Updates
Email Us for Recycling Help
City Hall is closed to the public and our Recycling Team is working remotely. We're still answering recycling questions! For the fastest response, please email us your recycling questions. If you call, please leave a voicemail with your address and question, and we will call you back. We monitor the Recycling Hotline during business hours.
City Recycling Drop-Offs Are Closed
The City Hall Recycling Center and community center battery, cell phone, and smoke detector drop-offs are closed.
Request a Free Countertop Food Scrap Pail
We can mail you a Recycling Guide or drop off a countertop food scrap kit on your doorstep. Simply contact us to request a compost pail. Be sure to provide your address (including unit number if at an apartment). We will complete deliveries within a few weeks.
Curbside Bulky Waste Collection Resumed Aug. 3
Waste Management had suspended residential curbside bulky waste collection (ex. large TV’s, couches, mattresses) during the spring and early summer. As of August 3, bulky curbside collection is available again. Note that there is a charge for this service based on the items. More information is available on WM's service alert page.
What Your Recycling Team Does
The Solid Waste Division manages Kirkland's curbside waste collection service, contracted with Waste Management. Kirkland residents and businesses have curbside waste collection service including garbage, recycling, and food + yard waste composting.
We also host special recycling events and drop-off locations. Learn about our community recycling goals and the services we provide to help Kirkland residents and businesses recycle better and reduce their waste.
Recycling is important, but we're also promoting the first two R's - reduce and reuse - so that Kirkland will make less waste. It's better for the environment to make less waste, even if it could be recycled or composted.