Seattle, Washington

Recycling centers in Seattle

Find a place for your next drop-off. Compare accepted materials, check hours, and contact a local center before you go.

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Local recycling centers

15 locations

Bow Lake Recycling & Transfer Station

18800 Orillia Rd S Seattle WA 98188 USA

4.2/5(367 reviews)

The Bow Lake Recycling Transfer Station in King County provides recycling services and garbage disposal for residents and businesses within the county's service area, excluding Seattle and Milton. Customers must verify eligibility to use King County recycling and garbage facilities. Accepted materials at the facility include commingled recyclable materials, appliances, mercury-containing light bulbs and tubes, and textiles, which are only accepted during recycle area hours. Vehicles and trailers must adhere to specific length limits, with a maximum of 40 feet allowed at Bow Lake Recycling Transfer Station. It is important to secure your load to avoid a $25 fee for arriving with an unsecured load. The facility also offers various payment methods such as credit card, cash, and Apple Pay. Visitors can sign up for station news and alerts and access downloadable guides for recycling services. Fees vary based on material type and weight, with potential discounts for ProviderOne, EBT, or ORCA LIFT customers. Additionally, the facility consolidates garbage for transport to the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, while yard waste and recyclables are distributed to markets for processing into new products. For more information on recyclability or disposal restrictions, visitors can contact the Solid Waste Information Line or visit the disposal restrictions page on the website.

Commingled recyclable materialsAppliancesMercury-containing light bulbs and tubesTextilesGarbage disposalSecure load requirement+8 more

Listed hours: Mon-Thu Open 24 hours · Fri 12:00 AM – 11:30 PM · Sat-Sun 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

DTG Recycle - Seattle

74 South Hudson Street, Seattle, WA 98134

4.2/5(47 reviews)

DTG Facility in Seattle, WA, formerly known as United Recycling, is a recycling center that focuses on an Earth-first mindset, accepting a variety of materials for recycling. They welcome clean wood, brush, stumps, logs, steel, aluminum, copper, concrete, asphalt, rock, masonry, cardboard, paper, plastic film and rigid, drywall, and other construction and demolition waste excluding prohibited items like commercial and household garbage, liquids, hazardous materials, tires, asbestos, lead paint, and more. They emphasize not accepting any materials regulated by environmental laws and require a Hazardous Materials Survey for demolition waste. The facility operates on specific hours throughout the week, with special procedures for accepting pre-consumer recyclable products. Visitors are reminded that illegal dumping of hazardous substances carries severe penalties. Additionally, DTG offers portable bathroom rentals and roll-off dumpsters for various needs, ensuring clean and comfortable facilities with world-class service.

waste managementrecyclingdumpster rentalsorganicslandscape materials

Listed hours: Mon 5:00 AM – 11:30 PM · Tue-Fri Open 24 hours · Sat 12:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Sun Closed

Accepts: Construction debris, Organic materials, E-waste

Services: Dumpsters · Hauling · Site Services · Organics · E-Waste

What operating waste or recycling activities does Washington Ecology list here?

Washington Ecology's facility spreadsheet lists DTG Recycle Seattle Hudson at this address, with operating activity records for Material Recovery Facility (permitted). Retrieved 2026-10-30. These are the spreadsheet's activity records, not a guarantee of public access or item acceptance.

What permit classifications and reporting requirements does Washington Ecology record?

The matched activity records report Material Recovery Facility (permitted): permit-status field "Permitted"; annual report required Yes; recycling survey required No. Retrieved 2026-10-30. "Exempt", "Recycle Survey" and "Permitted" are separate source classifications; a reporting requirement does not establish that a report has been filed. SiteActivityId identifies an activity record rather than a permit number.

Friendly Earth International, Inc.

1560 1st Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98134

4.6/5(41 reviews)

Friendly Earth International, Inc. is an e-Stewards certified electronics recycler in Seattle, WA. They provide responsible disposal of electronic waste and IT asset disposition services to businesses and individuals.

electronics recyclinge-wastedata destructionpuget soundsustainable disposal

Listed hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Sat-Sun Closed

Accepts: Computers, Monitors, Televisions, Laptops, Printers, Scanners, Phones

Services: e-Waste recycling · Data destruction services · Residential services · Business services

What are the operating hours?

Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Do I need an appointment for large drop-offs?

Yes, for large drop-offs larger than what fits in a standard pickup truck, a prior appointment is required.

Key Works Metal Recycling is the West Seattle buy-back yard of Key Works, a nonprofit recycler whose loads fund work-skills training for people in recovery. The drive-through yard on 16th Avenue SW weighs aluminum, brass, copper, and other non-ferrous metals and pays on the spot, in cash up to the state's limit on non-ferrous purchases and by check above it. Sellers show a valid Washington driver's license. Dishwashers, water heaters, microwaves, laptops, cell phones, circuit boards, and steel and iron under 300 pounds come in free with no payout. The yard refuses cars, engines, catalytic converters, refrigerators, tires, and household batteries. Hours run Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Scrap MetalCopperBrassAluminumAluminum CansAppliances+2 more

Listed hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 am to 5:30 pm

Accepts: Aluminum, Aluminum cans, Brass, Copper, Non-ferrous metals, Ferrous metals, Dishwashers, Water heaters, Microwaves, Laptops, Cell phones, Circuit boards, Flattened cardboard

Services: Drive-through scale · Cash or check payment on weighing · Free drop-off of appliances and electronics · Aluminum can redemption by weight

Does Key Works buy catalytic converters?

No. Catalytic converters, cars, tires, and refrigerators are all on the refused list.

Do I need ID to sell scrap metal at Key Works?

Yes. Sellers need a valid Washington driver's license, and every transaction is recorded on video and in computer data entry.

Living Green Technology - Seattle

3417 Evanston Ave N Suite 224 Seattle WA 98103 USA

4.9/5(230 reviews)

Living Green Technology is an electronics recycler serving Washington and Oregon since 2013, working with both individuals and organizations. Services include electronics recycling, secure data destruction to NIST standards, IT asset recovery, and junk removal. Customers can use drop-off locations or schedule free business pickups; collected devices are recycled or refurbished for resale, and the company sells refurbished electronics as well.

electronics recyclingdata destructionjunk removalrefurbished electronicse-waste disposal

Listed hours: Mon-Tue Closed · Wed-Sun 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Accepts: Electronic waste, Computers, Monitors, Laptops, Data storage devices

Services: Free Electronics Recycling · Secure Data Destruction · Buy Electronics · Sell Electronics · Green Junk Removal · Business Office Furniture Removal

This King County site on Stone Ave N takes household hazardous waste for free from King County residents, including Shoreline. It is the place for lithium-ion, lead-acid, car and rechargeable batteries and oil-based paint.

household hazardous wasteking countybatteriesfree

Listed hours: Sunday to Tuesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Accepts: Household hazardous waste, Alkaline, button, cellphone, laptop, lead-acid, rechargeable and car batteries, Oil-based paints, strippers and thinners

Services: Household hazardous waste drop-off · Battery recycling

Does the North Seattle site charge residents?

No. King County residents drop off household hazardous waste for free.

North Transfer Station

1350 N 34th St Seattle WA 98103 USA

4.4/5(275 reviews)

The North Transfer Station, located in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle, is undergoing construction in 2025 to replace aging compactors, potentially causing longer wait times for customers. The station aims to handle waste efficiently and safely, offering ample recycling opportunities. Visitors can use the "Where Does it Go?" tool to determine proper material disposal. The facility accepts additional items at the Recycling and Reuse Building at no charge. To avoid peak times, it's recommended to visit on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays, as Mondays and weekends are busiest. Commercial garbage trucks frequent the station on weekday afternoons. Payment methods include cash, check, Visa, or MasterCard. Notably, the station does not accept household hazardous waste, directing visitors to the North Household Hazardous Waste facility nearby. The North Transfer Station is committed to improving odor issues, with ongoing reports and updates available for public access.

CardboardGlassPlastics #1&2ElectronicsAppliancesTransfer Station+4 more

Listed hours: Mon-Sun 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Accepts: Bicycles, Flattened cardboard, Scrap metal, Used motor oil and oil filters, Household sharps, Vehicle, rechargeable, alkaline, lithium, and button batteries, Clean, empty, dry glass bottles and jars, Rigid plastics and plastic containers, Cans, Paper

Services: Solid-waste transfer · Recycling and reuse drop-off

What mixed recyclables can be brought to the Recycling and Reuse Building?

Seattle lists clean, empty, and dry glass bottles and jars, rigid plastics, plastic containers, cans, and paper.

Does the Recycling and Reuse Building accept glassware or plastic bags?

No. The city lists glassware, window and mirror glass, plastic bags, Styrofoam, and several other items as not accepted there.

Pacific Iron & Metal

2230 4th Avenue South

Pacific Iron & Metal has bought scrap in Seattle's SoDo district since 1917, and the yard on 4th Avenue South now spans four generations of the family. Commercial accounts include manufacturers, utility companies and other recycling yards, served by a purchasing team that reaches the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and beyond, with a container inventory and dispatch service for pickups. Plumbers, electricians, homeowners and other tradesmen sell here too, and valid ID is required under Washington law. The yard buys aluminum, brass, copper, electric motors, circuit boards and other electronic scrap, lead-acid batteries, stainless steel, zinc and exotic high-temperature metals like Inconel and titanium, plus precious metals. Ferrous loads carry a minimum volume. Appliances, catalytic converters, beer kegs, compressors, CRT monitors, sealed units, fluids and refrigerants are refused.

Scrap MetalCopperBrassAluminumStainless SteelLead+4 more

Listed hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM-3:00 PM; closed Sat and Sun

Accepts: Aluminum, Brass, Copper, Electric motors, Electronic scrap, Exotic and high-temperature metals, Lead, Lead-acid batteries, Stainless steel, Zinc, Iron and steel, Gold, Silver

Services: Public and tradesman scrap buying · Commercial partner accounts · Container and dispatch pickup service · Precious metals buying · Electronic scrap recycling · Price quotes by phone

Does Pacific Iron & Metal buy catalytic converters?

No. Catalytic converters are on the yard's list of items it does not accept, along with appliances, beer kegs, compressors, CRT monitors and sealed units.

Does Pacific Iron & Metal take car batteries?

Yes. Lead-acid batteries, like a car battery, are on the accepted list under lead.

Recology King County MRF

7 South Idaho Street, Seattle, WA 98134

1.9/5(54 reviews)

recycling

Listed hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Sat-Sun Closed

Seattle Computer Recycling

7523 Aurora Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103

4.6/5(37 reviews)

ElectronicsRecycled MaterialsLaptop MemoryClient Services

Listed hours: Mon Closed · Tue-Sat 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Sun Closed

Seattle Iron & Metals Corporation

601 South Myrtle Street

Seattle Iron & Metals Corp. has recycled ferrous and non-ferrous metal since 1922 from its yard on the Duwamish Waterway at 601 South Myrtle Street, with a second location in Spokane. Material arrives by truck, rail car, barge, shipping container, or personal vehicle. The company buys auto bodies, appliances, steel, and tin, along with aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, nickel alloys, titanium, and high-temp alloys. Sellers prepare loads to a written acceptance policy. Cars arrive with fluids drained and tires, batteries, mercury switches, and undeployed air bags removed, and gas tanks torn open to vent fumes. Appliances come without compressors, capacitors, mercury switches, and gases. A hazardous or no-buy item gets the entire load rejected. Mills, foundries, and processors buy the company's sorted finished products.

Scrap MetalCopperBrassAluminumStainless SteelSteel+2 more

Listed hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM-3:30 PM; Sat 8:00 AM-11:30 AM

Accepts: Auto bodies, Appliances, Steel, Tin, Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Stainless steel, Nickel alloys, Titanium, High-temp alloys

Services: Receiving by truck, rail car, barge, and shipping container · Auto body and appliance buying · Ferrous and non-ferrous scrap buying · Sorted scrap sales to mills and foundries

Does Seattle Iron & Metals buy cars?

Yes, as auto bodies. Fluids must be drained and tires, batteries, mercury switches, and undeployed air bags removed, with gas tanks torn open to vent fumes.

How does material reach Seattle Iron & Metals?

The yard receives scrap by truck, rail car, barge, shipping container, and personal vehicle.

Sibelco Seattle (formerly Strategic Materials - Seattle)

5801 E Marginal Way S, Building 14, Seattle, WA 98134, USA

4.7/5(10 reviews)

Sibelco Seattle industrial glass recycling facility, formerly listed as Strategic Materials. Sources describe industrial and municipal glass streams but do not establish public drop-off or walk-in hours.

Glass recyclingIndustrial recycling

Listed hours: Mon-Fri 6:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Sat-Sun Closed

South Transfer Station - Seattle

130 S Kenyon St Seattle WA 98108 USA

4.4/5(227 reviews)

The South Transfer Station in Seattle manages waste collection and disposal services for residents and businesses. at 130 South Kenyon Street, it includes amenities for efficient waste disposal and recycling.

Household wasteRecyclablesCompostable materialstransfer stationwaste disposalrecycling+2 more

Listed hours: Mon-Sun 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Accepts: Household waste, Recyclables, Compostable materials

Services: Waste disposal · Recycling services · Composting

What are the hours of operation?

The South Transfer Station is open 8 AM - 5:30 PM, seven days a week, except for holidays.

How can I pay for my disposal fees?

You can pay with cash, check, or credit card.

The Recycling Depot

6004 Corson Ave S Seattle WA 98108 USA

4.5/5(11 reviews)

recycling

Listed hours: Mon-Sun 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

What legal entity and business structure are recorded in Seattle’s license directory?

The active Business License Tax Certificate dataset records trade name THE RECYCLING DEPOT, legal entity THE RECYCLING DEPOT INC, ownership type Corporation, and city account 0000265250032941 at this address. Checked 2026-10-30. This identifies the business-license entity and structure; it does not name the LLC's members, establish beneficial ownership or prove ownership of the property.

What OSHA inspection-case history is recorded for this location?

The DOL/OSHA national download dated 2026-10-30 links 1 inspection-case record to this establishment’s normalized name and physical street, city and state. Recorded cases: Case 316735158, recorded establishment THE RECYCLING DEPOT, INC., opened 2013-03-21; source type Planned; source scope Complete; case-closed date 2013-09-16. Report: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=316735158 An inspection-case record does not itself establish a citation, accident outcome or current safety rating; some scopes can be records-only or no inspection. Historical records may concern prior operators. Checked 2026-10-31.

West Seattle Recycling

3881 16th Ave SW Seattle WA 98106 USA

4.5/5(119 reviews)

West Seattle Recycling is a reputable recycling center in Seattle, providing exceptional service since 1979. They offer a buy-back drop-off service where visitors can bring in recyclables between 9 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Saturday, and get paid in cash or check. The center accepts a variety of materials such as aluminum cans, copper, brass, radiators, stainless steel, insulated wire, newspapers, high-grade paper, car batteries, steel, and iron weighing a minimum of 300 lbs. They also provide commercial paper collection services for industrial recyclable materials. Visitors are advised to sort materials and ensure they are free of contaminants. Materials like cardboard, mixed paper, junk mail, phone books, catalogs, tin cans, and steel under 300 lbs are accepted but not paid for. The center does not accept certain materials and recommends using transfer stations or hazardous waste facilities for those items. Customers can check the latest prices by calling or visiting the website.

Aluminum CansCopperBrassRadiatorsStainless SteelInsulated Wire+14 more

Listed hours: Mon-Sat 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM · Sun Closed

What operating waste or recycling activities does Washington Ecology list here?

Washington Ecology's facility spreadsheet lists West Seattle Recycling Center at this address, with operating activity records for Material Recovery Facility (exempt). Retrieved 2026-10-30. These are the spreadsheet's activity records, not a guarantee of public access or item acceptance.

What permit classifications and reporting requirements does Washington Ecology record?

The matched activity records report Material Recovery Facility (exempt): permit-status field "Exempt"; annual report required Yes; recycling survey required No. Retrieved 2026-10-30. "Exempt", "Recycle Survey" and "Permitted" are separate source classifications; a reporting requirement does not establish that a report has been filed. SiteActivityId identifies an activity record rather than a permit number.

Materials Accepted in Seattle

Based on the listings above, materials commonly handled in Seattle include Appliances, recycling, Copper, Brass, Scrap Metal. Browse the guides below for preparation tips, scrap values, and what's recyclable.

Recycling in Seattle, Washington

Seattle Public Utilities runs one of the strictest residential waste systems in the country: food and yard waste service is mandatory for every home and business in the city, and compostable material and recyclables have been banned from the garbage since 2015. Curbside recycling accepts paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and containers, glass bottles and jars, and metal cans, all sorted loose in a single cart with no bags allowed. Multi-family properties that keep tossing recyclables or food scraps in the trash can be tagged with warnings and hit with fees. Washington state has no bottle deposit law, so redemption isn't part of the local routine the way it is in Oregon or California.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you put in curbside recycling in Seattle?

Seattle Public Utilities asks residents to focus on five core categories: paper (office paper, newspaper, magazines), cardboard (paperboard and corrugated boxes), plastic bottles, containers, and tubs, glass bottles and jars, and metal cans (aluminum, tin, and steel, plus scrap metal). Everything needs to go in loose, never bagged, and should be empty, clean, and dry, since food residue and liquids can contaminate an entire load. When you're unsure about a specific item, SPU points residents to its 'Where Does It Go?' lookup tool rather than guessing.

Does Seattle recycling accept glass?

Yes, glass bottles and jars are one of the five accepted categories in Seattle's curbside recycling cart, collected alongside paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal. Broken glass and lightbulbs are handled differently: SPU warns that broken glass is sharp and CFL bulbs contain mercury, so those should not go in with regular recycling. Intact bottles and jars, rinsed and dry, are fine for the cart.

Is composting mandatory in Seattle?

Yes. Food and yard waste service has been required for every household of 1 to 4 units since 2012, and since 2015 Seattle bans compostable paper, food-soiled items like pizza boxes, napkins and paper towels, and yard debris such as leaves and grass clippings from the garbage entirely. Apartments and condos must also provide food and yard waste service to residents, and SPU issues warning tags for containers that mix in recyclables or compostables, with a $50 fee possible on the waste bill after two warnings.

Where can Seattle residents take household hazardous waste and electronics?

Household hazardous waste in Seattle is handled through King County's program, with a disposal facility at the Factoria Transfer Station (Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) plus a home collection option. Electronics such as TVs, computers, laptops, monitors, tablets, e-readers, and portable DVD players can be recycled for free through the statewide E-Cycle Washington program; residents look up a drop-off location by address or zip code through the E-Cycle Washington site.

What are Seattle's transfer stations, and does Washington have a bottle deposit?

Seattle operates two City-run transfer stations for waste and recycling drop-off: the North Transfer Station in the Wallingford neighborhood, and the South Transfer Station at 130 South Kenyon Street. For large or awkward items that don't fit in home carts, SPU also offers Special Item Pickup, with one free pickup per year and a $5 charge for additional pickups. Washington state has no bottle deposit or container redemption law, unlike Oregon, so there's no cash-back incentive built into curbside recycling here.

Recycling tips for Seattle

  • •Keep recyclables loose in the cart. Seattle Public Utilities explicitly asks residents not to bag recyclables or bundle them in plastic bags or wrap, even if it seems tidier.
  • •Rinse containers before recycling them. SPU changed its guidance from 'good enough if mostly empty' to requiring items be empty, clean, and dry, since leftover food can mold and ruin a whole batch of recyclables.
  • •Don't skip the compost cart. Seattle has required food and yard waste service since 2012 and banned compostables from the garbage since 2015, so sorting food scraps and yard debris into the compost bin isn't optional here.
  • •Use Special Item Pickup for bulky items instead of leaving them at the curb. Seattle residents get one free pickup a year for large or hard-to-dispose-of items, with a $5 fee for extra pickups.
  • •Handle household hazardous waste and electronics separately from curbside pickup. Route paints, chemicals, and batteries to King County's hazardous waste facility at Factoria Transfer Station, and take TVs, computers, and monitors to a free E-Cycle Washington drop-off location.

Recycling centers near Seattle

The closest recycling centers in neighboring areas:

Recycling centers in nearby cities

Browse recycling centers in other Washington cities:

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