How Federal Way Handles Trash & Recycling: A Practical Guide

Federal Way maintains 124 local ordinances across all categories, and 9 of those deal specifically with trash & recycling. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Federal Way falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Yard Waste Collection

Federal Way bans mixing yard debris with garbage or recyclables. Only yard debris from residents enrolled in the city's yard debris collection program, separated and set out in approved containers, gets picked up by the city-contracted service provider.

Key details: Governing section: FWRC 11.20.100. Container size limit: 32 gallons max for cans. Plastic bags: Not accepted at curbside. Curbside set-out window: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.. Enforcing office: Public Works Director.

Violating any provision of FWRC Title 11's solid waste division, including the yard debris containerization rule, is unlawful under FWRC 11.20.010. The service provider will simply refuse to collect improperly bagged or mixed yard debris, and repeat problem customers can have collection service suspended or denied under FWRC 11.20.150 for conduct that makes continued service unreasonable or unsafe.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Only service providers holding a current Federal Way service agreement or franchise may collect and haul garbage in the city under FWRC 11.25.020, though residents may self-haul their own waste to an approved site under FWRC 11.25.010.

Key details: Who may collect: Only franchised or contracted service providers. Self-haul option: Allowed to an administrator-approved site. Ancillary exception: Delivery/clean-up businesses hauling their own waste. Registration: Providers need current city business registration. Property access: Providers may enter private property to collect.

Operating as a garbage hauler in Federal Way without a current service agreement or franchise violates FWRC 11.25.020, and, absent a specific penalty in this division, that default is a misdemeanor under FWRC 1.10.010, carrying up to a $1,000 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of unauthorized hauling a separate offense. The city can also inspect a provider's books and records under FWRC 11.25.040 to verify compliance.

Illegal Dumping

Dumping solid waste or source-separated material on any street, public place or private property in Federal Way outside an approved collection container is unlawful under FWRC 11.20.020, punishable as a misdemeanor with up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail.

Key details: Where banned: Streets, public places, and private property. Exception: Material in an approved collection container. Criminal penalty: Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine, 90 days jail. Civil penalty escalation: $100 to $500 per continuing violation. Continuing violation: Each day counts as a separate offense.

Illegal dumping under FWRC 11.20.020 defaults to a misdemeanor under FWRC 1.10.010, with a fine up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, and each day the dumped material remains is a separate offense. The city may instead or additionally pursue civil enforcement under FWRC 1.15.040, with penalties starting at $100 for a first violation and escalating to $500 per continuing or repeat violation, plus recovery of the city's abatement costs.

This is one of the stricter rules in Federal Way's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Recycling Requirements

Federal Way residents place recyclables in service-provider recycling bins or carts at curbside, and those containers must go out before 7:00 a.m. on collection day and come back in by 8:00 p.m. under FWRC 11.20.110.

Key details: Curbside window: Out by 7:00 a.m., in by 8:00 p.m.. Recycling bin: 20-gallon container for nonpaper recyclables. Recycling cart: 35, 64 or 96-gallon cart for paper fiber. Curbside definition: Within 5 feet of street, not blocking access. Ownership: Set-out recyclables belong to the service provider.

The public works director administers and enforces this division under FWRC 11.20.010, and it is unlawful to violate or fail to comply with any provision of the solid waste collection regulations or the director's implementing rules. A general Code violation defaults to a misdemeanor under FWRC 1.10.010, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense.

Collection Schedule

Federal Way requires garbage containers to stay hidden or behind the front building line except on pickup day, and residents cannot set cans at curbside before 7:00 a.m. or leave them out past 8:00 p.m. on collection day under FWRC 11.20.040.

Key details: Earliest set-out: 7:00 a.m. on scheduled collection day. Latest pickup-in: 8:00 p.m. same day. Storage rule: Behind front building line except pickup day. Primary container: Rigid can, micro-can, mini-can or cart required. Bag rule: Plastic bags only for overflow, not primary.

The public works director administers and enforces the solid waste collection regulations under FWRC 11.20.010, and any violation of the division or the director's implementing rules is unlawful. Absent a more specific penalty, a Code violation is a misdemeanor under FWRC 1.10.010, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense.

Recycling Rules

Federal Way requires multifamily, nonresidential and mixed-use occupants to separate recyclables like newspapers, mixed paper, bottles, cans and plastic containers for collection, and multifamily owners must offer as much weekly recycling capacity as garbage capacity under FWRC 19.125.150(h).

Key details: Who must comply: Multifamily, nonresidential, mixed-use occupants. Minimum materials: Newspaper, mixed paper, bottles, cans, plastics. Capacity rule: Recycling capacity must equal garbage capacity. Container source: Labeled containers from the city's contractor. Co-location: Garbage, recycling, compost sited together.

Solid waste and recycling receptacle requirements under FWRC 19.125.150 are enforced as part of the zoning and development code; violations of any provision or mandatory requirement of the Federal Way Revised Code default to a misdemeanor under FWRC 1.10.010, carrying a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with continuing noncompliance treated as a separate offense each day.

Bin Placement Rules

Federal Way businesses that must set a container or extra unit on a sidewalk or alley for pickup cannot put it out until close of business the day before collection, and must clear it away as soon as they open the next day under FWRC 11.20.070.

Key details: Earliest set-out: Close of business, day before collection. Removal deadline: Immediately after opening or collection. Applies to: Containers/extra units on sidewalk or alley. Enclosure gate width: 12-18 ft depending on container type (Title 19). Enforcement: Public works director under FWRC 11.20.010.

The public works director enforces the solid waste collection division under FWRC 11.20.010, and violating FWRC 11.20.070's sidewalk or alley placement window is unlawful. Absent a more specific penalty, that default is a misdemeanor under FWRC 1.10.010, carrying a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of an obstructing container left out past the allowed window treated as a separate offense.

Bulk Item Disposal

Federal Way has no separate city bulk pickup program; overflow and bulky trash goes out as an 'extra unit' next to your regular container under FWRC 11.20.040, and the hauler charges an additional fee for each extra unit collected.

Key details: Extra unit, can/cart garbage: 32 gallons. Extra unit, yard debris cart: 96 gallons, max 65 lbs. Extra unit, detachable container: 1 cubic yard. Curbside window: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.. Extra unit fee: Additional service charge applies.

Setting out garbage or yard debris in excess of container capacity without paying for it as an extra unit, or leaving containers at curbside outside the 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. window, is enforceable as a civil infraction under Chapter 1.15 FWRC, with the city's standard $100 first-violation, $200 second-violation, and $300 third-violation penalty schedule under FWRC 1.15.110, on top of whatever surcharge the hauler bills.

Dumpster Rules

Federal Way requires commercial and multifamily dumpster enclosures to give collectors direct, in-line access: 18 feet of unobstructed gate opening where dumpsters sit side by side, or 12 feet for a single drop box or compactor, under FWRC 19.125.150(6)(b).

Key details: Side-by-side dumpster access: 18 feet unobstructed, gates open. Single drop box/compactor gate: 12 feet minimum width. Truck access route width: 11.5 feet minimum. Roof required over: 175 sq ft enclosures. Applies to buildings built after: January 1, 1993.

Building or altering a dumpster enclosure that does not meet the access, clearance, or drainage standards of FWRC 19.125.150 is a code violation the city can address through Chapter 1.15 FWRC's civil infraction process, carrying the default $100 first-offense, $200 second-offense, and $300 third-offense penalty schedule under FWRC 1.15.110, along with a requirement to bring the enclosure into compliance.

The Bottom Line

Federal Way's trash & recycling rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Federal Way is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Federal Way's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.