Trash & Recycling in Federal Way, WA (2026)

FWRC 11.25.020

The collection of, disposal of and billing for garbage generated within the corporate limits of the city shall be accomplished by service providers under written service agreement or franchise pursuant to ordinances of the city. Only such service providers that have a current service agreement or franchise with the city are authorized to collect garbage from within the incorporated city limits ...

FWRC 11.20.070

Any person accumulating solid waste or source-separated material in business areas whose location requires the placing of any type of container or extra unit on a sidewalk or alley for collection shall not place same on sidewalk or alley until the close of the business the day prior to collection, and shall remove such container from the sidewalk or alley immediately after opening for business ...

FWRC 11.20.040

All residential garbage shall be placed in a service provider-provided or approved customer-provided garbage can, micro-can, mini-can or cart. In all cases, customers will be directed to have at least one rigid container as their primary garbage container. Plastic bags may be used as extra units for overflow volumes of garbage, but not as a customer's primary container. Extra units will be subj...

FWRC 11.20.110

Recyclables may be accumulated in recycling bins, recycling carts or recycling containers, or such other collection container approved by the city's current service provider. Service provider-provided containers for recyclables, including recycling bins, recycling carts and recycling containers, shall be placed at curbside, or at such other location agreed to by the service provider pursuant to...

FWRC 11.20.020

It shall be unlawful to deposit, throw or place any solid waste or source-separated material in any public street or other public place, or to deposit, throw or place any solid waste or source-separated material in any private road, private drive or on any private property regardless of the ownership, unless the solid waste or source-separated material is placed in approved collection containers.

FWRC 11.20.100

Deposit of yard debris in containers for garbage or recyclables for collection by the service provider shall be unlawful. No garbage or recyclables that are mixed with yard debris will be collected. Only yard debris from persons participating in the city's yard debris collection program that is separated and contained in yard debris carts or such other method approved by the city's current serv...

FWRC 19.125.150(6)(b)

(b) Enclosure and landscaping. All outdoor trash enclosures for solid waste and recycling receptacles shall be screened according to FWRC 19.125.040(4) and (5). In all cases, gates shall be of sufficient width to allow direct, in-line access by solid waste and recycling collectors and equipment. In uses where two or more separate detachable containers (commonly referred to as dumpsters) are sit...

FWRC 11.20.040

Containers shall be stored behind the front building line, or screened from view from the street and behind the setback line of FWRC Title 19, Zoning and Development Code, except on the day of scheduled pickup. Containers shall be placed at curbside on a public street or private road prior to 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day, and shall be removed to their proper storage location as soo...

FWRC 19.125.150(h)

Multifamily and nonresidential mandatory recycling requirements. Multifamily, nonresidential, and mixed-use development occupants shall participate in separation for recycling of the following materials that will include, at a minimum: newspapers; mixed papers; recyclable bottles, cans, and plastic containers; and compostable materials where collection services are available. All recyclable mat...