Trash & Recycling in Shoreline, WA (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Shoreline, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
The City of Shoreline caps how much a garbage receptacle can weigh once filled and requires clear access for pickup. Shoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.070 limits a 32-gallon can to 65 pounds and a 96-gallon toter to 250 pounds, while § 13.14.090 requires eight feet of unobstructed overhead clearance along the path to the loading point.
Shoreline Garbage Receptacle Weight and Access Rules
Some RestrictionsShoreline Municipal Code §§ 13.14.070, 13.14.090
A. Garbage receptacles, when filled, shall not exceed the following limits: 20-gallon minican 45 pounds 32-gallon can or toter 65 pounds 64-gallon toter 200 pounds 96-gallon toter 250 pounds 1 yard 1,000 pounds 2 yards 1,250 pounds 3 yards 1,750 pounds 4 yards 2,000 pounds 6 yards 3,000 pounds 8 yards 4,000 pounds 20 – 40 yard roll off 16,000 pounds B. The contents of a container shall dump out...
Bin Placement Rules
Shoreline tells residents exactly where to set garbage carts for pickup. Shoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.080 requires carts to sit off the sidewalk and as close to the curb as practicable, within five feet of the curb in the planting strip, driveway or on private property depending on the site, and limits how early carts go out and how long they can sit afterward.
Shoreline Garbage Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsShoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.080
Garbage receptacles other than approved drop-box containers shall be placed for collection by the occupants in a convenient, accessible location off the sidewalk as near as practicable to the curbside in a manner that does not interfere with transportation use or use of the sidewalk. Receptacles shall be placed in the following manner: a. For properties with level planting strips, in the planti...
Bulk Item Disposal
In the City of Shoreline, large appliances and bulky items are collected for a fee by the authorized garbage hauler under SMC § 13.14.190, at the same curbside spot used for regular garbage. They cannot sit out in a public place, and appliances with a suffocation hazard must have the door removed, latch disabled, or door secured closed.
Shoreline Bulky Item Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsShoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.190
§ 13.14.190. Large household appliances and bulky items. A. Large household appliances and bulky items shall be collected at a cost from persons who subscribe to garbage collection services from the authorized collection company at the same location utilized for standard garbage collection. They shall not be placed for collection on any public place. B. Bulky items may be disposed of as garbage...
Recycling Requirements
Shoreline runs its recycling program through curbside carts rather than a mandatory sign-up. Shoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.175 encourages customers to participate and lets recyclable materials go out for separate collection in 32-, 64- or 96-gallon carts supplied by the city's authorized collection company, with the materials that qualify defined in § 13.14.010.
Shoreline Curbside Recycling Program Requirements
Light RestrictionsShoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.175
A. The city encourages customers to participate in the recycling program. Recyclable materials may be set out for separate curbside collection in 32-, 64- or 96-gallon recycling carts supplied by the authorized collection company. Recyclable materials shall be defined as set forth in SMC § 13.14.010.
Illegal Dumping
In the City of Shoreline, dumping, throwing or placing garbage on public or private property outside an authorized receptacle or disposal site violates SMC § 13.14.220. Unlawful dumping of garbage is a Class 1 civil infraction under SMC § 13.14.240(D), carrying a maximum monetary penalty and default amount of $250.00, not including statutory assessments.
Shoreline Illegal Dumping Penalty
Significant RestrictionsShoreline Municipal Code §§ 13.14.220, 13.14.240
§ 13.14.220. Unlawful dumping of garbage. No person shall dump, throw, or place garbage on any public or private property, except in a garbage receptacle owned by or authorized for the person’s use, disposal site, or interim garbage handling site provided and/or designated by the city manager, as authorized by city ordinance. This section does not apply to litter. ... ... D. The violation of or...
Yard Waste Collection
In the City of Shoreline, yard debris goes out for curbside pickup in a 32-, 64- or 96-gallon cart from the authorized collection company under SMC § 13.14.180. Extra brush must be bundled to two feet by two feet by four feet, limbs capped at four inches thick and four feet long, and plastic bags are banned for yard debris.
Shoreline Yard Debris Cart Rules
Some RestrictionsShoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.180
§ 13.14.180. Yard debris programs. A. The City encourages customers to participate in the yard debris program. Yard debris may be set out for separate curbside collection in a 32-, 64- or 96-gallon yard debris cart supplied by the authorized collection company. Extra yard debris and food scraps may be placed in biodegradable paper bags specifically marketed for such use. Plastic bags are not to...
Dumpster Rules
Every nonresidential property in the City of Shoreline, from a shop to a commercial building, must keep enough garbage receptacle capacity on site to hold everything it generates. Shoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.040 puts that duty on the owner, tenant or occupant responsible for the property and requires lawful disposal of the contents.
Shoreline Nonresidential Dumpster Receptacle Rule
Some RestrictionsShoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.040
Every owner, tenant, occupant, and other person responsible for the condition of private property that is not used as a residence or dwelling shall have and use garbage receptacle(s) of a number and size sufficient to contain all garbage generated on the site and shall provide for lawful disposal of all such garbage.
Collection Schedule
Every residential property in the City of Shoreline is billed for at least the minimum level of solid waste collection service, whether the owner uses it or not. Shoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.035 makes collection mandatory and ties the charge to the fee schedule adopted under Chapter 3.01 SMC, with only a temporary vacation suspension as an exception.
Shoreline Mandatory Residential Trash Collection
Some RestrictionsShoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.035
Every person in possession, charge, or control of residential property shall be charged for a least the minimum level of solid waste collection service by the authorized collection company at the rates set forth in the fee schedule whether such person uses such service or not unless an exception applies as provided for in this chapter. Exceptions are as follows: A. A residential property custom...
Recycling Rules
Only specific materials may go into a Shoreline recycling cart. Shoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.010 defines recyclable materials as items like aluminum and tin cans, cardboard, glass containers, mixed paper, certain plastics, polycoated cartons and scrap metals, plus properly packaged motor oil and fluorescent bulbs kept separate, and § 13.14.175(B) limits the cart to those materials only.
Shoreline Rules on What Goes in Recycling
Some RestrictionsShoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.010
“Recyclable materials” means aluminum and tin cans, corrugated cardboard, glass containers, mixed paper, newspaper, recyclable plastic containers that have contained non-hazardous products, plastic films, polycoated cartons, and scrap metals. The term “recyclable materials” shall include motor oil and fluorescent bulbs that are properly packaged, set out for collection separately and not commin...
Looking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Shoreline city rules.
Trash & Recycling in King County →