Bellingham, WA Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)

BMC Chapter 9.12 authorizes the city's contracted hauler — Sanitary Service Company — to manage residential bulk disposal. Three pathways exist for Bellingham residents: regular curbside bulky pickup (debris cut to four feet long, tied in a bundle, max 50 lbs, set beside the toter with a per-item charge added to the monthly bill); on-demand SSC junk hauling for larger items (couches, mattresses, appliances) scheduled directly with SSC; and three SSC Transfer Stations in Bellingham, Birch Bay, and Cedarville (Sumas) where SSC subscribers can drop off garbage and recycling at no charge. Tires, appliances, and bulky household items are routinely accepted through the junk-hauling service. Items containing refrigerants (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers) require special handling under federal Clean Air Act Section 608 (40 CFR Part 82) before disposal — refrigerant must be evacuated by a certified technician before the appliance is recycled. Electronics — televisions, computers, monitors — are NOT accepted in regular curbside pickup; they fall under Washington's E-Cycle program administered by Ecology under Chapter 70A.500 RCW, which provides free covered-electronics recycling at certified collection sites. Household hazardous waste (paint, solvents, used oil, pesticides) is taken to Whatcom County's HHW Disposal Facility on Birchwood Avenue in Bellingham — separate from SSC service. Contractor construction and demolition debris is the contractor's responsibility and must be hauled directly to a permitted disposal facility or rented from SSC as a drop box. Dead animals, bulk liquids, and infectious medical waste are prohibited from all curbside service. BMC 9.12.060 makes all bulk and service charges due, payable, and lienable against the parcel.