Seattle, WA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Collection frequency
- Once-a-week service for curbside, alley, and backyard cans
- Zero-container minimum charge
- $6.85 per month, billed even without pickup
- Zero-container eligibility cutoff
- Must have qualified on or before Dec. 31, 1988
- Smallest curbside rate
- Micro-can $28.25/month through March 31, 2026
- Largest curbside rate
- 90-96 gallon cart $135.05/month through March 31, 2026
- Enforcing agency
- Director of Seattle Public Utilities
Summary
Seattle Public Utilities runs residential garbage collection on a fixed once-a-week schedule under SMC 21.40.050, billing every subscribed service unit monthly whether or not the can gets set out that week. Even households that decline pickup still owe a $6.85 monthly minimum charge covering landfill closure, billing, Low-Income Rate Assistance, and hazardous-waste costs, unless they hold a pre-1989 zero-container exemption.
A.Charges for residential can garbage and rubbish collection and disposal service shall be in accordance with the following schedules:1.All residences with curbside/alley garbage container pickup: a charge per month or portion thereof, for once-a-week service for each service unit subscribed to, billed directly to the owner, homeowner association, or occupant thereof as follows: ... 4.Minimum charge, no pickup service. A charge per month or portion thereof of $6.85 shall be billed directly to the owner, homeowners association, or occupant of any residence not subscribing to pickup service to cover landfill closure costs, billing, collection, Low Income Rate Assistance, and hazardous waste costs. To be eligible for the minimum charge (zero container rate), a customer may not generate any garbage or rubbish for collection or disposal. ... A customer is not eligible for the zero container rate by hauling the customer's garbage and rubbish to a transfer station, disposal site, or by disposal in another customer's containers or by the use of prepaid stickers.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
1-2). 85 over the same schedule. 3, as long as the total consolidated volume divided by the number of units meets the minimum equivalent volume per unit set by SPU's General Manager/CEO. 85 a month, is closed to anyone who did not already qualify before December 31, 1988, and even qualifying customers must keep demonstrating selective purchasing, recycling, and on-site yardwaste composting to stay eligible. The code specifically blocks the obvious workarounds, you can't dodge the zero-container requirement by hauling your own garbage to a transfer station, dumping it in a neighbor's container, or buying prepaid disposal stickers. 018 to supervise collection and disposal citywide and, with the Chief of Police's assistance, to commission non-uniformed special officers to enforce it.
Violations & Fines
There's no per-missed-pickup fine in this section: it's a billing mandate, not a criminal statute. Practically, the consequence of not subscribing is the flat $6.85 monthly zero-container charge, which applies regardless of actual disposal habits unless you separately qualified before December 31, 1988. SPU enforces the Solid Waste Code through its Director, aided by the Seattle Police Department, under the general enforcement authority in SMC 21.36.018.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip garbage service entirely to avoid the bill?
How often does Seattle pick up residential garbage?
Can multiple households share one garbage can to cut costs?
Who enforces Seattle's garbage collection rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seattle
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Collection Schedule in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle collection schedule.