King County, WA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- unincorporated King County only
- Core rule
- yard waste barred from garbage cart
- Enforcement
- hauler refuses pickup, tags container
- Food scraps
- added only where hauler offers it
- Not covered
- Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, 30 others
Summary
In unincorporated King County, garbage carts can't contain yard waste: haulers are barred from collecting a container with visible grass clippings or branches mixed in with regular trash.
D. Requirements for separation of yard debris from solid waste:
1. Containers set out at single-family dwellings and multifamily structures or complexes in unincorporated service areas for collection of solid waste by certificated haulers shall not contain yard waste. However, if the division director determines that collection of organics is feasible; organics may be commingled with yard waste to be collected for composting; and
2. Certificated haulers in unincorporated service areas shall not collect any solid waste container set out at a single-family dwelling or multifamily structure if yard waste that is commingled with nonorganics is visible within the container and shall attach a tag to the container citing the yard waste source separation requirements contained in this chapter and providing information about how to obtain yard waste collection service. Haulers shall also attach a tag to any solid waste container from which yard waste commingled with nonorganics becomes visible while the container is being emptied into a collection vehicle; and
E. Additional minimum level of service provisions. The following provisions apply to the collection services described in subsections A., B. and C. of this section:
Full Breakdown
King County Code chapter 10.18 keeps yard debris out of the garbage stream: containers set out for solid waste pickup in unincorporated service areas may not contain yard waste, and haulers must refuse any container with commingled yard waste visible, tagging it instead. Food-scrap and soiled-paper composting is added to a hauler's program only where the solid waste division determines it's feasible, it isn't yet a universal county mandate the way yard waste separation is.
Violations & Fines
No cash fine in this chapter: the certificated hauler simply will not collect a contaminated container and attaches a tag citing the source-separation requirement and instructions for getting yard waste service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does King County require food-scrap composting in unincorporated areas?
What happens if I put grass clippings in my garbage can?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in King County
Compare King County to another location·View the Washington trash & recycling overview
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