Bothell, WA Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Bothell Municipal Code § 8.20.080 sets the working rules for residential pickup in the City of Bothell. The contractor collects all garbage, recyclables and organics placed at curbside by residential customers in contractor-provided wheeled carts. Single-family service is one pickup per week, and the resident places everything out together: solid waste, recyclables and yard debris. Fees come from the contract with the solid waste hauler, and the contract and schedule of fees are on file at the city clerk's office.

The hour window is fixed in subsection B. All collections in residential areas, both single-family and multifamily, happen between the accustomed hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, unless the city authorizes a temporary extension of hours or days. Saturday collection is allowed to the extent consistent with make-up collections and holiday and inclement weather schedules. Section 8.20.090 adds that for single-family customers garbage, recyclables or organics collection happens on the same regularly scheduled day of the week, while multifamily recyclables and organics need not fall on the same day as garbage.

Help for customers who cannot move a cart is built in. The contractor offers carry-out service to disabled customers at no charge under the contract, and to every other customer for the service level rate plus a carry-out surcharge. The contractor also provides temporary containers on an on-call basis, with sizes and charges set in the hauler contract.

Subsection C covers set-outs the crew will not take. If garbage, recyclables or organics are set out inappropriately, improperly prepared or contaminated with unacceptable materials, the contractor places a notification tag in a prominent location naming the specific problem and the reason for rejecting the materials, per the fee listed in the contract.

Billing and disputes run through the hauler first. A customer who disputes a charge writes to the contractor, and if still dissatisfied can request review by the public works director or designee, whose written decision is final under § 8.20.150(C). Charges are the responsibility of the property owner.