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

Burien Municipal Code § 8.15.130 is the city's rule on when a downtown business container can be open and who unlocks it for pickup. Commercial businesses in the downtown collection area must equip each of their solid waste containers with franchise hauler-provided locks when they use a franchise hauler, or with another locking mechanism if they use collection services other than a franchise hauler. Locks can remain unlocked only during normal business operating hours or at scheduled solid waste collection times.

Pickup day has two options. A business can unlock its containers on the day of collection, or, if it uses a franchise hauler, it can have the hauler unlock the container at collection time for a fee per occurrence. That fee is set by the franchise hauler contract with Burien, and the code does not print a dollar amount. A business with a solid waste container enclosure can choose to lock the secured enclosure instead of locking each container.

The rule applies only inside the downtown collection area. BMC 8.15.010(1) defines it as the areas located within the Downtown Commercial and Special Planning Area 1 zones, as defined in the Burien zoning code and illustrated in BMC 9.105.440, and properties zoned Regional Commercial or Special Planning Area 3 between SW 148th Street and SW 154th Street, and west of 1st Avenue S. A franchise hauler is any franchise-holding entity contractually authorized by Burien to collect and haul any solid waste. Under BMC 8.15.140(2)(a), enforcement of the lock requirement began after a grace period of six months from the effective date of the ordinance that adopted it.