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

050 governs what Seattle households must do before a garbage truck will take their waste. Subsection A requires 'a sufficient number of garbage containers to hold all of their garbage and ashes,' with at least one service unit being a garbage can, mini-can, or collector-supplied cart for any service level above zero units, extra rubbish can go out separately, but only if it's bundled to the chapter's definition (under three feet long, under six cubic feet, under 60 pounds, tied so it won't blow apart).

Subsection B covers ashes: they must be bagged or boxed and placed in a garbage can or container, but hot ashes are barred from collection outright, and loose garbage can never be put out in bundles. 070 layers on weight caps by container size: a standard garbage can tops out at 60 pounds, a mini-can at 30 pounds, a 30-gallon cart at 60 pounds, a 60-gallon cart at 120 pounds, and a 90-gallon cart at 180 pounds, and every container's contents must dump out readily when it's inverted.

060 additionally makes the owner or occupant responsible for keeping cans and detachable containers tightly covered, in good condition, and free of leaks, jagged edges, or holes, the Director of Seattle Public Utilities decides, at the contractor's written request, whether a container's condition is fit for continued use.