Issaquah, WA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

IMC 8.07.040 is the recycling mandate in the Issaquah code. Subsection A requires all food service businesses to utilize either a commercial food waste recycling service for compostable products and recyclable materials, such as the City's solid waste management program, or to provide for such collection themselves.

Subsection B adds a customer-facing duty. Food service businesses that provide food for consumption on the premises must provide conveniently and conspicuously located, and clearly marked, containers for consumers to dispose of food packaging that conform to chapter 8.07. The requirement includes containers for recycling, composting, or both, depending on the type of packaging the business uses. Subsection C closes the loophole: food service businesses are prohibited from emptying or disposing of items in recycling or compost containers into trash bins, containers or dumpsters not intended for recycling or compost.

Subsection D provides a space exemption. An existing business without adequate storage space for indoor or outdoor recycling or composting containers can be exempted from subsection A if the City Administrator or designee so determines on written request. Where space is short, the City Administrator or designee can require evaluation of shared containers among contiguous businesses or structures, and can modify enclosure, parking, landscape or other standards applicable to containers if those standards would block reasonable operation of food waste recycling. Subsection E puts a duty on landlords: on commercially reasonable terms set by the landlord, they shall make sufficient space and services available for collection and pick-up of compostable and recyclable materials generated by their food service tenants.

The chapter pairs the mandate with packaging rules. IMC 8.07.020 prohibits polystyrene, nonrecyclable and noncompostable disposable food service packaging and ware, and IMC 8.07.030 requires recyclable or compostable alternatives.

Household garbage is handled in chapter 8.04. IMC 8.04.040 exempts items intended for recycling from the weekly garbage removal rule and requires items held for recycling to be stored in enclosed areas or containers.