Kent provides curbside recycling to all single-family residences at no extra charge. Accepted items include paper, cardboard, glass bottles, metal cans, and plastic bottles and tubs per Republic Services guidelines.
Kent's residential recycling program is operated by Republic Services under the solid waste contract and is included in the weekly garbage subscription rate for single-family homes at no additional cost per KCC 7.03. Residents receive a 64 or 96-gallon blue or gray recycling cart and may include mixed paper, cardboard (flattened), newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, empty aerosol cans, and plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs (numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5). Plastic bags, plastic wrap, Styrofoam, textiles, electronics, and food-contaminated containers are NOT accepted in the curbside cart due to China's National Sword policy tightening market standards in 2018. Glass goes in the main cart in Kent (no separate glass bin). Yard waste and food scraps are collected in a separate green cart weekly from March through November and every other week December through February, and this service is also included for single-family homes. Multifamily recycling is required but service levels are set by the property manager under KCC 7.03.030. Commercial recycling is required for businesses generating more than 4 cubic yards of waste per week per state law RCW 70A.205.045. Contamination of recycling loads (like bagging recyclables in plastic or including greasy pizza boxes) can cause the entire load to be rejected and landfilled.
Contaminated recycling carts can be tagged and left uncollected. Repeated contamination may result in a warning letter from Republic Services and possible cart removal. Commercial non-recycling can be enforced by the state ecology office.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Kent, WA
Kent decibel limits follow WAC 173-60 and KCC 8.05 using EDNA zones. Residential receiving limit is 55 dBA day and 45 dBA night. Commercial sources are cappe...
Kent, WA
Kent industrial sources are capped at 70 dBA day and 65 dBA night at another industrial property, but only 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night when received at a res...
Kent, WA
Commercial trucks over 10,000 pounds GVWR generally cannot park on Kent residential streets except for active loading. Warehouse districts and truck routes h...
Kent, WA
Kent follows Washington State Building Code EV-ready requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings. Public chargers exist at Kent Station and sev...
Kent, WA
Kent driveway aprons require Public Works approval under KCC Title 6. New or widened driveways need a right-of-way construction permit, and vehicles must not...
Kent, WA
Kent has no city requirement to split shared fence costs with a neighbor. Washington common law controls boundary fences. Survey the property line before bui...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how other cities in King County handle recycling requirements.
See how Kent's recycling requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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