Customer Service

My trash was not picked up today.  Who do I report this to?
What is my collection day?
I just purchased a home in Kirkland and I need to start garbage service. Who do I contact?
My solid waste bill is not correct. Who do I call?
When should garbage and recycling carts be removed from the street?
A garbage truck woke me up this morning at 5:45 AM. What are the residential operating hours for Waste Management?
Where's the closest transfer station?
My garbage service was cancelled today due to a weather event. When will my garbage be picked up next?

Household Hazardous Waste

Can I still take my house paint to a Household Hazardous Waste location?
Why can't I put compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL's) in the trash? What options do I have for recycling them?

Recycling

Why do plastics have a recycling symbol and number on them if they can't be recycled?
Where do recyclables go?
I just moved to Kirkland and I'm used separating my mixed paper, cans and bottles, and glass. Do I have to do that in Kirkland?
Where do all those chicken bones and grass clipings go after I put them in my gray yard waste bin?
I would like to try food scrap recycling at home but I don't have a container. Where can I get one?
I have a computer monitor and an old television that I would like to recycle. How do I recycle them?
What can I do  with all my unwanted stuff?
Where can I find recycling events in the area?

My trash was not picked up today. Who do I report this to?

Please report your missed pickup to Waste Management Customer Service at (800) 592-9995. You can also report a missed pickup on-line here. 

What is my collection day?

To see what day your collection day will be, here is a map of collection pickups (PDF).

I just purchased a home in Kirkland and I need to start garbage service. Who do I contact?

To start or stop a residential service, contact the City of Kirkland’s Utility Billing at (425) 587-3150 or email utilitybilling@ci.kirkland.wa.us

My solid waste bill is not correct. Who do I call?

Please contact Waste Management Customer Service at (800) 592-9995.

When should garbage and recycling carts be removed from the street?

Per the City code, garbage and recycling carts placed on City sidewalks should be set out a reasonable time before service and removed reasonable time after service. The same consideration should be made for carts placed on the street or along the road edge. Placing your carts out late the night before service or by 6 AM on the day of service and then removing them before the end of the day is a good rule of thumb.

A garbage truck woke me up this morning at 5:45 AM. What are the residential operating hours for Waste Management?

The operating hours for Waste Management in residential neighborhoods is 6 AM to 5 PM, Monday – Friday. The operating hours in commercial areas is 5 AM to 5 PM, with the exception that collection in commercial areas adjacent to residential areas is restricted to the residential operating hours of 6 AM to 5 PM. To report an early pickup, call (425) 587-3812.

Where's the closest transfer station?  

Factoria Transfer Station
13800 SE 32nd Street, Bellevue, WA 98005 
Telephone: 206-296-4466
        
More information and other locations - King County Transfer Stations

My garbage service was cancelled today due to a weather event. When will my garbage be picked up next?

The City of Kirkland and Waste Management only cancel service after carefully considering the risks and hazards to collection staff, area residents, and property. In the event that your garbage service is cancelled, your garbage, recycling, yard waste will be picked up on your next regular service day. Please remove your carts from the curb and right-of-way in consideration of your neighbors, vehicles, and pedestrians.

Can I still take my house paint to a Household Hazardous Waste location?

Yes and No.

All oil-based paint is still accepted at the fixed Factoria Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Service  site or at the Wastemobile.

As of January 1, 2008, latex paint is no longer accepted at either site. Go to the City’s latex paint disposal  site for more information.

Why can't I put compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL's) in the trash? What options do I have for recycling them?

Fluorescent bulbs are a great way to save energy - they use 25% less energy than incandescent bulbs, but they contain mercury, a toxic substance that needs to be disposed of properly. For disposal options, refer to the Take It Back Network's list of Fluorescent Bulb & Tube Recyclers or go to the City's Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Webpage.

Why do plastics have a recycling symbol and number on them if they can't be recycled?

All plastics are technically recyclable, but, even if an item has a recycling logo on it, it might not be accepted by local recycling companies due to high processing costs and lack of markets.

The number inside the recycling arrows on many plastic items generally identifies the type of resin used in making the product. However, some items with the same number inside the arrows cannot be recycled together because they are manufactured using a different heating and molding process. (For example, markets that accept #1 plastic bottles, don't want #1 plastic cups.)

Ignore the numbers and remember: Put only clean plastic bottles, jugs and dairy tubs in your recycling container. If it isn't a bottle, jug, or dairy tub, and it can't be reused, it goes in the garbage.

For more information, watch a King 5 News report on plastics recycling.

Where do recyclables go?

Kirkland's bottles, cans, cardboard and other recyclables are sorted at Waste Management's Cascade Recycling Center and sent to markets in both the United States and around the world to be made into new products.

I just moved to Kirkland and I'm used separating my mixed paper, cans and bottles, and glass. Do I have to do that in Kirkland?

You do not need to separate your recyclables in Kirkland. All commodities can be placed in your blue “All-in-one” recycling cart.

Where do all of those chicken bones and grass clippings go after I put them in my gray yard waste bin?

Collected food and yard waste are made into compost by Cedar Grove and sold at your local garden store.

I would like to try food scrap recycling at home but I don't have a container. Where can I get one?

The City of Kirkland offers a free kitchen food scrap recycling container to single-family residents. You can pick one up along with a free compostable bag sample at the Public Works counter at the Kirkland City Hall at 123 5^th Avenue, Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM.

I have a computer monitor and an old television that I would like to recycle. How do I recycle them?

There are a few different options available.

First, you can recycle your old television, computer monitor, computer, or laptop though the E-Cycle Washington Program.  For a list of collection sites, please go to the the City's Free Electronics Recycling Webpage.

For Kirkland single-family residents, Waste Management offers a free curbside pickup service for televisions 21” and under, computer equipment, VCRs, audio equipment, cell phones, and microwaves. Please call Waste Management Customer Service at (800) 592-9995 at least 24 hours in advance of your regular garbage service day to schedule a pickup.

Twice per year, the City holds residential recycling collection events at the Houghton Park and Ride where electronics are collected. Some fees do apply. The next recycling event will be held in April 2010. For a list of the items collected, please go to the Special Collection Events  page.

What can I do with all of my unwanted stuff?

Online Exchange for Household Goods:  Here's a quick, free and easy way to sell or give away unwanted things.  You can also find yard and garage sales in your area.

What do I do with...?  Here's a database of businesses and organizations that accept unwanted items from King County residents and businesses.

Where can I find recycling events in the area? 

Special Collection Events:  Special events help you recycle and reuse many of the materials that are not currently accepted in our recycling program.  The next residential recycling collection event will be held on October 2, 2010 and the fall business event will be held in September 16, 2010.  Click on the Special Collection link for more details on what will be collected.


REGIONAL RECYCLING RESOURCES

E-Cycle Washington Program

King County Solid Waste Division

Waste Prevention Program in King County