Clear Alleys Program
What is Clear Alleys Program?
The Clear Alleys Program (CAP) is a City of Seattle initiative designed to keep business districts clean, safe, and accessible by streamlining or eliminating the storage of waste containers in public right-of-way on streets and alleys. Businesses and residential buildings in designated neighborhoods use prepaid garbage and recycling bags with frequent collection services, ensuring right-of-way areas and alleys remain clear for pedestrians, deliveries, and community use.
The Program offers an innovative waste management solution designed for businesses and multifamily buildings in commercial zones. Instead of traditional dumpsters or garbage carts, businesses use specially marked prepaid garbage and recycling bags, which are collected up to three times daily.
This program only applies to businesses or residential buildings located in one of the CAP areas.
Colorful art marks the areas where CAP bags are set out in Nihonmachi Alley.
CAP Bags are set out in a participating alley.
Why Does CAP Matter?
The City of Seattle’s Clear Alleys Program is mandated by the Director's Rule (SW-406) restricts permanent storage of waste containers in the public rights-of-way.
The City of Seattle's Clear Alleys Program (CAP) aims to:
- Create cleaner, safer business districts
- Reduce uncivil behaviors and illegal activities in alleys
- Make alleys more inviting for pedestrians
- Improve alley access for business services (deliveries) and possible expansion of commercial activity
The CAP approach helps maintain clean and organized public spaces for everyone.
Cardboard set out in CAP area with recycling and garbage for collection.
A cardboard only container in the alley keeps the area clear for traffic.
Where does CAP Operate?
The program is available to businesses and residential buildings in the following areas. Click on the neighborhoods listed to view the program area maps for specific program boundaries:
How does CAP work?
Garbage dumpsters and/or carts are not allowed to be stored in the right-of-way on the street or alley in CAP areas, only prepaid bags are allowed in those locations for collection.
CAP garbage bags are picked up 3 times per day, and CAP recycle bags are picked up 2 times per day, collection frequency may vary in a commercial zone.
Food Waste carts are allowed to be stored in the alleys and can be purchased by non-contract service providers.
How to participate in the Clear Alley Program
If your business is in a CAP area and has private indoor solid waste storage space to store containers inside, you do not need to subscribe to CAP services. If yourbusiness does not have private storage space, use the CAP services offered directly by your hauler. For more details about the CAP program and hauler-specific information, visit your hauler’s CAP website.
- Download our flyer on how apartment residents can participate in CAP program
- Apartment managers/owners are responsible for ordering CAP bags for their residents. Recycling bags will be provided for free with every garbage bag ordered.
- Garbage must be placed inside a CAP garbage bag
- Recyclables must be placed inside a CAP recycle bags
- When full, ensure each bag is tied closed securely and set out in your alley for collection
- Cardboard must be flattened, bundled, and placed in a box before being set out in your alley for collection
| Bag Size | Fee |
|---|---|
| 15-gallon bag | $5.80 |
| 30-gallon bag | $8.20 |
| Monthly Account Fee (commercial) | $32.45 |
| Monthly Account Fee (residential) | $48.25 |
- Fee is per bag, CAP bags are the same price as a garbage cart. The price of three 30-gallon bags is equivalent to the price of one 96g cart. The cost of the bag includes the disposal and collection costs.
- The weight limit for the 33-gallon bags is 40 lbs., and the weight limit on the 15-gallon bags is 20 lbs.
- Recycle bags are sold and priced by WM or Recology. A low cost recycle service is available from the City of Seattle’s contracted garbage haulers, WM and Recology, for small businesses. Please contact your hauler to inquire.
- Cardboard is free for recycling to program participants. To get a free cardboard ONLY dumpster in your alley, customers must also buy CAP garbage bags. Please contact your hauler to inquire.
- Food Waste carts are available for purchase, contact your hauler to inquire.
Contact your garbage collection company directly for bag orders and deliveries. Please note that bags take two business days for complete delivery.
For items weighing less than 60 pounds that cannot fit in a bag and other bulky items, collection tags are available. For larger items you can request a special collection. Please contact your collection company. Multifamily should contact SPU for Bulky Item Pick up.
No exemptions are allowed for the storage of garbage containers in the public rights-of-way within the designated business area. Exemptions may be granted by SPU for cart containment only of the following materials:
- Food Waste: Labeled carts (32, 60 or 90 gallon) with tight-fitting lids for source-separated food scraps/food-soiled paper and yard trimmings if no on-site storage on private property is available as verified by the city
- Glass: Labeled carts (32, 60 or 90 gallon) for glass only if no on-site storage on private property is available as verified by the city
- Used Cooking Oil: Used cooking oil collection containers that meet public and environmental health requirements are exempt
If you have questions about other solid waste service exemptions, please review the Seattle Municipal Code or the Directors Rule.
SPU will verify if there is no available storage space on your private property. Building age may affect eligibility for an exemption. Buildings built or remodeled after 2000 were required to include space for recycling and garbage containers.
For exemption information, please contact Code & Contracts Compliance of Seattle Public Utilities at (206) 684-0831 or through e-mail at SPUClearAlleys@seattle.gov.
Illegal Dumping
Setting out non-CAP bags for collection is illegal. More information about illegal dumping can be found on the Enforcement Cameras page.
For information on how to save money by reducing waste and recycling more, contact the Green Business Program at (206) 343-8505 or greenbusiness@seattle.gov.