Business & Commercial Collection

In recent years, nearly 200,000 tons of recyclable and compostable material from Seattle went into the landfill. Businesses can reduce their need for garbage collection by recycling, composting food scraps, and salvaging building materials during construction. Why waste a good thing?

Garbage collection

To set up service or resolve issues, commercial businesses deal directly with the commercial garbage provider for their area (please refer to the map below). Apartment and condominium buildings, however, should work with Seattle Public Utilities to set up service.

Screenshot of service area map.

Solid Waste Services Zones Map

For service in Central and Northeast Seattle

Recology
801 S. Fidalgo St, Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98108
Phone: (206) 250-7500
Email: seattle@recology.com

For service in South and Northwest Seattle

Waste Management of Seattle
8111 First Avenue S
Seattle, WA 98108
Phone: (855) 894-9447
Email: pnwcmservices@wm.com

Clear Alleys Program

If your building is in Belltown, Downtown, Pioneer Square, the International District, or Columbia, containers may not be stored in the public right-of-way. Learn about the City's Clear Alleys Program.

Commercial service requirements

City ordinances require commercial businesses to establish and maintain solid waste collection. For complete information on Solid Waste Collection requirements, please refer to Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) Section 21.36. Key ordinance summaries are included below.

SMC 21.36.042 & SMC 21.36.044 – Container and Disposal Requirements

For solid waste that is City's Waste, every owner, tenant, occupant, or other person responsible for the condition of private property that is not used as a residence or dwelling shall deliver, or shall ensure lawful delivery of, the City's Waste to the receiving facility designated by City and shall keep receipts as proof of delivery. Additionally, they shall have and use solid waste containers of a number and size sufficient to contain all solid waste generated on the site and shall provide for lawful disposal of all such solid waste.

Learn more about the Ban of Recyclables and Compostables from getting into the garbage.

SMC 21.36.082.A.1 – Commercial Recycling Required

All commercial establishments, including those hauling their own waste, shall separate paper (including paper cups), cardboard, glass and plastic bottles and jars, aluminum and tin cans, food waste, compostable paper, and yard waste for recycling, and no paper, cardboard, glass or plastic bottles and jars, plastic cups, aluminum or tin cans, food waste, compostable paper, or yard waste shall be deposited in garbage containers or drop boxes or disposed as garbage at the City's transfer stations.

Learn more about Commercial recycling options for your business.

SMC 21.36.082.B – Commercial Composting Required

All commercial establishments that generate food waste or compostable paper shall subscribe to a composting service, process their food waste onsite, or self-haul their food waste for processing. All building owners shall provide composting service for their tenants or provide space for tenants' own food waste containers.

Commercial compost collection costs less than regular garbage pickup. Visit Business and Commercial compostables to learn more about commercial composting.

SMC 21.36.920–980 – Enforcement and Penalties

Failure to comply may result in enforcement actions, including penalties and cleanup restitution. SPU may also increase your service levels under SMC 21.40.070.B.