Seattle, Washington resident guide
Seattle trash, recycling, bulky pickup & compost schedule
Schedule Seattle furniture, appliance, or electronics pickup, see current 2026 prices, find weekly garbage and compost, and use the free November leaf allowance.
Official source links checked on August 31, 2026.
Regular household service
Trash and recycling service
Start here for the recurring household collections residents use most often.
Seattle collects garbage every week from single family homes. Use the address calendar or Recycle It app for the day. Extra garbage is charged separately and must follow the current container and weight rules.
Seattle collects single family recycling every other week and food and yard waste every week. Recycling is included with garbage service, and compostable food, paper, leaves, and yard material must stay out of the garbage.
Need it gone before the city service?
Get a LoadUp quote when the local date is too far away or an item is excluded.
Start here
Schedule Seattle service
Schedule through the Seattle Public Utilities account or call 206-684-3000. Single family pickups occur on the next regular garbage day after confirmation. Apartment residents must ask the property manager or building owner to schedule.
Seattle 2026 resident collection guide
Seattle prices special item pickup by item type
The Seattle Public Utilities account holder schedules large items for the next regular garbage day. Current charges differ for ordinary large items and older cooling appliances, while small special items have separate containers and prices.
This includes qualifying furniture, mattresses, appliances, and large electronics.
This price applies to older refrigerators and freezers containing CFCs.
A large item also must stay within eight feet high and four feet wide.
Use the normal solid waste collection point after receiving confirmation.
Eligible food and yard waste customers receive the free allowance each collection day.
Fall leaf and yard waste pickupSeattle waives extra leaf bag fees throughout NovemberWeekly compost and free November leaf allowance
Food and yard waste customers receive weekly compost collection. From November 1 through 30, eligible households may set out up to 10 extra yard waste bags on each collection day without the normal extra bag charge.
Use the address calendar for the regular food and yard waste day.
The free allowance applies on each collection day during November.
Keep each extra bag, can, or natural twine bundle at 60 pounds or less.
Published fall 2026 collection windows
- November 1 through November 30, 2026: no extra fee for up to 10 yard waste bags per collection day
What residents should do
- Fill the City food and yard waste cart first and keep food scraps inside that cart.
- Use approved compostable bags, kraft paper bags, or a labeled 32 gallon can for extra yard waste.
- Tie branch bundles with natural fiber twine and stay within the size and weight limits.
- During November, set out no more than 10 extra bags on each regular collection day.
City rules at a glance
Local limits before placement
Current 2026 pricing is $31 for most large furniture, appliances, and electronics. Older refrigerators and freezers containing CFCs cost $39.25. A large item may not exceed 300 pounds, eight feet in height, or four feet in diameter.
After confirmation, place the item at the normal solid waste collection point by 7 a.m. Keep it on a flat, level surface with easy street access and outside any locked or secured area. Cover items on rainy days.
Local detail that matters
What makes Seattle service different
Seattle's curbside compost program is especially useful in fall. Customers paying for food and yard waste may set out up to 10 extra yard waste bags per collection day without extra fees throughout November.
Item guidance
What may go in the bulk item pile
Accepted examples
The paid large item service accepts furniture, mattresses, box springs, cabinets, tables, chairs, sofas, large televisions, computers, monitors, stoves, dishwashers, dryers, washers, air conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers within the limits.
Not accepted
Do not leave unconfirmed items outside. Household chemicals, hazardous waste, construction debris, car batteries, damaged lithium batteries, broken fluorescent bulbs, and oversized or overweight items require another disposal path.
Holiday collectionSeattle publishes citywide delays plus one partial city holiday2026 schedule confirmed
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day delay the holiday route and all later routes that week by one day. MLK Day used a separate 2026 rule only in Northeast and Central Seattle.
Citywide one day delay
The holiday route and the remaining weekday routes move one day later.
- New Year's Day, Thursday, January 1
- Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26
- Christmas Day, Friday, December 25
Partial city MLK Day delay
Northeast Seattle and Central Seattle moved one day later from Monday through Saturday. Northwest, West, and South Seattle kept the regular schedule.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 19
Other holidays
The regular collection schedule continues unless SPU posts a service alert.
- All other 2026 City holidays
Common questions
Seattle collection FAQ
How much does Seattle bulky item pickup cost in 2026?
Most large furniture, appliances, and electronics cost $31 per item. Older refrigerators and freezers containing CFCs cost $39.25. The charge appears on the utility bill.
How do I schedule Seattle furniture or appliance pickup?
Use the Seattle Public Utilities account or call 206-684-3000. The utility account holder must approve the request and any charge.
When will Seattle collect a confirmed special item?
For a single family home, pickup occurs on the next regular garbage day after confirmation. Have the item at the normal collection point by 7 a.m.
Can a Seattle apartment resident schedule bulky pickup?
The property manager or building owner must schedule because apartment residents normally do not control the Seattle Public Utilities account.
How often does Seattle collect trash, recycling, and compost?
Single family garbage and compost are collected weekly. Recycling is collected every other week. The address calendar shows all three dates.
Does Seattle offer free fall leaf pickup?
During November, customers already billed for regular food and yard waste may place up to 10 extra yard waste bags at each collection without the normal extra bag fee.
Sources used for this guide
Official supporting information
TrashDayFinder used these public sources to prepare the resident guidance above. They were checked on August 31, 2026 and are provided here as evidence.
More Washington guides