Government
Contact Information:
Department of Community Development
6300 Southcenter Blvd., #100
Tukwila, WA 98188
Phone: 206 431-3670
Fax: 206 431-3665
Recycling and Waste Prevention Services
Residential Recycling, Composting and Waste Prevention – Resources
Waste Management provides recycling services free of charge to its Tukwila residential customers in single-family homes, apartment and condominiums. Single-family residents may sign up for service directly with Waste Management. Apartment and condominium residents check with their building manager, and ask them to contact Waste Management. An additional fee is charged to collect yard waste and food scraps.
Many materials are recyclable or compostable. Here are complete lists of where items go:
Contact Waste Management for information on recycling in your apartment, condominium, or single-family home. Waste Management can also be reached via phone at 1-855-TUKWILA (1-855-885-9452).
Hazardous Materials
To learn more about household hazardous materials and proper disposal, visit the King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program.
Waste Prevention
Recycling is Good: Waste Prevention is Better
Recycling saves resources, but preventing waste is even better. Waste prevention is any activity that reduces, avoids, or eliminates waste at its source. Waste prevention saves us the hassle and costs associated with controlling, treating, and managing products after we are done with them.
Other Suggestions:
- Keep your mailing lists current
- Cancel junk mail
- Cancel catalogues
- Cancel phone books
Residential Collection Event
Each spring, the City of Tukwila, in conjunction with King County, hosts an annual special event for all Tukwila residents to drop off “hard to recycle” items for recycling and reuse. Information on date, location and materials accepted is mailed to all Tukwila residents prior to the event. Rain barrels and/or compost bins are sold to Tukwila residents at reduced cost. (See the News and Events section below for the event date).
Two “cleanup” events are sponsored by the City of Tukwila in the summer and fall for Tukwila residents who are customers of Waste Management. Residential solid waste customers will receive mailings with specific information prior to the events.
Tukwila Annual Garage Sale
Each summer, Tukwila hosts a community-wide garage sale for Tukwila residents to promote reuse, recycling and community-building. Tukwila residents hold garage sales at their homes across the city on a single weekend. The City of Tukwila provides a free recycling information kit for each participant, and publicizes the sale with ads listing of sale sites in local newspapers, and on the City’s website. Residents receive sign-up information through the mail, and on Tukwila’s website.
Composting at Home
Tukwila residents can sign up for yard waste and food scrap collection at home for a fee through Waste Management. Some residents, however, prefer to use yard waste and fruit/vegetable scraps to make compost, a useful soil amendment for the garden.
For more detailed information about the benefits of composting, and recipes to make compost, visit the following sites.
- King County Composting
- Seattle Public Utilities Composting Questions and Answers
- Tilth Alliance
- Northwest Garden Hotline: – Call 206-633-0224 to talk with a gardening expert.
For help in recycling, buying recycled, or preventing waste, please contact the City of Tukwila Recycling Coordinator at (206) 433-7141 or recycle@tukwilawa.gov.
Business Recycling and Waste Prevention
Business Recycling Resources:
Tukwila businesses may choose the recycler that best suits their needs from among those that serve the city. All Businesses in the City of Tukwila that have garbage service through Waste Management are eligible for recycling dumpsters or carts and service at no additional cost. Businesses are eligible for recycling 150% of the level of their garbage service. To find out which items are recyclable and which are garbage, visit these links:
Waste Management also provides compost (yard waste and food waste) collection for a cost. Here is a complete list of what is accepted as part of this service.
For specialty item recycling and a complete list of all recyclers that service Tukwila, see the Business Recycling Guide.
See the Environmentally Preferable Products Purchasing Guide for help in “greening” your business.
Business Recycling Program Assistance
The City of Tukwila’s Business Recycling Program can help your company or your tenants save money and prevent waste by starting or improving on-site recycling, waste prevention or “buy recycled” programs. All assistance is without cost. We can help your business:
- Begin or improve a recycling program
- Identify current recycling rates
- Increase recycling collection volumes and minimize disposal costs
- Identify recycling opportunities for unique or challenging materials.
- Provide recycling education to employees, janitorial service providers and tenants. Outreach can include presentations or booths by recycling experts.
- Furnish materials such as guides and stickers listing what can and cannot be recycled to place on recycling containers or recycling containers(when available)
- Promote resource conservation, waste prevention and buying recycled-content products.
Our goal is to help you achieve a minimum 50% recycling rate! Please contact the City of Tukwila Recycling Coordinator at (206) 433-7141 or recycle@tukwilawa.gov for more information.
Business Recycling Recognition and Awards
Your Tukwila business can receive recognition for its recycling, waste prevention, and “buy recycled” achievements.
Tukwila Green Works Program
Join the City of Tukwila’s Green Works Program and receive recognition for your business’s recycling efforts! By becoming a Tukwila Green Works member, you are also eligible to be recognized with the City’s “Recycler of the Year” award.
Your Business can become a Tukwila Green Works Members by:
- Practicing three or more waste prevention strategies,
- Recycling at least 40% of waste materials
- Purchasing at least three sustainable products with recycling content (for example, recycled paper).
As a Tukwila Green Works member, you will receive:
- A letter of appreciation from the Mayor of Tukwila.
- A framed certificate of recognition.
- Recognition in a Tukwila publication/website.
Joining the Tukwila Greenworks program is easy! Just complete a simple application.
Here’s how to obtain a Greenworks application:
- Call 206-433-7141
- Email recycle@tukwilawa.gov
- Download the Tukwila Green Works Application in PDF format.
Tukwila “Business Recycler of the Year” Award
Each year, the City of Tukwila chooses its “Tukwila Business Recycler of the Year” from Tukwila Green Works applicants. Tukwila Green Works members are automatically entered for consideration as the “Recycler of the Year, and are judged by the City to determine the best candidate. The “Tukwila Business Recycler of the Year” receives recognition through the City of Tukwila website, and is presented with special award to display at their business. See past winners here.
2022 Business Recyclers of the Year
Seattle Chocolate Company (Tukwila, WA)
Achievements:
- 61% recycling rate
- Make recycling and composting easy by placing easily accessible, clearly labeled containers throughout their facility
- Set up specialty recycling programs for plastic film, steel drums, shredded paper, and pallets
- Compost food and paper towels through a local composting facility
- Use compostable foil wrappers on their truffles, and provide recyclable packaging for most other products
- Use ingredients that are sustainability sourced
- Implemented goals of reducing their overall carbon footprint by 10% each year
EnviroStars Program
King County’s Best Workplaces Program has been replaced by the EnviroStars green business program. EnviroStars allows self-tracking for all aspects of sustainability, including recycling and waste reduction, storm water, energy use, water conservation, transportation and hazardous waste.
EnviroStars is a free, one-stop online hub for Washington businesses to get information, assistance, free resources and recognition for actions that protect the environment and employee health and safety.
Visit EnviroStars.org or call the EnviroStars Hotline at 1-877-220-7827 for information or application assistance. The hotline offers free multilingual assistance for Spanish / Español, Vietnamese / 㗂越, Mandarin / 官话, Russian / ру́сский язы́к, Tagalog, Korean / 한국어, Amharic / አማርኛ, and Somali / ˜اَف صَومالي
Join the Recycling Services Mailing List
Sign-up to receive the latest recycling services updates.
NEWS AND EVENTS
Upcoming Events
Tukwila Community Garage Sale, Saturday, August 12, 2023
Save the date to hold a yard/garage sale at your home — at the same time as your neighbors throughout Tukwila! Clear out those closets, earn a little money, and shop for bargains – all while helping support reuse and recycling!
Check out the locations for the 2023 Tukwila Garage Sale. A printable PDF is also available, showing a list of addresses. Happy shopping!
If you still need to pick up a yellow “Garage Sale” sign to advertise your sale, those are available at City Hall and the Tukwila Community Centers (TCC). (City Hall is open Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the TCC is open Monday–Thursday: 6:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Friday: 6:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., and Saturday: 7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
Questions? Contact recycle@tukwilawa.gov or call (206) 433-7178
Past Events
2023 Re-Think Waste: Earth Day Video, Photo, Art Contest
Stay tuned for the 2024 version of the K-12 Youth Re-Think Waste Video, Photo, Art Contest. 2023 winning students include:
Elementary Level:
1st Place | Sameera Bista ̶ 3rd grade | “Don’t use Plastic Bottles” |
2nd Place | Dmitry Korolev ̶ 1st grade | “Let’s Keep Our Oceans Clean” |
3rd Place (Tie) | Ella Chesak & Mason Deming ̶ 4th grade | “Recycling is Winning |
3rd Place (Tie) | Kim Chi Nguyen ̶ 3rd grad | “Recycling Bulletin Board” |
Middle School/High School Level:
1st Place | Jennifer Kim Ly – 11th grade | “Save a Bag, Save a Planet” |
2nd Place | Jwan Magsoosi ̶ 9th grade | “Do Your Part” |
2nd Place (Tie) | Yomna Abou Shameh ̶ 7th grade | “Recycling Community” |
3rd Place (Tie) | Zoe Sagmoen ̶ 11th grade | “Bleu Upcycling” |
Teacher Stephanie Motsch won for having the most number of students who submitted artwork. Visit wmnorthwest.com/Tukwila or click here to see the winning artwork.
2023 Tukwila Recycling Collection Event
The City of Tukwila held its annual Recycling Collection Event on April 22nd and it was a great success. A total of 388 carloads of materials were received, for a total of 43,245 pound of recyclable materials. The event also included a rain barrel sale for distribution of recycled content rain barrels to Tukwila residents.
Overall, the event collected: 22,460 pounds of scrap metals, appliances and electronic equipment; 8 used refrigerators and freezers; approximately 8,550 pounds of bulky and scrap wood; 12 propane tanks; 145 used tires; 20 lead acid batteries; 3,450 household batteries; 11 toilets and sinks; an estimated 2,100 pounds of cardboard; and 24, mattresses and box springs. Wow!
And there’s more!
Learn more about Green Tukwila!
WASTE AND RECYCLING LEGISLATION IN WASHINGTON
Several recently plans and programs to improve waste and recycling streams were recently created by the Washington Legislature. These include the following:
Washington’s Plastic Bag Ban: To reduce plastic contaminants from single-use plastic bags in Washington’s waterways, land resources, and recycling system, the Legislature passed a ban on all single-use plastic bags in retail stores, groceries, markets, restaurants, and other vendors statewide. Businesses are required to collect and retain an 8-cent fee on all paper bags and durable, reusable plastic film bags provided at checkout. The recommended and preferred option is for consumers to bring their own clean, reusable bags for food and goods whenever possible.
Businesses may consult the Bag Ban Outreach Material Toolkit, which has been translated to over 23 languages here.
Paint Stewardship Program: The new PaintCare program makes it easier for Washington residents and some businesses to recycle their unused and unwanted paint. The statewide paint recycling program established an industry-led, statewide program to ensure proper management of leftover paint.
Households and businesses generate millions of gallons of leftover paint each year. It’s really messy and expensive to deal with. Garbage haulers don’t want it, it’s time consuming to dry out, and some paint is hazardous. The PaintCare program provides Washingtonians a better way to manage their leftover paint.
How do I get rid of my unwanted paint? First, find a free drop-off site and call to confirm business hours and ensure that they will accept your type of paint. All your paint containers need to have lids and original labels. And make sure they are anchored into your vehicle securely!
RECYCLING RESOURCES
Are you a Recycling Expert?
It is a good time to review the current requirements for which items are recyclable. Visit https://www.wmnorthwest.com/tukwila/recycling.html to review recycling, garbage, and yard waste. Remember, do not bag recycling – put items loose in your recycling cart or recycling dumpster. Items also need to be empty before recycling.
Recent changes for where items should go:
- shredded paper belongs in the garbage;
- plastic clam shell/ salad bar/cookie containers belong in the garbage, and
- plastic bags belong in the garbage.
Plastic bags can be recycled at some local stores, visit plasticfilmrecycling.org for a list of locations.
Want to Recycle Those Old Electronics?
E-Cycle Washington is a free program that makes it easy for Washington residents to recycle certain broken, obsolete, or worn-out electronics. Electronic products contain valuable materials that can be recycled and toxic chemicals that should be kept out of the landfill. For more information on the E-Cycle program, click here.
King County What Do I Do With database
This is an excellent resource for finding recyclers for unusual items – all year round. Look up information based on what you have to find the nearest recycling option. Categories include batteries, paint, mattresses.
https://info.kingcounty.gov/services/recycling-garbage/solid-waste/what-do-i-do-with/
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events
While there are not upcoming collection events in Tukwila, there are events coming up in Kent, Auburn and Burien.
Visit this site to find out what is collected and when the next events are: Kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/solid-waste/facilities/hazardous-waste/schedule.aspx
Medicine Return
Expired medicine or medicine that is not needed cannot be flushed. Safely dispose for free at drop boxes or through the mailback program. Visit https://kingcountysecuremedicinereturn.org/ for more information.
Proof of Residence Now Required at King County Recycling and Garbage Facilities
Beginning June 16, 2021, the King County Solid Waste Division will require customers who come to a King County recycling and garbage facility to show proof they live or do business within King County’s 37-city and unincorporated service area. For more information about these changes, click here.
For hours and information about the King County Facility in Tukwila, Bow Lake Recycling and Transfer Station at 18800 Orillia Rd S., click here.