Holiday Garbage & Recycling Resources
There are so many things to think about during the holidays, and garbage and recycling usually isn’t at the top of the list. The City of Federal Way Solid Waste and Recycling Division would like to help you manage your waste during this busy time.
Holiday Schedule: There is no garbage, recycling or yard waste collection on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Service will be one day later each week. For example, Friday customers will be serviced on Saturday. www.wmnorthwest.com/federalway/
Cardboard Boxes & Wrapping Paper: Curbside recycling is unlimited, so don’t throw away any cardboard, plain gift wrap, gift boxes, glass bottles, plastic jugs, cans or other recyclable materials. If your recycling cart fills up, simply place the extras in a can or cardboard box labeled “recycling” and set it next to your recycling cart for free collection. Boxes will be taken, but personal containers will be left behind. You can also drop off a wide range of recyclables at Bow Lake Recycling Center located at 18800 Orillia Rd S, Tukwila.
Christmas Trees: Flocked and unusable artificial Christmas trees should be placed in the garbage or taken to the Algona Transfer Station at 35315 W Valley Hwy S, Algona or Bow Lake Transfer Station at 18800 Orillia Rd S, Federal Way. Residents with curbside garbage service may also utilize their Annual Bonus Curbside Pickup which includes up to three bulky items and 15 bags of garbage each year. For more information, visit wmnorthwest.com/federalway or call 253-833-3333.
Clothing, Shoes, Toys & Decorations: Donate your unwanted clothing, shoes, toys, games, decorations and household items to a local second-hand store. Ripped, stained and torn clothing and linens can now recycled for free through the ThreadCycle program at Goodwill, 32521 Pacific Hwy S, Federal Way.
Styrofoam & Packing Peanuts: White Styrofoam blocks and packing peanuts can be dropped off for free recycling at Styro Recycle located at 23418 68th Ave S, Kent in the “Park 234” warehouse. While there, you can also drop off excess cardboard, bubble wrap, plastic bags and clean takeout containers.
TVs & Computers: Drop off televisions, computers, monitors, laptops and tablets – working or not – at Goodwill located at 32521 Pacific Hwy S, Federal Way or Video Only located at 1643 S 352nd St, Federal Way for free recycling through the E-Cycle Washington program.
Food: Consider freezing or giving away excess food instead of placing it in the garbage. Food scraps and spoiled food can be placed in your yard waste cart to be composted locally. Place food scraps in a paper sack, wrap in newspaper or layer with yard waste to help keep you cart clean. Visit King County's Food: Too Good To Waste page.
Give it Away: Consider posting an online ad to give away your unwanted items. You will be amazed what other people might want. Free postings can placed on Craigslist, Facebook Buy Nothing Group, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp or Nextdoor.
Garbage: If you can’t recycle or give away your bulky items, then you will need to dispose of them as garbage.
- Residents with curbside garbage service may also utilize their Annual Bonus Curbside Pickup which includes up to three bulky items and 15 bags of garbage each year. For more information, visit wmnorthwest.com/federalway or call 253-833-3333.
- The two closest King County Transfer Stations are Bow Lake located at 18800 Orillia Rd S, Tukwila and Algona located at 35315 W Valley Hwy, Algona. Hours, rates and restrictions can be found at http://kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/solid-waste/facilities/transfer.aspx.
Snow Delay: Waste Management will post updates if weather conditions prevent safe collection of garbage on-line at http://servicealerts.wmnorthwest.com/federalway/.