CITY OF RENTON WASHINGTON

Separating recyclable waste and food and yard waste from garbage can save money and help protect the environment.

The residential curbside collection service provided by Republic Services includes recycling (blue cart) as well as organics (gray cart) without additional cost to the customer. By separating recyclables and organics (food and yard waste) from the garbage, you can downsize your garbage cart and pay a lower rate. Keeping materials out of the landfill whenever possible is a socially responsible practice, helping to conserve natural resources and reduce greenhouse gases that drive climate change.

There is no charge for setting out extra recyclables or yard waste that do not fit into curbside carts.

Set out extra recyclable items in a bin or cardboard box (limit 3’x3’x3’) next to the blue recycling cart. Extra yard trimmings can be put in paper yard bags, 32-gal cans with handles (65 lb limit) and lids that are labeled “Yard,” or in bundles tied with sisal twine (4’x2’ limit). They can be set out next to the gray organics cart. DO NOT bag extra recyclables or food and yard waste in plastic bags.

The recyclability of a material depends on its quality and the market demand for that material.

For this reason, and for easy and safe sorting at the recycling facility, it is important that the items placed in your recycling cart are on Republic Services' accepted list, and are empty, clean, and dry. Once recyclable items are collected and taken to a recycling facility, they are sorted by machines and people, then baled by material to be sold.

Reuse plastic bags or recycle them at a grocery store that has a take-back program.

Plastic bags are not accepted in curbside recycling as they cause many problems at recycling facilities. They get caught in sorting machines and have to be cut down, which disrupts operations, raises safety concerns, and results in higher operation costs. Furthermore, they can contaminate otherwise clean bales of recyclable materials. 

The best solution is to bring reusable bags when shopping, instead of getting plastic bags. If plastic bags must be used, reuse them or take them to a grocery store that recycles them. All major grocery stores in Renton, as well as some large retail stores like Target, Lowe's and Staples, have a plastic bag take-back program.