Materials list
Select one or more materials to find a list of businesses and organizations that will accept your unwanted materials for reuse, recycling, or disposal.
Animal Waste
Animal Manure, Excrement
Animal and pet feces (poop) or manure.Dead Animals
Dead pets, farm animals or wildlife.Appliances
Refrigerators, Freezers
Appliances used for cooling or freezing foods.Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps
An air conditioner is a mechanical refrigeration device used to control temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and movement of air in a confined space. A heat pump is an outdoor air conditioning unit capable of either cooling or heating an indoor space.Other Major Appliances
Refrigerators, freezers, stoves (kitchen range or oven), hot water heaters, furnaces, washers, dryers and other major appliances sometimes referred to as "white goods."Small Household Appliances
Small household appliances include items such as blenders, coffee pots and irons.Microwaves
Microwave ovens are kitchen appliances used to heat food and drinks.Asbestos
Asbestos-Containing Waste
Asbestos-containing waste means any material containing more than one percent (1%) asbestos, as determined using the method specified in EPA regulations Appendix E, Subpart E, 40 CFR Part 763, Section 1, Polarized Light Microscopy. Common asbestos-containing materials include: thermal system insulation, spray-applied surfacing (fireproofing, insulation, decorative), sheet vinyl flooring and associated felt backing, cement asbestos-board siding. See PSCAA's Asbestos Survey Guidance for a more complete list.
Batteries
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable batteries are nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride and lithium ion. These batteries are typically found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, and remote control toys.
Alkaline Batteries
Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9 volt).Motor Vehicle Batteries
Motor vehicle batteries, or car batteries, are also known as lead acid batteries.
Button Batteries
Button batteries include small button or coin-sized batteries used in watches, digital thermometers, hearing aids, etc.
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Batteries
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS), also known as an uninterruptible power source or a battery backup, is a device that keeps computers running for a short period of time after a power failure. The device usually derives its power from lead-acid batteries – locations that recycle vehicle batteries usually also recycle UPS batteries.
Carpet
Carpet
A thick, heavy covering for a floor, usually made of woven wool or synthetic fibers. Carpet and carpet padding are considered construction and demolition (C&D) materials.
Carpet Padding
The padding material placed under carpet, often made of small pieces of foam rubber. Carpet and carpet padding are considered construction and demolition (C&D) materials.
Cleaning Products
Cleaning Products
Cleaning products include items such as ammonia, bleach, drain opener, furniture polish, oven cleaner and toilet bowl cleaner. Product labels may include "Danger", "Warning", "Poison", "Caustic" or "Flammable."
Construction and Demolition Debris
Concrete
A common construction material often found in foundations and sidewalks. It is made from a mixture of aggregates (sand and gravel), cement and water.Asphalt
Asphalt pavement is made from aggregate and asphalt cement, a refined oil product.Brick
A building material made of fired clay that is normally formed into blocks of uniform size.Asphalt Roofing
Shingles composed of a felt mat saturated with asphalt, with small rock granules added, commonly referred to as "three-tab." Some roofing that appears to be asphalt may be asbestos containing material, such as built-up roofing (see PSCAA).
Read more about King County LinkUp's efforts to increase asphalt shingle recycling.
Drywall
Internal wall material made of a sheet of gypsum covered on both sides with a paper facing and a paperboard backing. Drywall is also referred to as gypsum board, wallboard, plasterboard and sheetrock.
Reusable Building Materials
A variety of items including but not limited to cabinets, doors, fencing, floor coverings, hardware and fixtures, plumbing and pipe, roofing, siding and windows that are in reusable or salvageable condition.
Acoustic Ceiling Tile
Panels made from a variety of materials designed to reduce noise. Most vendors will accept mineral fiber-based tiles that are free of contaminants but will not accept cast tile, fiberglass board, ceramic-based tiles or laminated tiles. Some acoustic ceiling tiles are asbestos containing material - see PSCAA.
Wood
Clean wood includes wood that is untreated, unstained and unpainted such as: construction lumber, pallets, plywood, OSB, particle board (also known as particleboard, low-density fiberboard (LDF), and chipboard), and branches.
Wood that is, or has ever been, pressure treated, stained, or painted, regardless of age or weathering, is not recyclable and should be disposed of as garbage. Railroad ties, which are treated with creosote, must be properly disposed - contact the designated C&D waste transfer facilities.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass consists of flexible fragments of spun or woven glass and is often found in insulating materials. It can also be coated with resins and molded into items such as pools or spas.Porcelain
A durable, non-absorbent ceramic that is fired at the highest kiln temperatures. It is often found as porcelain, toilets, sinks and ceramic tiles. Black coating on the underside of sinks may contain asbestos (see PSCAA).
Plaster
A mixture of cement or gypsum plaster with sand, perlite or vermiculite, and sometimes lime to form an interior wet wall system when applied to lath work or plasterboard. Some plaster container ingredients list may include the specific asbestos mineral, such as crysotile (see PSCAA).
Vermiculite Attic Insulation
A pebble-like, pour-in (or blown-in) product that is light-brown or gold in color. Some vermiculite attic insulation may contain asbestos fibers.
Rigid Foam Insulation Board
Solid foam sheets, usually made of EPS, XPS, XEPS, ISO, or a composite. The foam comes in a range of thicknesses and may, or may not, have foil backing on 1 or 2 sides. Usually used as insulation under roofs, on walls, or under foundations.Drums and Barrels
Barrels and Drums
Rigid containers, such as burn barrels, larger than 25 gallons in volume and usually made of fiber, plastic or steel.Electronics
Computers, Laptops, Tablets
Includes the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer (desktop, laptop, and portable computers) and its internal components, such as circuit boards.TVs
Includes both flat-screen (liquid crystal display (LCD) or plasma) and cathode ray tube (CRT) model televisions.Audio Video and Camera equipment
Includes cameras and equipment for exposing film and recording digital images; electronic stereo equipment, VCRs, DVD players; CDs, DVDs, audio cassettes, VHS tapes, computer disks and software; film, lenses, and accessories.Monitors
Includes flat-screen (liquid crystal display (LCD) or plasma) and cathode ray tube (CRT) models.Cell Phones and Smart Devices
Includes wireless mobile telephones (cell phones or smart phones), personal digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, smart watches and other personal mobile devices.
Printers, Copiers, Fax Machines, Peripherals
Includes all-in-one devices and photocopy machines. Printers include such models as laserjet, deskjet, inkjet, color and black and white printers. Peripherals include mice, keyboards, cords, speakers and external drives.Gaming Devices
Includes all game systems and gaming accessories.Solar Panels
Solar panels or photovoltaic (PV) modules provide renewable energy and can have a lifespan of decades.
Fluorescent Lights
Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Fluorescent light bulbs, such as a compact fluorescent lamp or CFL, that contain mercury or lead or that have other hazardous properties; this also includes DLP and LCD projector lamps.Fluorescent Light Ballasts
The box (usually black) inside fluorescent and high-intensity discharge (HID) light fixtures that activate the lights. Until 1979, virtually all ballasts were made with capacitors that contained polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Fluorescent Light Tubes
Fluorescent light tubes that contain mercury or lead or that have other hazardous properties.Food
Food
Food waste includes spoiled, expired, or otherwise inedible food. Food waste and soiled paper can be recycled with yard waste (in areas with this service) and collected at your curb, composted or taken by a disposal service provider for a fee.
Fats, Oil and Grease
Fats, oils, and grease includes used cooking oil.
Edible food for donation
Includes: baked goods and commercially canned, boxed, and otherwise packaged foods not needing refrigeration; fresh produce and; food prepared in a donor kitchen, licensed food establishment or food processing company.Furniture
Foam Padding
Polyurethane foam from furniture, mattresses, carpet padding and other materials. Many vendors will not accept foam rubber or latex foam.Office Furniture
Office furniture includes desks, chairs, tables, panels and other items commonly found in office environments.Mattresses
Mattresses are large thick pads filled with resilient material and often coiled springs; used as a bed or part of a bed.Household Furniture
Household furniture includes items such as couches, tables and chairs and bedframes.Glass
Mixed Glass
Container glass not sorted into color or grade categories.
Separated Glass
Glass that has been sorted by color.Window Glass
Sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors.Landscaping, Landclearing
Brush, Woody Waste
Woody prunings, branches, and debris from trees, shrubs or bushes.Yard Waste
Christmas trees, leaves, grass, clippings, plant material, prunings, branches and other debris from a private residence.Rock
Any naturally formed aggregate or mass of inorganic materials.Clean Soil
Uncontaminated soil, dirt or sod.Contaminated Soil
Soil that is contaminated with materials such as petroleum products, heavy metals or sewage.Clean Sand
Uncontaminated sand.Contaminated Sand
Sand that is contaminated with materials such as petroleum products, heavy metals or sewage.Metal
Aluminum Cans
Beverage containers made from aluminum.Ferrous Metals
Ferrous metals contain iron and steel. This might include: pipes, cast iron, motor blocks, appliances, bicycles, tin cans, rebar, I-beam, water heaters, wood burning stoves, and lawnmowers. Note: remove all liquids and dispose or recycle properly.Nonferrous Metals
Common non-ferrous metals are lead, aluminum, tin, copper, and zinc. This might include stainless steel, radiators, wire, window frames, electric motors, copper pipe and brass. Note: remove all liquids and dispose or recycle properly.Steel Cans, Tin Cans
Cans made of steel or tin typically used to contain food or beverages.
Misc Household Items
General
General items include kitchen and bath accessories, decorative items, and various other housewares.Eyeglasses
Lenses set into frames that help to correct the wearer's vision.Baby Supplies
Baby supplies include items such as clothing, small toys, books, baby bedding/towels, crib mattresses and equipment such as cribs, bassinets, swings, high chairs, strollers, car seats and changing tables.Bicycles and Bicycle Parts
Includes bicycles and bicycle parts (inner tubes, tires, seats, etc.) that are in working order and those that can be fixed with a reasonable amount of effort for re-sale or donation.
If your bike is beyond repair, put it in the bicycle bin at Bow Lake or Shoreline, or in the scrap metal bin at Enumclaw, Factoria, or Vashon transfer station (if made of 50% or more metal).
Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors can be disposed in the garbage. You can read more about smoke detectors at the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program website. Batteries should be removed and recycled or disposed first.Medicines
Medicines include unwanted, left over, or expired prescription or over the counter medicines, drugs, pharmaceuticals, controlled substances, medications, anesthetics, antibiotics, antiseptics, balms, pills, capsules, ointments, salves, sedatives, serums, tablets, tinctures, tonics, or vaccines. Also includes medications for household pets.
Illegal dumping
Illegal dumping is the improper disposal of waste on public or private property.
Reusable Medical Equipment
Reusable medical equipment includes items such as walkers, wheelchairs, crutches and canes, shower chairs, bed rails, CPAPs, and oximeters.
Paint
Latex paint
Paint that has a latex binder and can be removed with water while it is wet. Latex paint is also known as water-based paint.
Buy only as much paint as you need for a particular job. Use this paint calculator to figure out exactly how much paint to buy.
Oil-based & alkyd-based paints
Oil-based paints are made with either alkyd (synthetic) or linseed (natural) oils. Oil-based paint cleanup requires turpentine or paint thinner (mineral spirits). Includes stains and clear coatings, urethane paints and coatings, lacquers, epoxy paints and coatings.
Buy only as much paint as you need for a particular job. Use this paint calculator to figure out exactly how much paint to buy.
Paint thinner & solvents
Paint thinner, solvents such as turpentine, and cleaning agents are used to thin oil-based paint and/or clean up after their use.
Pallets
Pallets
Wooden platforms on which materials are stacked for storage and shipping, they are reusable, repairable, or recyclable.
Paper
Mixed Paper
Various grades of paper, including junk mail, magazines, catalogs, soft cover books, phone books, cereal boxes and wrapping paper*.
To opt out of receiving unsolicited mail (junk mail), catalogs, or phone books, use the phone book publishers’ opt-out service or catalog choice.
*Wrapping paper without foreign materials can be included in curbside recycling. However, wrapping paper that is heavily dyed, laminated and/or contains non-paper additives such as gold and silver metallic lining, glitter and plastics cannot be recycled.
Office Paper
A mixture of high-grade papers such as copier paper, computer printouts and stationery.Newspaper
The thin paper used mainly for daily newspapers.Cardboard
A fluted paperboard sandwiched between two flat pieces of paperboard; used mainly for shipping containers.Confidential Documents
Confidential documents include paper on which confidential financial, medical or legal information is printed.Pulltabs
Small paper or paperboard gaming pieces used in a game of chance.Books
A stack of printed pages bound together with a hard or soft cover. May include textbooks, popular books, reference books, children's books and others.Phone Books
Bound yellow or white pages typically printed on low-grade paper.
To opt out of junk mail, catalogs, or phone books, use the phone book publishers’ opt-out service or catalog choice.
Polycoated Cardboard
Polycoated cardboard is typically found in the form of coated paperboard packaging such as milk and juice cartons.Shredded Paper
Various types of paper and confidential documents that have been shredded.
Shredded paper should be put in a plastic bag, tied, and placed in your garbage cart. You can also reduce the amount of paper you shred or check with your city or local businesses for "shred events" in your area.
Pesticides
Pesticides
Pesticides and herbicides include items such as lawn, garden or house plant insect killers; weed killers; rat poison; slug bait; and ant- or roach-control chemicals.
Plastic
Foam Packing Peanuts
Packing peanuts are the small Styrofoam™ (polystyrene) “peanuts” found in many packages shipped through the mail. Many gift stores or shipping centers will accept clean packing peanuts free of charge to reuse in packaging or shipping.
Plastic Nursery Pots
Round or square pots made from a variety of different kinds of plastic and used for transporting garden plants and seedlings.
Many nurseries and garden stores accept plastic nursery (plant) pots for reuse or recycling, seasonally and in certain sizes – contact your local store where plants are sold.
Agricultural Plastic
Agricultural plastic includes empty plastic pesticide containers, plastic twine, irrigation pipe, bale wrap, mulch film and other plastic films. Some plastic recyclers will accept agricultural plastics. For better recycling, keep like items together, as dry and clean as possible and out of the sunlight.
Bottles, Jugs and Tubs
These include plastic jugs with a neck (milk, juice, and pop bottles), plastic bottles with a neck (beverage, fabric softener, detergent, and window, bathroom and kitchen cleaners), and round plastic dairy tubs (yogurt, dairy, and butter or margarine). This does not include “clam shells” or other food take-out plastic containers which are not currently being recycled.Mixed Plastics and Other Types of Plastics
Many other types of plastic, such as vinyl banners, disposable Tyvek® clothing (shoe and boot covers, coveralls, hoods, lab coats, aprons, sleeves and pants), and large quantities of other plastics may be recyclable, typically on a case-by-case basis.
Plastic Film and Grocery Bags
Plastic film includes dry cleaning bags, bread bags, newspaper bags, pallet wrap, and shrink wrap as well as plastic grocery bags. This does not include biodegradable or compostable bags.
Empty, clean and dry plastic bags and plastic wrap can be recycled at our Shoreline and Bow Lake recycling and transfer stations. Many grocery stores accept them. Do not put them in your curbside recycling bin as these thin plastic materials get tangled in equipment at recycling facilities. When dropping bags or film off at a plastics recycler, shake or wipe them clean and place the plastic bags or wrap into the collection bin.
Plastic Office Supplies
Plastic office supplies include transparencies (such as overhead transparencies used in classrooms) and Tyvek® Envelopes (thin, water/rip resistant plastic envelopes). Some office supply businesses and manufacturers may take back their products for recycling or through mail-in programs.
Foam Blocks
Foam blocks are packaging materials made of polystyrene, expanded polystyrene (EPS, also known as Styrofoam™), expanded polypropylene (EPP), or expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam. Polystyrene includes foam materials such as egg cartons and fruit packaging. EPS and expanded polyethylene blocks are commonly used in the packing of electronic products and may be recyclable.
Printer Cartridges
Toner Cartridges
A plastic cartridge filled with toner used in printers.Inkjet Cartridges
A plastic cartridge filled with toner used in printers.Ribbon Cartridges
A plastic cartridge with a ribbon containing ink used in printers.Propane Tanks
Propane Tanks
Metal tanks used to store compressed gases such propane (typically used with a barbecue grill), helium, or oxygen.
Radioactive Waste
Radioactive Waste
Radioactive waste is not accepted at King County Solid Waste facilities.
Sharps
Medical Sharps
“Sharps waste” includes all hypodermic needles, syringes with needles attached, intravenous (IV) tubing with needles attached, scalpel blades and lancets that have been removed from the original sterile packaging, and epipen or auto-injectors.Tanks
Heating Oil Tanks
Home heating oil tanks can be either underground or above ground and are used to store oil to heat the residence on the property.Textiles
Clothing, Shoes, and Fabrics
Products made from natural and synthetic fabrics, fibers, or materials (such as cotton, wool, silk, woven nylon, rayon, polyester and leather), including clothing (textiles), shoes and other footwear, hats, belts, bags, rags, stuffed animal toys, curtains, towels, pillows, sheets, linens, and other fabrics and fabric scraps - most can be reused or recycled through nonprofits, thrift stores, or collection boxes.
Flags
Worn, damaged or torn U.S. Flags can be properly disposed of by the VFW.
Thermostats
Mercury-Containing Equipment
Mercury-containing equipment means a device or part of a device that contains elemental mercury necessary for its operation, such as thermostats, thermometers, manometers, switches, mercury regulators, meters, pressure relief gauges, water treatment pressure gauges, and sprinkler system contacts.
Tires
Passenger, Truck, Motorcycle Tires
Passenger, truck and motorcycle tires are typically made from rubber and other reinforcing material.Vehicles, vehicle-related items
Vehicles and Major Vehicle Parts
Cars, trucks, motorcycles and major vehicle parts such as engine blocks with vehicle identification numbers (VINs).Motor Oil and Automotive Fluids
Motor oil is made of refined oil used to lubricate car and truck engines. Other automotive fluids include antifreeze, brake fluid, and gasoline.Oversized Items
Over-length is defined as 8 feet long and made from a rigid material, such as pipe or lumber. Oversized is defined as 2’x2’x2’ and over 200 lbs., such as a wood stoves, safes, hot tubs, or stumps. Other oversized items may include boats, motor homes, campers, trailers, and similar large objects.
Mercury Switches
Mercury tilt switches are used in hood and trunk lights to turn the lights on and off. They do not pose any danger to the driver but should be removed from the vehicle before the car is at the end-of-its life.Junk vehicles on your property
In addition to being an eyesore, junk vehicles can damage the environment.