Increased recycling will cut waste, fight climate change, save landfill space
To help cut waste and reduce the amount of recyclable and compostable materials brought to the landfill, the King County Solid Waste Division beginning Jan. 2 will ask self-haul transfer station and drop box customers to place selected materials in designated recycling bins or areas.
Starting Jan. 2, 2018, self-haul customers at Bow Lake Recycling &Transfer Station will be asked to keep cardboard, scrap metal, yard waste and clean wood separate from their garbage and to place these items in marked recycling bins or areas at the facility. Customers can save time by separating recyclable materials from garbage before arriving at the facility.
The new rule applies to residents and businesses that haul their own garbage, recyclable and compostable materials to King County transfer stations or drop boxes. Self-haul customers use the public lanes at transfer stations.
“The items we’re targeting in the new recycling rule account for about one third of what self-haul customers bring to our facilities to be disposed as waste,” said Pat D. McLaughlin, SWD director.
“When recyclable materials are put back into the economy, they help create local jobs while conserving natural resources by reducing the need to create new products from virgin materials,” McLaughlin said. “Recycling conserves precious natural resources, including trees, energy and water.”
There will be no change in garbage disposal fees as a result of this recycling requirement, and there is no fee charged to recycle cardboard and scrap metal. While there is a fee to recycle yard waste and clean wood (unpainted, untreated lumber and pallets), that fee is 52 percent lower than the garbage disposal fee.
Other items, such as paper, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, plastic bottles, jugs and tubs, and textiles, can be recycled at no cost. Cans, bottles and other containers should be empty and clean (no liquids or food).
To learn more about what is accepted at Bow Lake Recycling & Transfer Station, visit the website or call King County Solid Waste Division at 206-477-4466.