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About SPU
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Recycling System
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History & Overview
Residential Recycling Program
Background
Seattle’s curbside recycling program for single family through fourplex sized structures began February 1988. The City used an RFP process to choose 2 companies to negotiate contracts. The contracts were for collection and processing of recyclables only. At the time the City was preparing for the contracts, very few other cities were recycling and information regarding the best system was not available.
Begun with two different collection methods
The result of the competitive process was that Seattle ended up with 2 distinctly different collection programs:
- • In the north end of Seattle, there was a weekly 3-bin source-separated system.
- • In the south part of the city, a monthly co-mingled system was implemented.
At the start of the program, the materials collected were newspaper, mixed paper, glass, aluminum and tin food cans. PET bottles were added in 1989, HDPE plastic bottles were added in 1991 and ferrous metals were added in 1993.
Recycling collection was not on the same day as garbage or yard waste collection. Participation is voluntary, and there is no separate charge to residents for using the service.
This system continued until April 2000, when the Seattle’s curbside recycling program underwent major changes.
Current collection system and contracts
The new collection contracts -- which began in April of 2000 -- provided for some major changes.
In order to take advantage of efficiencies, to foster competition, and to have same-day collection of recyclables, garbage and yard waste, Seattle chose to split the city in two and award two contracts for all collection services, including single family and multi-family dwellings:
- • One firm, Waste Management, Inc., provides collection of garbage, recycling and yard waste to the north half of the city.
- • A second firm, U.S. Disposal (a subsidiary of Allied Waste) provides collection services to the south half of the city.
Each household receives all collection services on the same day of the week. This represents a reduction in the number of separate collection contracts from nine down to two. Copies of the current contracts and the Request for Proposals (RFP) used in the 1999 contracting process can be obtained in the Contracts section (link below).
Frequency of Collection
Households on the toter system have their recyclables collected every other week on the same day as garbage. Apartments with centralized recycling most commonly receive collection service every other week.
Service Fee
There is no separate charge for the curbside or centralized recycling program.
Size of Residences Served
There are 2 different services offered. Customers who receive garbage can service (primarily single-family through fourplexes, but some larger structures are included) also receive the new co-mingled curbside recycling service.
Larger structures which receive garbage dumpster service (primarily apartment buildings with 5 or more units) are part of the centralized recycling collection program. These buildings will receive a dumpster and/or multiple toters for their recyclables. However, the system is flexible and the intent is to customize the container choice to the needs of the building.
Program data
Please see the Residential Recycling Reports for a complete listing of historical and current data for the curbside recycling program. The reports contain number of households as well as tons by month by material.
For the Centralized Recycling Program, please see the Apartment Recycling Reports. These contain historical and current data for the program including number of buildings and units currently receiving service and tons by month by material.
Related links
Recyclable Items
Recycling System: Reports
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