Seattle City Wire

Welcome to summer! This is a note to our customers about the North Transfer Station closure for July 4th as well as how to properly dispose of summer celebration items.  

Seattle Public Utilities’ North Transfer Station in Wallingford will be closed on Tuesday, July 4 to help ease traffic congestion from the Fourth of July event at Gasworks Park.  Residential solid waste collection will remain on normal schedule (this means Tuesday customers should put their garbage, recycling, and composting containers out as usual). The South Transfer Station will be open for customers during normal hours. 

SEATTLE’S NORTH TRANSFER STATION WILL BE CLOSED TUESDAY, JULY 4

The South Transfer Station is located in the South Park neighborhood at 130 S. Kenyon St. Customers who would like more information about Transfer station hours, rates, and materials accepted, should call (206) 684-8400 or visit www.seattle.gov/util/dump. 

HOW TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF TRICKY SUMMER ITEMS

FIREWORKS:

Fireworks are illegal in Seattle, but if you use them somewhere they’re allowed, make sure to dispose of them safely.  

Put In Garbage 

Only fireworks that are completely burned out AND cooled down by submerging them in a bucket of water for 15 minutes can be put in the garbage. DO NOT put used fireworks that haven’t been soaked into a paper or plastic bag, or unused fireworks, in the garbage. They could catch fire and pose a danger to employees who handle trash at local transfer stations. 

If Unused 

Call the Seattle Police Firing Range at (206) 684-7470 to dispose of small, unused residential fireworks. 

BACKPACKING, CAMPING, AND SMALL GAS CANISTERS:  

Metal gas canisters are an explosion hazard at the recycling facilities. That is why they are not accepted in recycling carts/dumpsters. 

Put In Garbage 

Empty butane and gas canisters under 2 pounds can go in the garbage. 

Schedule a Special Item Pickup 

Schedule a Special Item Pick up online or call SPU Customer Service at (206) 684-3000. Fees apply. 

• Small camp stove and backpacking canisters should be empty of fuel 
• Canisters must be under 1 pound in size 
• Limit: 4 canisters under 1 pound in size each 
• Place in a small box next to your garbage cart on garbage collection day after receiving email confirmation that pick-up has been scheduled 

Drop-off Options 

Empty small backpacking-style isobutane fuel canisters (excluding green “Coleman” style propane canisters) can be dropped off for free at the MSR Repair Shop, in SODO, or at the Mountaineers Bookstore, in NE Seattle. 

Small “Coleman” style canisters with any amount of gas can be dropped off for free at a household hazardous waste facility. Up to 3 empty canisters per visit can be taken to a Recology Store for a fee. 

PROPANE & BUTANE TANKS: 

Put In Garbage 

Empty propane or gas canisters under 2 pounds can go in the garbage. 

Drop-Off Options 

Tanks greater than 2 pounds and up to 30 pounds (8 gallons) must go to a household hazardous waste facility. No fee. This includes tanks that are empty or that contain any amount of propane or butane. 

For tanks larger than 30 pounds or 8 gallons, call our household hazards line at (206) 296-4692. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

BBQ OR BRIQUETTE ASHES: 

Put In Garbage 

Fireplace and briquette ashes must be completely cooled, wetted, and placed in a closed box or bag. This prevents ash from scattering when your garbage is collected. 

TOYS OR SPORTING GOODS (INCLUDING POOL FLOATS AND INFLATABLES):

Reuse, Repair, and Donate 

• Donate toys, sporting goods, or balls in good condition to local thrift stores. 
• Resell or give it away using sites like Craigslist, Freecycle, and Buy Nothing. 

Put In Recycling 

• Toys and sporting equipment made of metal that are 2 feet or less on all sides. Can include small amounts of attached plastic, rubber, or wood. 
• Clean rigid plastic toys and sporting equipment 3 feet or less on all sides.

Put In Garbage 

• Sports equipment and toys not made of mostly rigid plastic or metal, go in the garbage. 
• Soft plastic items like pool floaties, inflatable balls, and yoga mats go in the garbage. 
• Unusable sports balls go into the garbage.

Take to Transfer Station 

Toys and sporting equipment greater than the above size limits can be taken to city transfer stations. Fees apply. Check the rates page. 

BATTERIES: 

Schedule a Special Item Pickup 

Submit a request online or call (206) 684-3000 to schedule a pickup where batteries will be reclaimed and recycled. Fees apply. 

Drop-off Options 

Bring alkaline batteries to city transfer stations, where the materials in the batteries will be reclaimed and recycled. No fee. 

Bring alkaline batteries to a household hazardous waste facility where the materials in the batteries will be reclaimed and recycled. No fee.

Original source can be found here.