Extra Garbage and Recycling

If holiday gatherings have left you with more garbage than will fit into your regular container with the lid closed you can set out the extras in a bag or can next to your regular garbage.  Waste Management will charge you $4.58 for each additional can or bag.

Extra Recyclables
All wrapping paper can be recycled except the shiny, metallic kind. If you have more paper than your cart can hold, place it in paper bags and set it next to the bin for collection.  Please do not use plastic bags or cardboard boxes for this purpose.  There is no charge for extra recyclables.

Avoid Foil Coated
Foil-coated wrapping paper, cards and boxes cannot be recycled.  If you can't reuse them, dispose of them as garbage.

Don't Burn Wrapping Paper
All paper creates toxins when burned, but the colored or glossy wrapping papers have even more poison in the smoke. The inks and coatings are commonly made of plastics, toxic metals such as copper, lead and chrome and other hazardous materials. When burned, these materials become tiny particles that lodge deep in the lungs. Poisons in the paper can damage nervous systems, kidneys and other organs.

Recycle Those Holiday
Food Scraps!

If holiday entertaining leaves your garbage can bursting with food scraps, paper plates and napkins, remember that you can lighten the load by recycling foodwaste and food-soiled paper in your yard debris cart.

Redmond’s curbside program accepts all types of food and table scraps, including meat, poultry, bones, cheese, fruits, vegetables, eggshells, and coffee grounds and filters.

You can requests a free kitchen food scraps pail to store your food scraps on the counter, or under the sink, until you are ready to take them to your yard debris cart.  Your food scraps pail will come with a sample roll of compostable bags to line the bin.  The bags will break down completely in the composting process. 

For more information or to request your free kitchen food scraps bin call 425-556-2897.

 

Recycle Your Christmas tree
Curbside Collection

Yard waste customers can recycle Christmas trees at curbside. Trees are collected ONLY as yard debris – they should not be placed in your garbage can.  Flocked trees are the exception, as they cannot be composted. Flocked trees must be placed in the garbage. Make sure to remove all lights, tinsel and ornaments! 

Trees must be cut into 3-foot lengths and trunks can be no larger than 4 inches in diameter. Place the cut-up sections in your yard debris cart. Or, securely tie the cut-up sections into bundles and place them next to your cart for collection. (Bundles can be no larger than 4 feet by 2 feet. Please use only sisal twine.  Do not use plastic twine as it will not break down in the composting process.)  Christmas trees count as part of your yard debris.  That means if you put your tree out for collection in addition to a full cart of yard debris, you will be charged $2.70 for each extra bag or bundle of branches.

Drop-off locations:
Please call for fees and hours of operation

• Pacific Topsoils
  20871 NE Redmond Fall City Road, Redmond
  425-898-8217
• All Wood Recycling
  8504 192nd Ave. NE, Redmond
  206-682-5735

You can find other local tree-recycling events by visiting http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/ and selecting “Tree-Cycling” in the Search Calendar box.

 

Which Plastics Can You Put in Your Curbside Recycling?

When trying to figure out if plastic can go in your curbside recycling, remember to look at the shape and not the number or recycling symbol on the bottom.  Only jugs, bottles and dairy tubs (like a cream cheese container) can go in the curbside recycling. Plastic shopping bags can be recycled at your local grocery store, or better yet, bring your own reusable bag when shopping.