Seattle City Council banned plastic carryout bags back in 2011. So why are they back— in a thicker form? Seattle residents likely can remember a time between 2012 and 2020 where plastic carryout bags were not offered at grocery stores and other retail establishments. Only paper bags were available. This… [ Keep reading ]
Last week, Seattle hosted the international ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit, a gathering of leaders from government, business, and hunger‑relief organizations aiming to tackle one of the biggest challenges in our waste stream: food. Right here in our city, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is at the forefront of developing smart,… [ Keep reading ]
Zero Waste Events at Seattle Center Could Soon Be a Reality We’re excited to share that Seattle has been named one of 50 finalists from 33 countries in the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, a global competition that supports bold and innovative urban solutions to major challenges cities face. This… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is excited to share that glass placed in your residential blue bin is once again being recycled into new products, thanks to major improvements in regional infrastructure and new partnerships. What Happened to Glass Recycling? In 2024, Seattle had to pause regular glass recycling after the… [ Keep reading ]
llegal tire dumping isn’t just unsightly; it’s also dangerous. And it’s on the rise. Across Seattle, hundreds of used tires are being abandoned in greenbelts, public rights-of-way, and other community spaces. Since 2022, we have seen an 82% increase in large-scale illegal dumping, often involving dozens or even hundreds of… [ Keep reading ]
“The Biggest Overhaul of our Recycling System in Decades” Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) was instrumental in helping to pass a new state law that will make recycling easier, more affordable, and more effective across the state. It’s called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The bill puts companies that make packaging and paper… [ Keep reading ]
Have you gone on a walk or drive around Seattle and spotted those bright yellow bags? We’re pretty sure you’ve seen them. Curious about what they’re for? We’ve got the answers. Those yellow bags come from our Adopt a Street (AAS) program! This program provides free supplies, like yellow trash… [ Keep reading ]
We aren’t quite out of the woods yet with the winter weather this week, so here are a few reminders:
Following this week’s snow, solid waste pick up schedules have shifted. Thursday customers were picked up Friday. Friday customers will be picked up Saturday. Wednesday customers can put their carts away until next Wednesday. Customers missed this week (Wednesday customers) will be allowed to set out twice their normal amount… [ Keep reading ]
As a reminder, due to winter weather, there is a shift for which customers are serviced today. Thursday customers should have carts out by 7am today. And regular Friday customers will set carts out for collection by 7am Saturday. Transfer Stations are open today. If your materials are not picked… [ Keep reading ]
