Food and Yard Rates

Monthly residential food and yard waste cart rates

Service Level (weekly) Curb or Alley (per month)
Effective April 1, 2023
Curb or Alley (per month)
Effective April 1, 2024
Weight Limit Dimensions
13-gallon micro-cart $7.10 $7.30 20 pounds 15"W x 18"D x 24"H
32-gallon cart $10.65 $10.95 60 pounds 20"W x 24"D x 38"H
96-gallon cart $13.60 $13.95 180 pounds 29"W x 34"D x 46"H
Extra yard waste*
(per brown craft bags, bundle or 32 gallon cart)
$6.85 $7.05 60 pounds 4' x 2' x 2'
Special Pickup Fee
Pick up fee is for collection of one container
$52.45 $53.80  N/A  N/A

Customers changing their food and yard waste cart size more than once in a twelve-month period may incur a $32.85 fee charged to their solid waste account. Effective April 1, 2024, this fee will be $33.70.

*Extra yard waste charge

A fee is charged for each additional 32-gallon container or 4 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet bundle (4' x 2' x 2') set out beside your City-provided cart. Customers can also be charged for overflowing yard waste that prevents the lid from closing. See suggestions for containers for extra yard waste. Bundles must be tied with natural fiber twine. No food waste is allowed in these extra units.

Maximum weight allowed for each extra container or bundle is 60 pounds.

For any yard waste that does not fit in the cart supplied by the City, you can use:

  • A 32-gallon can with handles, purchased from a home or garden store. Label your can "yard waste," and fill it loosely, so it will empty easily.
  • Bundles, tied with fiber twine, up to 4 feet long by 2 feet in diameter. Do not use wire, nylon cording, or plastic banding.
  • Approved compostable bags, which can be purchased at these local stores.
  • Kraft paper bags, available at home and garden retailers.
  • Reusable yard waste bags, made of polyethylene. The bag stands open by itself, stores flat and is reusable and durable. Bags can be purchased at local hardware or lawn and garden stores.

Free extra yard waste pickup in November

Extra yard waste fees are not charged in November, when customers are asked to keep fall leaves out of drains to reduce the risk of flooding. Households can put out up to 10 bags of extra yard waste per collection day for free from November 1 to 30.

Please note that this free service is only available to customers who are currently billed for regular food and yard waste collection.

Extra food waste

Food waste is allowed only in your City-provided cart. If your City-provided cart is full, you can store it for the next collection or remove some yard waste to make room for the food waste. No food waste is allowed inside extra yard waste collection bins or leaf bags. You may consider increasing your cart service level if your food and yard waste volumes are greater than your current cart size.

Public Utilities

Andrew Lee, General Manager and CEO
Address: 700 5th Avenue, Suite 4900, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34018, Seattle, WA, 98124-5177
Phone: (206) 684-3000
SPUCustomerService@seattle.gov

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Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is comprised of three major direct-service providing utilities: the Water Utility, the Drainage and Wastewater Utility, and the Solid Waste Utility.