Recology King County offers a residential curbside Special Item Recycling program for items that that are not accepted inside your recycling container and are hard to properly dispose of otherwise. *Some items are accepted from Commercial Customers in Des Moines (see instructions for more information).
Curbside Set-Out Instructions: Place items on top of, or next to your blue recycling cart on collection day. Service for special item recycling collection must be requested by the bill payer on record.
SPECIAL ITEMS FOR COLLECTION
- FLUORESCENT TUBES & BULBS
- MOTOR & COOKING OIL
- STYROFOAM
- TEXTILES
- SMALL APPLIANCES & ELECTRONICS
- BATTERIES
Fluorescent Tubes & Bulbs
Fluorescent lights contain small amounts of hazardous substances and must be recycled separately from all other recyclables. Please DO NOT put them inside your recycling cart.
Please follow the instructions below:
- Wrap tubes in several layers of newspaper.
- Put bulbs in plastic bag tied closed (or zip style bag).
- Tubes longer than 4 feet will not be collected.
- Accepted from Commercial Customers
- Limit: 2 tubes/bulbs per collection, 10 bulbs per year
Motor Oil & Cooking Oil
- Separate motor and cooking oil into different containers and remove any contaminants
- Sealed in a leak-free, clear plastic jugs with screw-top lids
- Labeled with name and address
- Accepted from Commercial Customers
- Limit: 3 gallons per collection per type of oil
StyrofoamTM
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) blocks, such as picnic coolers and packaging used to protect new appliances should have all stickers and labels removed and be secured inside clear plastic bags. Affix bagged Styrofoam™ to cart. Clear bags are also available for free at Des Moines City Hall, 21630 11th Ave S, Suite D.
“Insta-Paks” or Styrofoam™ packing peanuts not accepted.
Note: Because Styrofoam™ is light, it is best to set out in the morning rather than the night before. On windy days, please secure bagged Styrofoam™ with a brick, rock, stake or by tying multiple bags together.
Acceptable items include dry, clean clothing and household textiles (sheets, towels, table cloths, etc.) Place items in clear plastic bag.
Small Appliances & Electronics
- Items must be 2’x2’x2′ or smaller and less than 60 lbs
- Place items on top of blue recycling cart on your collection day
Batteries
- Place button and alkaline batteries in a sealed plastic bag
- Place rechargeable batteries in a separated sealed plastic bag
- Tape ends of all batteries with clear packing tape
- Accepted from Commercial Customers
- Motor vehicle batteries are NOT accepted