The maximum allowed weight is 14,000 lbs due to safety concerns. If the container weighs more than 14,000 lbs, it will be off-loaded at the customer’s expense. Materials such as dirt, concrete, bricks or other heavy materials add bulk and weight to the container and should be collected separately from other debris.

Recology trucks are 34 feet long. To enter a location and deliver a container, we need at least 34 feet plus the length of the container. We also need at least 16 feet of clear overhead space with no wires or building overhangs.

Recology offers a limited supply of debris boxes with solid lids which help to reduce the amount of rainwater that enters the container. Rainwater will affect the weight of the container particularly if the container is filled with absorbent materials such as dry wall, carpet, or mattresses.

To minimize water volume and weight, remember to keep the lid closed, keep the debris box under cover or utilize a tarp where applicable. If a lid is needed, please mention when requesting the debris box so we can fulfill this need upon delivery.

During rainy weather, access to various sites may be limited due to mud, visibility, etc. If our driver feels that a location is un-serviceable or unsafe, we will inform you as soon as possible, continue service when conditions improve, or work with you to find an alternative solution if needed.

If you have questions about how to operate your debris box lid, it is best to meet the driver on site during the initial delivery. Our driver can show you how to safely use the lid. For your protection, please do not remove the pins that connect the lid to the container. If the lid does not open to the correct side for your operations, please contact Customer Service at 206.250.7500 and we will work with you to resolve the problem.

The zoning of your property determines the time of day that we are allowed to haul.  Depending on the zone, day hauls can begin at 7am, finishing around 3pm.  For commercial zones, night hauls can begin at around 6pm through to the early morning.

Recology guarantees any haul within 24 hours of notification for contracted service, and offers a four hour time window for debris box hauling and delivery if requested when scheduling the delivery/haul.

When loading a debris box, the materials cannot be higher than the sides of the container. If you are loading heavy materials, weight restrictions may limit the volume you can put into the container.

When you call to schedule the delivery or service of a debris box, you will be required to designate it as garbage, construction and demolition debris, recycling, or organic material.

The City of Seattle requires readily recyclable materials from construction and demolition projects to be collected in a construction and demolition (C&D) debris containers.  Below is a comprehensive list of recyclable construction debris materials.

• Wood waste
• Metal and wire
• Concrete, asphalt, rock, masonry, sand, dirt
• Cardboard and paper
• Hard plastics
• Film plastics
• Clean Polystyrene
• Ceiling tiles
• Plaster and drywall
• Windows and glass
• Roofing debris and asphalt shingles
• Carpet
• Toilets
• Appliances
• Mattresses (with surcharge)
• Tires (with surcharge)

The following items are considered hazardous and are prohibited in all containers:

• Gasoline
• Paints, thinners, oils, stains
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Gas-filled containers
• Batteries

 

Before starting any renovation, review the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency website for more information on asbestos abatement.

You will need to take the following steps:

• Use an AHERA-certified building inspector to conduct an asbestos survey and locate potential asbestos-containing material.
• File a notification with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency prior to any demolition activities.
• Use an asbestos contractor to remove all friable asbestos-containing materials listed in the survey prior to any demolition.

Full debris boxes can be heavy. We recommend that customers place sheets of plywood on top of the driveway where the container wheels and legs would go. Recology is not responsible for damage caused to property from debris boxes.

If your property does not have enough space for a container or space to safely gain access, you may be required to place the container on the street. If you need to use the street right of way and live in Seattle, call City of Seattle Street Use Permit Counter at 206.684.5283.  Questions they will ask: How long do you need the container? What is the footprint of space that this container will take up?

Weight limitations prevent the collection of concrete or dirt in a debris box larger than 10-yards.

A dry run charge is a fee assessed if we come out to haul a scheduled container, but cannot haul that container due to access issues, excessive container weight, wrong material, severe contamination, or last-minute customer request to cancel collection.