Recycling events help Renton, Wash., move forward with zero-waste plan
In 1990, the city of Renton, Wash., began its future in recycling collection by holding a collection event for metal, tires and oil. Today, the city holds recycling events three times a year for King County residents, with each event focused on specific materials. As a suburb of Seattle, Renton has plenty of various recycling options available for residents in the area. The city’s goal for recycling includes education on nearby recycling sources that can be used anytime throughout the year and recycling events for other items that residents would be more likely to dump.
Throughout the history of the collection events, there have been 27 material types collected, including concrete, textiles, tires and used motor oil. Only eight of these materials are now accepted at current recycling events. These are automotive tires, bubble wrap, cardboard, mattresses and box springs, paper or shredding, styrofoam, scrap metal and donated food. These items were chosen based on how often the city sees them illegally dumped and what other options there are locally for recycling the items. No longer accepted items include appliances with refrigerants, batteries, bicycles, bulky yard waste, used motor oil, clean wood, concrete, hazardous waste, household goods and textiles, plastic bags, plastic containers, plastic plant pots, phones and porcelain. For the items that are no longer accepted, the city is focusing on educating residents on the multiple other locations throughout the city that accept the items throughout the year so they can take the items any time they wish and not wait for collection events.
In May, Renton collected styrofoam and metals. This is also the first year they collected arts and crafts supplies.
“We’re always looking for something different,” Meara Heubach, solid waste program manager, stated, “and we came across the idea for arts and craft supplies. We’re always willing to try something out and see how it works out.”
In June, the city collected mattresses and box springs, cardboard, styrofoam and tires. The last event of the year in September is styrofoam and shredded items. Residents can also send in photos of used furniture to see if it will be accepted for recycling. At each event, donated canned goods are also accepted, though it is not a requirement. Previously, the city would hold two events in the spring and fall, and it would get between 600 and 700 cars. Now the events are held three times a year, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and are significantly more manageable than the larger events. Between 1997 and 2024, these recycling events have collected 4,115 tons of material from over 25,980 vehicles. In 2024 alone, the three recycling events collected over 24 tons of material from over 900 vehicles.
These events are funded through the King County Waste Reduction and Recycling grant. This allows the recycling drop-offs to remain free for residents, except for mattresses and box springs, which have a fee of $30.
These free drop-off events are limited to King County residents, so contractors and businesses cannot drop off items. The city mails flyers to eligible residents with their utility bills, including those in the unincorporated county area. At the larger events, the city did have a challenge with some businesses attempting to bring items, such as concrete or tires.
However, the city is hoping to get commercial customers and businesses to recycle more. Goals are to get them signed up for food waste collection service based on organics management laws to separate organic waste. Currently, the city has low participation from commercial businesses and offices in recycling and composting. The city is dedicated to helping get them set up and successful, particularly with the new organics management law. It is working with a consultant to assist in outreach to the commercial customers and how to best help them participate more in recycling and separating food waste.
Between 2005 and 2019, Renton also held a Stop and Swap event. This acted as a free yard sale where residents could bring unwanted reusable items, and other residents could pick them up for free. It acted as a great way for residents to get rid of bulkier items, such as couches and dressers. At the end, charities would come and get the pick of the items and anything left over would be taken to the landfill. Last year, the city partnered with the Furniture Repair Bank to collect 75 pieces of damaged furniture. The Furniture Repair Bank then refurbished the furniture and donated it to families in need. Seattle Recreative will also teach the volunteers how to refurbish furniture and reuse the art supplies.
“We are always looking for other organizations who would want to partner together with the city for recycling,” Heubach emphasized.
While Renton has weekly food waste and yard waste collection, it began collecting city waste every other week in 2009 and is one of only three Washington cities to do so. Each week residents can also set out cardboard, chopped up trees or leaves for no additional cost. This moves the city toward its zero waste draft plan that is currently out for community comment and will hopefully be adopted by the end of the year. Implementation would then start next year.
No:1 Recycling events are funded through the King County Waste Reduction and Recycling grant so that drop-offs are free, except for a small charge for mattresses and box springs. Last year alone, the recycling events collected over 24 tons of solid waste from over 900 vehicles. (Photo provided by the Renton, Wash., Public Works Department) No2: Renton began recycling collection events in 1990, starting with metal, tires and oil. Items collected have changed over the years based on what is most likely to be dumped and other collection options available around the area. For items no longer accepted at collection events, the city educates residents on other locations that accept the items throughout the year. (Photo provided by the Renton, Wash., Public Works Department) 
No3: The city of Renton has weekly food waste and yard waste collection, but collect city waste every other week. They are also working with commercial customers to get them set up with recycling and composting in accordance with new organics management laws. (Photo provided by the Renton, Wash., Public Works Department) 
No4: This year Renton, Wash., held three recycling events for styrofoam, metals, arts and crafts supplies, mattresses and box springs, cardboard, tires and shredded paper items. The city also collects donated canned goods at these events. (Photo provided by the Renton, Wash., Public Works Department)
