Seattle Transfer Stations & Dump — North & South Hours, Fees & Rules
Seattle has no public landfill. Self-haul goes to one of two city-run transfer stations, North on N. 34th Street and South on S. Kenyon Street, both open every day, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A trip costs at least $37, which covers up to 420 lbs of garbage; recycling is free.
Hazardous waste doesn't go to the transfer stations. King County takes it free at two Seattle drop-offs, on different days of the week. Here are the sites, the fees, and what gets turned away.
Won't take: Household hazardous waste (oil paint, chemicals), Asbestos, Construction and demolition recyclables such as asphalt, bricks, concrete, cardboard and new gypsum scrap (they go to a recycler), Anything over 8 feet long and over 200 lbs, Furnaces, wood stoves and duct work, Dead animals over 15 lbs
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and the Fourth of July (the Fourth closure is North only).
Seattle Public Utilities charges by weight, with a minimum per trip. These are the rates from April 1, 2026:
What you bring
Minimum
Per ton
Garbage
$37 (covers up to 420 lbs)
$174
Clean yard waste
$25 (covers up to 380 lbs)
$132
Clean wood
$25
$132
Recyclables
Free
Free
The $37 minimum is the number that matters for small trips: any garbage load up to 420 lbs costs $37 flat, and you pay by the ton only above that. Separate the yard waste and clean wood before you go; at $132 a ton they cost less than garbage, and a mixed load is charged as garbage. Tires are $16 a load (up to four), and appliances are $34 each, two to a load. Fridges have to be empty with the doors removed.
Secure your load. An unsecured load pays a surcharge: $3 minimum, $5 up to a ton, $10 above that.
Both stations are open every day, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except the first Wednesday of each month, when they open at 10 a.m. They close on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. On the Fourth of July only the North station closes, so the South station on Kenyon Street is your option that day.
Hazardous waste: two sites, no shared days
The transfer stations don't take household hazardous waste. King County runs two free drop-offs in Seattle, and their days don't overlap: North Seattle (12550 Stone Ave. N.) is open Sunday to Tuesday, and South Seattle (8100 2nd Ave. S.) Thursday to Saturday, both 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Neither is open on Wednesday. There's no fee and no appointment for King County residents. For more choices, see our page on King County transfer stations, where Factoria and South County also take hazardous waste.
Find a disposal site near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest sites across Washington, then call ahead — hours and access rules vary a lot here.
How much does it cost to dump at the Seattle transfer station?
Garbage is $174 a ton with a $37 minimum that covers up to 420 lbs, so any load up to 420 lbs costs $37. Clean yard waste and clean wood are $132 a ton with a $25 minimum. Recyclables are free. These are Seattle Public Utilities rates from April 1, 2026.
What are the Seattle transfer station hours?
The North (1350 N. 34th St.) and South (130 S. Kenyon St.) transfer stations are open every day, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except the first Wednesday of the month, when they open at 10 a.m. Both close on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and the North station also closes on the Fourth of July.
Can I take paint or chemicals to the Seattle transfer station?
No. Household hazardous waste goes to King County's free drop-offs: North Seattle at 12550 Stone Ave. N. (Sunday to Tuesday) or South Seattle at 8100 2nd Ave. S. (Thursday to Saturday), both 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is needed for King County residents.
Is recycling free at the Seattle dump?
Yes. Seattle Public Utilities charges nothing for recyclables at the North and South transfer stations. Household sharps are also free, up to one gallon a trip.
Where can I get rid of a refrigerator in Seattle?
At either Seattle transfer station, for $34 per appliance on its own, up to two a load. Refrigerators must be empty with the doors removed, and commercial appliances aren't accepted.
