Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Cottage Lake
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your street address.
Recycling
Collected every other week on the same day as your regular trash service.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on your regular collection day for enrolled subscribers.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential waste services in Cottage Lake are managed directly by Waste Management (WM) for unincorporated North King County and invoiced every three months.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Grey or Green Bin (Trash)
All regular garbage should be securely bagged to prevent litter and pests. Place the cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with the lid completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter (double-bagged)
- ✓Diapers and cold ashes (bagged)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all items loosely in the blue cart—never bag your recyclables. Ensure all food and beverage containers are Empty, Clean, and Dry. Lids should be removed from glass jars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, unwaxed cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film wrap
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food residue and liquids
- ✕Scrap metal
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags. Layer wet food scraps with dry yard waste or newspaper to minimize odors. Branches must be shorter than 4 feet and less than 4 inches in diameter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves, branches, and brush
- ✓Fruit and vegetable scraps
- ✓Meat, dairy, and bones
- ✓Coffee grounds and food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On demand (requires scheduling)
Placement
Once scheduled, place your bulky items at the curb securely on the morning of your confirmed pickup date to ensure safe right-of-way access.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and large chairs
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances (non-freon)
- ✓ Oversized household junk
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquid paints and solvents
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Automotive batteries
- ✕ Computers and televisions (e-waste)
Extra fees apply for all bulk collections. Contact Waste Management Northwest customer service at 1-800-592-9995 to request a quote and secure a pickup date.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste Management Northwest observes Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your collection day falls on or after a weekday holiday, service is delayed by one day for the remainder of the week (e.g., Thursday customers picked up Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the standard garbage routes.
For all other holidays, including Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day, your trash will be collected on its normal schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Bin
Plastic garbage bags, grocery bags, and stretch wrap are the worst contaminants in the recycling stream. They tangle in sorting machinery and cause facility shutdowns. Take plastic film to local grocery store drop-offs instead.
Remove Lids from Glass Jars
While glass bottles and jars are fully accepted in your recycling cart, the metal or plastic lids attached to them cause sorting issues. Remove the lids and put them in the regular garbage before recycling the glass.
No Pet Waste in the Compost
While food scraps are welcome in the green yard waste bin, pet waste and kitty litter are strictly prohibited. They carry pathogens that ruin the compost pile. Always double-bag pet waste and place it in your garbage cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to FebruaryCottage Lake's wooded roads make it susceptible to snow and ice delays. During severe winter weather, WM may suspend routes for safety. If this happens, you can leave up to twice as much material at the curb on your next regular collection day at no extra charge.
Fall
October to NovemberAutumn brings heavy leaf drops across King County. Ensure branches are cut down to fit loosely inside the yard waste cart so they don't jam the container. Excess debris can be placed in biodegradable paper bags next to the cart.
Spring
March to MaySpring cleaning often generates extra refuse. Remember that overweight carts will not be serviced by the automated trucks. If you have extra garbage, place it in sealed bags next to your bin (extra fees apply), or schedule a bulk pickup for major cleanouts.
About Cottage Lake Waste Management
Waste Management in Cottage Lake
As a beautifully wooded census-designated place in unincorporated King County, Cottage Lake relies on Waste Management (WM) Northwest for residential garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection. Due to the area's mix of dense trees and winding rural roads, it is vital to place your carts at the edge of the street by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day. Be sure to leave at least three feet of clearance around each bin—away from vehicles, mailboxes, and branches—so the automated truck arms can service your home safely.
King County Recycling Standards
Cottage Lake residents must adhere to strict King County recycling guidelines to keep the region's recovery facilities running efficiently. The most critical rule is to keep recyclables loose in your blue cart; never use plastic garbage bags. Flimsy stretch film and plastic bags wrap around sorting machinery, causing massive jams. Remember the 'Empty, Clean, and Dry' rule before tossing in plastic jugs, tin cans, flattened cardboard, and glass bottles.
Maximizing Organics and Food Waste
Because Cottage Lake features large, heavily landscaped lots, the green yard waste cart is essential. Washington State actively encourages residents to combine all kitchen food scraps—including meat, dairy, bones, and coffee grounds—with their yard trimmings. However, you must keep dirt, rocks, pet waste, and 'compostable' plastics out of this bin to prevent contaminating the commercial compost supply.
Handling Extra Waste and Bulky Cleanouts
For those undergoing home renovations or major spring cleanings, standard curbside service may not suffice. WM Northwest offers scheduled bulk pickups for oversized items like mattresses, furniture, and large appliances for an additional fee. Alternatively, Cottage Lake residents can self-haul heavy loads of junk, yard debris, or construction materials directly to the nearby Houghton Recycling & Transfer Station in Kirkland.
Disposing of Hazardous Materials Safely
Household hazardous waste—such as oil-based paints, motor oil, harsh cleaning solvents, and pesticides—poses a serious threat to Cottage Lake's local waterways and environment. These toxic items must never be placed in your curbside garbage or recycling carts. Residents can safely drop off these chemicals at the Household Hazardous Waste facility located at the Factoria Transfer Station in Bellevue.
Drop-off Facilities
Houghton Recycling & Transfer Station
11724 60th Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98033
Materials Accepted
Factoria Recycling & Transfer Station (Household Hazardous Waste)
13800 SE 32nd St, Bellevue, WA 98005
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides garbage collection for Cottage Lake, WA?
As a census-designated place in unincorporated King County, residential garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection in Cottage Lake is provided by Waste Management (WM) Northwest.
How do holidays affect my trash pickup in Cottage Lake?
WM Northwest delays service by one day only for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your pickup day falls on or after one of these holidays, service slides to the next day. All other federal holidays operate on a normal schedule.
What happens to my garbage pickup if it snows?
If winter weather and icy roads prevent safe collection, WM may delay or skip service. However, on your next regular collection day, you can set out up to twice as much material at no extra charge.
Can I put food scraps in my yard waste bin?
Yes. Washington State encourages organics diversion. You can put all kitchen food scraps, including meat, dairy, bones, and coffee grounds, directly into your green yard waste cart.