Garbage, Recycling, and Compost Information for Businesses

CLEAR ALLEY PROGRAM

Seattle Public Utilities is partnering with local waste collection companies and the downtown customers to reduce the storage of waste containers in the public right-of-way. The City of Seattle’s Clear Alleys Program (CAP) aims to:

  • Create cleaner, safer business districts
  • Reduce the incidence of uncivil behaviors and illegal activities in alleys
  • Increase the attractiveness of alleys for pedestrian use
  • Allow better alley access for business services (deliveries) and possible expansion of commercial activity

This program prohibits dumpsters from being stored in the public right of way.  The Director’s Rule (pdf) restricts permanent storage of waste containers in the public right-of-way in Pioneer Square as well as a few other neighborhoods. Businesses and buildings must use special pre-paid CAP bags to collect garbage and recyclables. Carts are permissible for glass recycling and compostable. These rules only apply to buildings that do not have indoor storage for solid waste. Click here to learn more about CAP service boundaries for Pioneer Square and downtown. 

Learn more about CAP
Visit the City of Seattle website or click here to learn more about CAP. To sign up for bag service or place a bag order, call 206.250.7500. 

CAP How-to Guide

If your business is located north of Yesler, Recology is your designated garbage provider. Businesses located south of Yesler are serviced by Waste Management. To verify who your provider is, please view this service area map. 

Service provider for businesses north of Yesler:

Recology‘s Clear Alleys Program (CAP) replaces dumpsters with a daily bag pickup service, creating cleaner, safer alleys. With CAP you pay by the bag, which means you only pay for what you throw away. To find out if your business is in the designated Clear Alley service zone, view this service area map (PDF).

To set up a Recology account and order CAP bags, please visit Recology’s CAP webpage.

Service provider for businesses South of Yesler:

Waste Management has provided the following materials to assist business owners and property owners for the waste, recycling, and compost needs. For additional information and assistance, please reach out to Waste Management’s Outreach team at recyclenw@wm.com.

To set up a Waste Management account and order CAP bags, visit Waste Management’s CAP webpage.

Other Waste Management Resources:

City of Seattle Solid Waste Tools and Resources