City-wide

As of June 1, 2024, businesses or individuals serving or selling food must use:

• Reusable plates, bowls, cups, utensils, and condiment containers for on-site dining
• Commercially compostable plates, bowls, cups, and utensils for takeout and to-go orders

Plastic and Styrofoam food service ware is not allowed.

Adopted by City Council in 2023 (SMC 14.15), these rules will reduce disposable plastic packaging that is difficult to recycle, often ends up as litter, and pollutes streams, lakes, and Puget Sound. 

For more information visit our Business Waste Reduction webpage. 

State-wide

Washington State has passed several laws to reduce waste and pollution from plastic items that can’t be recycled and often end up in waterways where they harm aquatic life.

• As of October 2021, single-use plastic carryout bags are banned in all food service businesses, including retail and grocery stores, restaurants, takeout establishments, festivals, and markets. Retail establishments are only allowed to provide reusable and recycled-content carry out bags for a fee.
• As of January 1, 2022, restaurants and food service businesses cannot automatically provide single-use items like straws or utensils with orders but may do so if a customer requests.
• As of June 2024, the sale and distribution of Styrofoam food service products like containers, plates, bowls, clam shells, trays, and cups is banned.

In fall 2023, Shoreline and Lake Forest Park received nearly $100,000 to pilot a Shoreline Tool Library and Reuse Center (Tool Library) through King County's Re+ City Grant program. We have partnered with Seattle REconomy to launch a full circular economy marketplace—a single location that houses a suite of complementary reuse and repair services, including a tool library, reclaimed material store, and space for hosting repair and educational events. 

Since its January 2024 grand opening, the Tool Library has:

• Signed up over 1,000 members and engaged over 150 volunteers
• Opened the Shoreline Bike Shack
• Rehoused ~20,000 tools through their annual tool sale
• Hosted several fix-it nights
• Rescued over 10,000 pounds of used tools and building supplies and continue to divert these valuable materials away from the landfill

 Visit the Shoreline Tool Library today!

We've taken steps to help Shoreline residents and businesses compost more and recycle better to send less to the landfill. 

• Businesses can get free compost service, back of house supplies, staff training and more.
• Apartment and condos can get free compost service, recycling assistance, and resident education supplies and materials.
• Shoreline residents can get a free compost kit to make composting food scraps at home easier. Residents can pick up a free kit at the Shoreline Recology Store during business hours while supplies last.*

*Residents picking up a compost kit should have access to compost service to recycle their food scraps. At this time, we do not have public compost drop-off sites.

While residents living in single-family homes have access to curbside recycling for special items such as Styrofoam, batteries, textiles, and more through Recology, renters in multifamily properties do not. To increase access to this service, we've piloted expanding special item recycling services at apartment and condo communities in Shoreline. We have partnered with more than a dozen properties to install free onsite specialty recycling stations for batteries and plastic bags. 

The City has also established a longstanding battery recycling program where Shoreline residents can safely dispose of household batteries for free at public drop-off locations throughout the city.

• Make a list. Shoppers who use and stick to lists have lower grocery bills and make fewer shopping trips.
• Shop your fridge and cupboards first to avoid buying food you already have on hand.
• For recipes that call for small amounts of different vegetables, shop at the salad bar. They will cost more per ounce, but less overall.
• Use a portion planner. When you’re not sure how much you’ll need for your dinner party, use an online portion planner.

• Prep your produce as soon as you get home.
• Store your food the right way to keep it fresh and tasty for as long as possible.
• Print out these handy guides for storing spring/summer and fall/winter produce.
• Organize your refrigerator by temperature so perishable foods last longer.
• Designate an “eat soon” area in your fridge by moving food that's likely to spoil soon to the front of a shelf.

• Designate a night of the week to use up what’s in your fridge. Don't be afraid to revive droopy celery or stale bread!
• Find recipes specifically made to help you use leftovers and food scraps like stems, bones, and everything in between.
• About 20% of food waste is linked to date labeling confusion. Understand "Use By," Sell By," and other food labels so you don't needlessly throwing away good food.

• Buy used and vintage furniture and household items
• Shop for clothing at thrift stores, consignment stores, and online secondhand marketplaces
• Try renting clothing for special occasions where you'll only wear the item once
• Borrow tools like shovels, power washers, sewing machines, catering equipment and more from a tool library for your next home improvement project or event
• Instead of buying new books, check them out from your local library or buy used
• Choose reusable products over single-use items when possible (like water bottles, straws, napkins, and paper towels)
• Bring your own reusable bag when you shop to avoid plastic litter
• Use rechargeable batteries that can be charged and used up to 1,000 times and are recyclable at the end of their considerable lifespans

• Use King County's "What Do I Do With" tool to find a list of businesses and organizations that will accept your unwanted materials for reuse and recycling
• Donation centers in Shoreline, such as Goodwill and Deseret Industries, accept clothing, usable furniture, household goods and more
• Donate clothes, shoes, linens, or other textiles through Threadcycle
• Donate furniture and tools to the Furniture Repair Bank which will revive unwanted furniture and provide it to families in need
• Northwest Center trucks will come to your home to accept donations of clothing and housewares or you can bring accepted items to a drop-off location near you
• Schedule a free pickup with Habitat for Humanity for a variety of items including appliances, furniture, home decor, and more
• Join a Buy Nothing Facebook group to connect with your neighbors to gift and receive used items
• Make money and give items a second life by reselling clothing at a consignment store

• Use Repair Economy Washington's search tool to find repair services, community fix-it groups, tool libraries, and makerspaces near you
• King County offers free repair events throughout the year where King County residents can bring broken items to be repaired or mended
• Check out the King County repair businesses directory, for a list of items and businesses that offer repair services for a fee
• Learn to fix simple clothing issues and minor electronic damage using iFixit's instructional articles and videos
• Support the 'right to repair'

Almost 35% of what ends up in the landfill is organic waste like yard debris, food scraps, and food-soiled paper. In the landfill, food and yard waste produces more methane, contributing to climate change. Composting turns it into a nutrient-rich product that supports healthy soil and plants. To get these great benefits, here's how to compost right.

Know What to Compost

Food scraps can always be composted even when they’re moldy or rotten. Food-soiled paper like pizza boxes can also be composted, but cardboard that is clean and dry is better off recycled. If you're not sure if an item is compostable, check your Recology sorting guide. If you're still unsure, put it in the garbage to avoid contamination. 

Food In, Plastic Out

Put food and food-soiled paper in your compost cart and keep plastic out. Plastic bags, containers, and packaging do not break down and can contaminate compost that people use on their lawns and gardens.

Get Started

Residents in single-family home can get weekly compost service through Recology at no additional cost. 

Businesses and apartments or condos can get free weekly compost service for a limited time.

Shoreline residents can get a free compost kit to make composting food scraps at home easier. Residents can pick up a free kit at the Shoreline Recology Store during business hours while supplies last. Note: Residents picking up a compost kit should have access to compost service to recycle their food scraps. At this time, we do not have public compost drop-off sites.

The best way to help recycling thrive is by only putting accepted, clean items in your recycling cart. To ensure everything in your cart is recyclable, follow these tips on how to recycle right.

Know What to Recycle

Recycle only materials that are accepted by Recology. If you're not sure if an item is recyclable, check your Recology sorting guide. If you're still unsure, put it in the garbage to avoid contamination. Also, put recycling in your cart loose– don't bag them!

Empty, Clean and Dry

Always wash out and dry your recyclables. Any leftover food or liquid can create mold, which ruins items and causes contamination. If you can’t get them clean, put them in the garbage.

Keep Plastic Bags Out

Don’t put plastic bags or wraps in your recycling cart, even if they’re bundled. These flimsy plastics get tangled in equipment at recycling facilities. Instead, recycle your plastic bags and wrap at a store drop-off. If you can’t visit a drop-off site, it’s best to reuse plastic bags or put them in the garbage.

The City is piloting a plastic bag recycling program at apartments and condos in Shoreline. Learn more and get started today.

Recology Special Item Recycling

• Curbside: Recology offers a residential curbside Special Item Recycling program for items that are not accepted inside your recycling cart and are hard to properly dispose of otherwise.  
• Drop-off: If Recology picks up at your house or apartment, you can also drop off at their store! The Recology Store accepts items for recycling that cannot be put in your curbside recycling cart. Learn more about accepted items and view store hours. 

More Options

• Paint: Residents and business can drop off unwanted paint, stains and clear finishes for recycling at PaintCare locations at no charge. Find the nearest drop-off location and information on accepted products at PaintCare.org.
• Electronics: Residents can recycle their computers, monitors, laptops and TVs for free at authorized E-Cycle Washington collection sites. Find a collection site near you.
• Textiles: Recycle clothes, shoes, linens, or other textiles through Threadcycle.
  Check out the Where Does it Go? tool for a full list of options.
• Various:
  • Check out King County's "What Do I Do With" tool for a full list of recycling options.
  • Call 1-800-RECYCLE (1-800-732-9253) or visit 1800recycle.wa.gov. Washington Recycles is both a hotline and an online tool that connects you or your business to recycling services across Washington. This tool can help you find where in your community you can recycle everything from used appliances to leftover paint.