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Click on a question to go straight to the answer, or scroll through all questions and answers below. If you have a question about cleaning and greening up your curbside collection, Ask Charlie! Charlie is knowledgable about recycling and compost practices in your neighborhood and around the region.

What is a multifamily customer?
How can I access my account online?
How can I get locks on my containers and how much do they cost?
What taxes do I pay on my garbage service?
What do I do with household batteries?
How do I dispose of used syringes (sharps)?
What do I do with…..?
Can recalled food be composted?
Do I have to put food scraps in my yard debris cart?

What is a multifamily customer?

You are a multifamily customer if you live in an apartment or condominium complex with 5 or more units and your solid waste bill is received by the property manager, homeowners association or other representative.

If you live in an apartment or condominium complex and you receive your invoice directly from CleanScapes (not from the property manager), please see the "residential" section of this website.

How can I access my account online?

The person or management company who receives the monthly invoice from CleanScapes can access the account for the apartment or condominium complex to:

• View services and collection schedule.
• See past invoices.
• Pay invoices.

If you have not accessed your account before, go to “sign up now” and complete the form. Problems accessing your account? Call 206-763-4444 or e-mail information@cleanscapes.com

How can I get locks on my containers and how much do they cost?

Send a request by email to information@cleanscapes.com or call us at 206-763-4444.

For a one time charge of $12, you will receive the locks needed for one container and a key to each lock. Containers larger than 2 yards require 2 locks.  Because of the extra time required to service locked containers, there is a $1.50 charge per collection of each locking container.

What taxes do I pay on my garbage service?

Taxes on your garbage bill consist of:

• Washington State Refuse Tax - 3% These funds are used to provide financial assistance to local governments for repair and maintenance of public works projects.
• City Utility Tax – 6% Utility tax revenue provides basic City services such as police protection, parks and street maintenance, human services, jail and environmental services.
• King County Hazardous Waste Fee -  $9.07 This fee is collected by the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County to fund the Hazardous Wastemobile and the Hazardous Waste Collection Sheds throughout the County.

What do I do with household batteries?

Household batteries are not allowed in your recycling container. "Button” -shaped batteries are not allowed in your garbage. To recycle button batteries and alkaline batteries, take them to the locations listed below. The types of batteries accepted at these locations are: alkaline, nickel cadmium, lithium, mercury, nickel metal-hydride.

Shoreline Library - 345 NE 175th
Richmond Beach Library - 19601 21st Ave NW
City Hall lobby - 17544 Midvale Ave N
City Hall Annex lobby
Highland Plaza - 1110 N. 175th St
Police Station lobby - 1206 N 185th St

How do I dispose of used syringes (sharps)?

Putting sharps in the garbage is a health risk for solid waste workers because a loose needle could injure or possibly infect a worker. There are a number of safe options for disposal of home-generated “sharps:”
Put them in a red plastic “sharps container” or in a 2-liter plastic bottle with the lid securely on and take it to the Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station

Contact your local pharmacy and ask about their “sharps” collection services.

Purchase a postage paid, mail-in container. To find out where to purchase, search for “sharps mail in programs” on your computer, ask your doctor, or contact the following companies:

BioMedical Waste Solutions - www.biomedicalwastesolutions.com
1-877-974-1300

GRP & Associates, Inc - www.sharpsdisposal.com
1-800-207-0976

Medasend - www.medasend.com
1-800-200-3581

The least preferred option is to put sharps in the garbage. If you do, put them in a 2-liter plastic bottle with the lid securely on and mark the bottle “Sharps – Do Not Recycle.” This method is not supported by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Centers for Disease Control because of the danger it poses to solid waste workers. 

What do I do with…..?

For information on recycling other items, call the City’s Environmental Programs Assistant at (206) 546-2659 for a copy of the “Where To Take It” flyer, or check the City’s website at www.cityofshoreline.com.

Check the King County Solid Waste Division website “What do I do with” at  http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/wdidw/ for places to take unusual materials.

Can recalled food be composted?

No. Recalled food cannot go in your food scraps & yard debris cart.

Do I have to put food scraps in my yard debris cart?

No. Food scraps & yard debris service is an optional service. If you choose to subscribe to food scraps & yard debris service, you are not required to put food scraps in the cart, although it may save you money if you can downsize your container by putting less material in the garbage.

Please send us an email (information@cleanscapes.com) or call if you have additional questions about this service.