Use the curbside organics cart for routine amounts that meet Recology’s rules. Consider the City of Bothell voucher program for eligible larger drop-offs. Use hauling when the pile is too large, access is difficult, or you do not have a suitable vehicle.
Sort the material before choosing a route
Keep green yard material separate from soil, rock, treated wood, painted wood, metal, glass, plastic, garbage, and construction debris. A mixed pile can be rejected or charged differently because the receiving facility cannot process it as clean organic material.
| Material | Keep separate from | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves, grass, brush | Plastic bags, pet waste, glass, metal | Contamination can make the load unsuitable for composting |
| Branches | Wire, lights, plastic ties | Clean woody material has specific size and processing rules |
| Clean wood | Painted, stained, or treated wood | “Clean wood” is a defined recycling category |
| Soil and rock | Green waste | Dense material follows different weight and facility rules |
Option 1: curbside organics
The City of Bothell says Recology provides garbage, recycling, and organics collection to city customers. The city lists yard trimmings, debris, branches, and untreated wood among accepted curbside compost materials. It tells residents not to place pet waste or glass in the compost cart.
Curbside service works well for maintenance cleanup that fits the cart without unsafe compaction or an open lid. Check Recology’s current cart, branch, and pickup rules for your account before setting out material. Bothell addresses outside the city service area may use a different hauler.
Option 2: the 2026 recycling voucher program
Eligible residents inside Bothell city limits can request up to two $30 recycling vouchers per year for certain materials at the Shoreline Recycling & Transfer Station. The 2026 program lists yard waste at $115 per ton with an $18 minimum fee for up to 320 pounds. It accepts branches, brush, grass clippings, leaves, tree stumps, wood rounds, holiday trees, and weeds under listed size limits.
The city’s current rules state that branches can be no more than eight feet long and four inches in diameter; stumps and wood rounds can be no larger than two feet in each dimension. Plastic, glass, metal, sod, soil, and rocks are not accepted in the yard-waste category. If fees exceed the voucher value, the customer pays the difference.
Option 3: full-service hauling
Hauling may fit when the pile exceeds cart capacity, the material is spread across a property, you lack a safe vehicle, or you need labor to move the debris. It is also useful when a cleanup includes separate categories that must be routed differently.
For an estimate, send one wide photo, approximate pile dimensions, the material types, the thickest branch diameter, and the path from the pile to the loading area. Mention gates, slopes, stairs, soft ground, or a long carry.
Do not cut large limbs, operate a chainsaw, or handle storm-damaged trees beyond your training. Material under tension and limbs near utilities require qualified assessment.
Five questions to answer
- Is the address inside Bothell city limits, and which hauler serves it?
- Is the pile clean yard waste, clean wood, or mixed material?
- Does it fit the organics cart and current collection rules?
- Can you transport it safely without overloading or leaving debris unsecured?
- Would the labor and trip be easier to combine with professional hauling?
For a larger Bothell cleanup, call or text (425) 948-9656 with the pile dimensions and access details.
Sources: City of Bothell, Garbage, Recycling, and Compost, and 2026 Recycling Voucher Program. Retrieved September 16, 2026. Voucher eligibility is limited to qualifying City of Bothell residents; confirm current fees and facility rules before travel.