Reduce Waste (Businesses)

Assessing a commercial kitchen with a restaurant employee.

Reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost! Your business can save on your waste bills, comply with Seattle's and Washington’s recycling and composting laws, reduce climate impact, and gain recognition for protecting the environment, your staff, and the community. Get free tools and expert help today to save money and go green.

Quick Start: Request a Free Site Visit

Contact us to get in-person support to improve recycling, composting, and waste prevention practices at your business. Every Seattle business with a physical location is eligible. A free visit from us can help you:

  • Reduce Waste and Save Money

    Increase recycling and composting, and right-size your garbage service to save money at your business. Find resources for hard-to-recycle materials and  schedule a compost and recycling training session for your staff in their preferred language(s).

  • Prevent Food Waste & Increase Food Donation

    Get tailored strategies and tools to reduce and prevent food waste at your business and event facility and streamline your food management efforts. Find edible food donation options that work for your operations.

  • Meet Requirements for Large Waste Generators

    Receive compliance support and manage your waste more effectively at your business that generates more than 50 cubic yards of garbage per week. Receive additional resources such as staff training and waste assessments.

Waste Prevention

Recycling and composting at your Seattle business is required and helps keep our community clean and healthy. What’s a better option? Not creating waste in the first place! x176324

  • Restaurants and other food service businesses can prevent food waste by buying, preparing, and serving only what is needed. Learn more about food waste prevention.
  • Donate surplus and edible food to your community
  • Donate, recycle, or sell surplus materials
  • Swap out your single-use foodservice ware for reusable cups, plates, and utensils to protect your business from rising costs and lessen your environmental footprint. Apply for the Reuse Seattle incentive to receive up to $500 in reusable dishware.

Recyclables

Placing labels on bins in a restaurant.

Food and Compostables

A waste sorting informational poster up in a commercial kitchen

Specialized Waste Resources

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Check out these specialized waste resources, or contact us by email at GreenBusiness@seattle.gov or by phone at (206) 343-8505.

Public Utilities

Andrew Lee, General Manager and CEO
Address: 700 5th Avenue, Suite 4900, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34018, Seattle, WA, 98124-5177
Phone: (206) 684-3000
SPUCustomerService@seattle.gov

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Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is comprised of three major direct-service providing utilities: the Water Utility, the Drainage and Wastewater Utility, and the Solid Waste Utility.