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Recycling and Reuse Information

Thurston County Blue Bin Sites (Self-Haul)

Thurston County residents have the option of self-hauling recyclable materials to blue bin sites located throughout Thurston County. Look for the large blue recycling containers.

Note: Please be sure to follow the label instructions on the bins. Place materials loose in the blue bins -- not in paper or plastic bags. Also, if you go to a site and find that one or more bins are full, PLEASE do not leave your materials on the ground or elsewhere. Either come back another time, or try one of our other locations.

Lacey	Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center, 2418 Hogum Bay Road N.E.
Rochester	Rochester Garbage Drop Box site: 16500 Sargent Road Open Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only
Rainier	Rainier Garbage Drop Box site: 13010 Rainier Acres Road S.E. in Rainier. Open Fridays and Saturdays only.

 

Prepare Materials for Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center at Hawks Prairie

The blue bins at the Waste and Recovery Center accept all of following items.
(Use this tipsheet to prepare your recyclables.)

• Aluminum & tin cans
• Newspapers
• Paper bags
• Paperback books
• Magazines, catalogs & mail (windows, staples & sticky notes ok)
• Cereal & food boxes
• Phone books
• Cardboard (flattened)
• Plastic bottles, jugs & jars (neck must be narrower than the base, no lids or caps)
• Dairy tubs & yogurt cups
• Rigid plant pots (empty, no dirt)
• Plastic buckets (must be clean, no lids or handles)
• Glass bottles and jars
• Plastic film (grocery bags, dry cleaning bags, bread bags) -- only in the bin that features a sign for plastic film. Plastic bags do not belong in any other bin.  Accepted at Waste and Recovery Center only.
• Polystyrene (also known as Styrofoam ™) molded blocks and food containers.
  - Rinse or wipe food containers clean.
  - Make sure foam has the #6 recycle symbol.
  - Put foam in a clear or translucent bag.
  - Put shape/molded foam and food containers in separate bags.
  
  No packaging peanuts. Call 1-800-828-2214 or visit www.loosefillpackaging.com for drop-off locations.

Prepare Materials for Rainier and Rochester

Thurston County's blue bin sites at Rainier and Rochester accept all of the items listed above, EXCEPT plastic film and Styrofoam.

(Use this tipsheet to prepare your recyclables.)

Clothing

Gently used clothing is also accepted at all of the blue bin sites. Clothing taken to the Rainier and Rochester sites goes to Northwest Center. At the Lacey site, clothing should be taken to the Goodwill station.

Contact Us

Call Thurston County Public Works at (360) 867-2491 or e-mail ThurstonSolidWaste@co.thurston.wa.us.