King County is eliminating free recycling services starting Feb. 1 at five of its facilities.

Free recycling will no longer be offered at the Cedar Falls, Enumclaw, Houghton, Renton, and Shoreline facilities. Services will remain the same at Skykomish, Snoqualmie Pass, and Vashon.

Recyclables no longer being accepted at the affected transfer stations include: glass bottles and jars, tin and aluminum cans, plastic bottles, mixed paper, newspaper, and cardboard. Providing this service at the transfer stations cost solid waste rate payers $400,000 each year. Collecting these materials at the transfer stations is duplicating a service that is available to 99 percent of King County residents through their curbside garbage collection. Subscribing to curbside collection helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing individual trips to the transfer stations. Transfer station staff will provide customers with an information sheet about alternative recycling options. For those using the Enumclaw or Renton transfer stations the alternate list can be viewed below or visit the King County website “what do I do with….” for other recycling options.

Self-haulers interesting in subscribing to curb side collection services can contact Waste Management at 1-800-592-9995 or by email to maplevinfo@wmnorthwest.com. Maple Valley residents living in Maple Ridge or Maple Woods can contact Allied Waste, at 206-682-9735 or subscribe online at the utility’s website.