FAQs • Island County, WA • CivicEngage

Can't I just burn my garbage?: No. Burning garbage is illegal and can be dangerous. Breathing smoke from burning garbage can cause or worsen asthma, bronchitis and emphysema and damage children's lungs. Burning plastic releases many cancer causing agents into the air that you or your neighbors breathe. For information about outdoor burning see the Northwest Clean Air Agency’s website.

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Public Works - Solid Waste

1. Who do I call to get garbage pickup service?: If you live in Oak Harbor city limits, call the City of Oak Harbor at 360-279-4530. If you live elsewhere on Whidbey Island, call Island Disposal at 360-678-5701 or 360-321-1331. Camano Island residents should call Waste Management at 1-800-592-9995.

2. Who do I call to get recycling pickup service?: Camano Island residents can call Waste Management at 1-800-592-9995. If you live in Oak Harbor city limits, call the City of Oak Harbor at 360-279-4530. If you live in the Town of Coupeville, call Island Disposal at 360-678-5701. If you live elsewhere on Whidbey Island recycling pickup service is currently not available.

3. Can I self-haul my garbage and recycling?: You can haul wastes and recyclables to any of the Island County Solid Waste facilities. You may also self-haul recyclables DTG Recycle in Freeland.

4. Where can I dispose of household hazardous wastes like paints, solvents, cleaners, and gasoline?: Don't throw it in the trash. You can bring your old oil-based paint, oil, antifreeze and other household hazardous waste to any of the Island County Solid Waste facilities. There is no charge for household hazardous wastes.

5. How can I dispose of latex/acrylic paints and stains?: You can recycle latex paints and stains at the Coupeville Complex or see Washington PaintCare for additional drop off locations.

6. Where can I dispose of business hazardous wastes?: Island County’s Moderate-Risk Waste Collection Facility is open to businesses by appointment, call 360-678-8215 for information.

7. How do I dispose of fluorescent bulbs/tubes?: CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, which means that improper disposal of spent bulbs can lead to health and environmental risks. Don’t throw used CFLs in the trash or break them; save them in a safe place (keep the original packaging!) until you can take them to any of the Island County Solid Waste facilities.

8. How do I dispose of medication and waste needles that I generate in my home?: See Island County's medications and sharps disposal page.

9. Can I take furniture to the transfer station?: Furniture in good condition can be donated or sold for reuse. If the furniture is in poor condition, it may be disposed of at the Coupeville Solid Waste Complex and the Camano Solid Waste Dropbox & Recycle Park.

10. Can't I just burn my garbage?: No. Burning garbage is illegal and can be dangerous. Breathing smoke from burning garbage can cause or worsen asthma, bronchitis and emphysema and damage children's lungs. Burning plastic releases many cancer causing agents into the air that you or your neighbors breathe. For information about outdoor burning see the Northwest Clean Air Agency’s website.

11. Where can I dispose of my yard waste?: Yard waste is accepted at the Coupeville Solid Waste Complex and Camano Solid Waste Dropbox & Recycle Park. Yard waste includes grass clippings, brush, leaves and branches. Yard waste does not include sod, dirt, gravel, rocks, plastics, wood, lumber or garbage; these items are accepted as garbage, construction or depending upon size hard-to-handle wastes. Visit the Yard & Garden Waste page for more information.

12. Where can I dispose of construction or demolition debris?: Construction debris is accepted at the Island County Coupeville Solid Waste Complex and Camano Solid Waste Dropbox & Recycle Park.

13. My plastic item has the recycling arrows and a number on it. Does that mean it is recyclable?: Technically, all plastics can be recycled. All plastics are not recycled because there is no economically feasible market for most of them. In Island County, we accept CLEAN #1 and #2 bottles, tubs, jugs and jars with caps or lids removed. All other plastic should be reused or go in the garbage (reusing an item saves 20 times as much energy as recycling it).

14. Why can’t I recycle plastic lids and caps?: Lids can be made of different plastic resins than containers. Also, their small size makes them hard to compact in bales and they can cause damage to baling equipment.

15. What do I do with packing peanuts?: Packing peanuts can be recycled at DTG Recycle in Freeland, taken to mailing centers, or disposed of as garbage at any of the Island County Solid Waste facilities.

16. What is the phone number to call for additional information?: Call 360-240-5592 or 360-679-7387, weekdays, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.