When people in north Seattle search for the North Transfer Station, they almost always mean the city-run site at 1350 N 34th St in Wallingford. It's one of two public transfer stations operated by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), and it's where many residents take the stuff that won't fit in a garbage cart: furniture, remodeling scraps, piles of yard waste and old appliances. Other regions have facilities with similar names, but this guide covers the Seattle station only.
Last checked 2026-09-25 against Seattle Public Utilities' official pages. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm before you go.
See the North Transfer Station and nearby drop-offs on the map
North Transfer Station at a glance
| Operator and owner | Seattle Public Utilities (City of Seattle) |
| Address | 1350 N 34th St, Seattle, WA 98103 |
| Neighborhood | Wallingford |
| Regular hours | 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week |
| First Wednesday of each month | 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| Info line (rates, hours, materials) | (206) 684-8400 |
| Payment | Cash, check, Visa or MasterCard |
North Transfer Station hours and holidays
The station follows the same schedule every day of the week, with one exception: on the first Wednesday of every month it opens late, at 10 a.m. That late start trips up a surprising number of people, so check the calendar before an early run.
SPU lists closures on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and notes that the North station is also closed on the Fourth of July. If you're planning a holiday-weekend cleanout, call the info line first.
Getting there from Interstate 5, SPU's directions have you exit at NE 45th Street, head west to Stone Way N, then work your way south and east through Wallingford's side streets (N 35th Street, then Wallingford Avenue N) to reach N 34th Street. The entrance is on the right-hand side.
What the North Transfer Station accepts
SPU's transfer stations take regular household garbage plus a lot of bulkier material. At North you can bring:
- Garbage: bagged household trash, furniture and most larger items from a home
- Yard waste and clean wood, charged at a lower rate when kept separate
- Vehicle tires, in small numbers
- Household appliances (not commercial units; refrigerators must be emptied and have their doors taken off)
- Household sharps, up to about a gallon per trip
The free Recycling and Reuse Building
North has a dedicated Recycling and Reuse Building on the right just past the pay booths. It keeps the same hours as the station and takes these items at no charge:
- Bicycles, collected in partnership with Bike Works
- Flattened cardboard and scrap metal
- Used motor oil and oil filters (no cooking oil, and nothing mixed with solvents)
- Batteries of nearly every type: car, rechargeable, alkaline, lithium and button
- Non-commercial needles, syringes and lancets
- Clean, empty mixed recyclables such as bottles, jars, cans, paper and rigid plastic containers
Leave window glass, mirrors, drinking glasses, ceramics, plastic bags, bubble wrap, Styrofoam, shredded paper, food, liquids, aerosol cans and paint cans out of that building.
What it won't take
SPU turns away a long list of items at both of its stations. The main ones:
- Household hazardous waste, including oil-based paint and household chemicals
- Ammunition, firearms, fireworks, flares and other explosives
- Propane, fuel and oil tanks, sealed drums, compressed gas and fire extinguishers
- Electronics, including TVs and computer monitors
- Furnaces and furnace parts, wood stoves and duct work
- Anything containing asbestos
- Single items longer than 8 feet and heavier than 200 pounds
- Dead animals over 15 pounds, and sewage
Seattle also bans certain construction and demolition materials from garbage, so clean concrete, brick, asphalt paving, metal, cardboard, new gypsum scrap and clean untreated lumber from a job site need to go to a recycler instead.
For chemicals, head to SPU's North Household Hazardous Waste facility at 12550 Stone Ave N, a block east of Aurora. It's open Sunday through Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., needs no appointment and charges nothing.
North Transfer Station fees (as of April 1, 2026)
Every vehicle goes over the scale, and the per-ton rate applies subject to a minimum charge.
| Load | Minimum | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Recyclables only | Free | Free |
| Garbage | $37 (covers up to 420 lb) | $174 per ton |
| Clean yard waste | $25 (covers up to 380 lb) | $132 per ton |
| Clean wood waste | $25 | $132 per ton |
| Vehicle tires only | $16 per load, max 4 tires | same |
| Appliances | $34 each, max 2 per load | $9 each plus tonnage when mixed with other material |
| Unsecured load | $3 on minimum loads | $5 up to a ton, $10 over a ton |
To get the cheaper yard waste and wood rates, sort before you arrive and tell the scale attendant what you're dumping; staff may inspect the load. Checks should be made out to "City of Seattle, Dept. of Finance," and you'll need valid ID to pay by check.
Tips for a smoother visit
- Pick a quiet day. SPU says Tuesday through Thursday see the fewest customers. The worst times are Monday mornings and weekend middays, roughly 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Avoid the truck rush. Commercial garbage trucks lean on the station from about 3 to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
- Tarp it. Unsecured loads pay extra, and flying debris on I-5 is dangerous.
- Sort in the driveway. Keep recyclables, metal, yard waste and garbage in separate piles so you can hit the free building first and pay less at the scale.
- Expect open doors this fall. SPU says the main roll-up doors failed and replacements are expected in fall 2026, so you may notice a bit more noise or odor near the building.
- Bring kids who like trucks. An education and viewing room upstairs in the office building overlooks the tipping floor and is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If you're new to self-hauling, our guide on what to expect on your first dump run walks through the scale-house routine.
Nearby alternatives
- South Transfer Station, SPU's other public station, in South Park at 130 S Kenyon St. Same rates and hours, and a hazardous waste drop-off sits across the street.
- Shoreline Recycling & Transfer Station, run by King County a few miles north. King County says its stations serve people who live or work in its solid waste service area, while Seattle runs its own system, so check eligibility before you drive up.
- Curbside pickup. SPU notes it may cost less to have the city collect a bulky item than to haul it yourself.
Find more transfer stations near you
Use the nationwide dump map to compare transfer stations, landfills and recycling drop-offs anywhere in the country, or browse every listing in King County, Washington. New to all this? Our transfer station near me guide explains how these facilities work and how to find the closest one.
North Transfer Station FAQ
Where is the North Transfer Station in Seattle?
It's at 1350 N 34th St, Seattle, WA 98103, in the Wallingford neighborhood. Seattle Public Utilities runs it.
What are the North Transfer Station hours?
It's open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day, except the first Wednesday of the month, when it opens at 10 a.m. It closes for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and the Fourth of July.
How much does the North Transfer Station charge for garbage?
As of April 1, 2026, garbage costs $174 per ton with a $37 minimum that covers loads up to 420 pounds. Recyclables alone are free.
Does the North Transfer Station take hazardous waste or paint?
No. Take oil-based paint, chemicals and similar items to the North Household Hazardous Waste facility at 12550 Stone Ave N, which is free and open Sunday through Tuesday.
Can I recycle batteries and bikes at the North Transfer Station?
Yes. The free Recycling and Reuse Building accepts most battery types, bicycles, cardboard, scrap metal, used motor oil and clean mixed recyclables.
Before you go
Rules change. This page was last checked on 2026-09-25 using Seattle Public Utilities' transfer station, North station, station features and rates pages. SPU can change hours, fees and accepted materials at any time. Check the official North Transfer Station page or call (206) 684-8400 before you haul.