The Renton Transfer Station, formally the Renton Recycling & Transfer Station, is King County's garbage drop-off at 3021 NE 4th St in Renton, Washington. It mainly serves the Renton, Maple Valley and Newcastle areas. It's one of the county's oldest stations, and it's more basic than the newer ones: garbage goes in, cardboard and everyday recyclables are collected, and not much else. Knowing that before you load up can save you a second trip.
Last checked 2026-09-25 against King County Solid Waste Division pages, its 2026 facility guide and the Renton fact sheet. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm before you go.
See the Renton Transfer Station and nearby drop-offs on the map
Renton Transfer Station at a glance
| Operator and owner | King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Solid Waste Division |
| Address | 3021 NE 4th St, Renton, WA 98056 |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sat–Sun 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. |
| Closed | Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day |
| Vehicle limit | 25 feet bumper to bumper, including any trailer |
| Info line | 206-477-4466 |
Renton Transfer Station hours
Weekdays run from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays start at 8:30 a.m. and go until 5:30 p.m. The county's fact sheet lists closures on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Watch the 25-foot vehicle limit
This is the detail most likely to catch people out. King County's current website and its 2026 facility guide both cap vehicles at 25 feet, measured bumper to bumper with any trailer attached. That's much tighter than the 40-foot limit at Bow Lake, Shoreline or Factoria. (An older Renton fact sheet still says 40 feet; go by the website.) A full-size pickup towing a long utility trailer can easily go over 25 feet, so measure before you hitch up, or head to Bow Lake instead.
A look at the station
The Renton station was built in the mid-1960s on 13 acres, surrounded by King County roads and parks maintenance shops. Its transfer building is an older open-sided, direct-dump design, with a scalehouse, a free recycling area and trailer parking alongside. Garbage is hauled in covered trailers about 12 miles to the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill.
It's a mid-sized part of the system. In 2023 Renton took in about 57,000 tons, around 7 percent of what King County's stations handled, across roughly 66,000 customer visits. Almost nine in ten visits were self-haulers, even though commercial customers brought most of the weight.
What the Renton Transfer Station accepts
Garbage from households and businesses in the county's service area, including bulky items like furniture, is the main business here. A few specifics:
- Mattresses and box springs are accepted for disposal at $33.39 each. Renton doesn't recycle them; Bow Lake and Shoreline do, for $30 each.
- Tires: up to four per customer, rims OK, no large truck tires. The garbage fee applies.
- Dried-out latex paint can go in with garbage.
Recycling at Renton
Recycling here is limited to a no-fee area with:
- Corrugated cardboard, which isn't accepted as garbage at Renton and must go in the cardboard compactor
- Mixed recyclables in the big blue containers: paper, cartons, cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, tubs and food containers, and lids 3 inches or larger, all empty, clean and dry
The county also collects reusable textiles here and donates them to a local nonprofit.
What to take somewhere else
- Major appliances. King County doesn't accept refrigerators, freezers, stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters, air conditioners or furnaces as garbage (the one exception is dishwashers that are at least half plastic). Renton isn't on the list of stations that recycle them, so take appliances to Bow Lake, Factoria, Shoreline, Enumclaw or Vashon. Refrigerant appliances cost $30 each to recycle.
- Yard waste and clean wood. The county's lower recycling rate only applies at stations that separate these materials, and Renton isn't one of them. Bow Lake and Factoria both recycle them.
- Household hazardous waste. Use the Factoria drop-off in Bellevue or the South County drop-off in Algona.
- Computers, monitors and TVs. E-Cycle Washington takes them free (1-800-732-9253).
- Asbestos and ammunition aren't accepted, and heavy items larger than 2 × 2 × 2 feet and over 200 pounds need an advance waste clearance.
2026 fees
| Material | Fee |
|---|---|
| Garbage, minimum (up to 320 lb) | $40.25 |
| Garbage, per ton | $243.38 |
| Mattress or box spring disposal | $33.39 each |
| Cardboard and mixed recyclables | Free |
| Unsecured load | $25 extra |
Renton takes Visa, Mastercard, Discover, cash and Apple Pay.
Cleanup LIFT: Customers with a ProviderOne, EBT or ORCA LIFT card get $20 off each type of waste per visit. Show the card when you enter and when you leave. Businesses and Seattle and Milton residents aren't eligible.
Tips for a smoother visit
- Measure your rig. Twenty-five feet total is the hard limit.
- Flatten and separate cardboard before you arrive; it can't go in the garbage here.
- Drop appliances and yard waste elsewhere first. A quick stop at Bow Lake or Factoria saves a wasted trip.
- Cover your load. The $25 unsecured-load charge applies at every county station.
- Bring recyclables clean and dry, or they'll be treated as garbage.
Nearby alternatives
- Bow Lake Recycling & Transfer Station, 18800 Orillia Rd S, Tukwila: garbage Monday–Thursday 24 hours, Friday until 11:30 p.m., weekends 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Full recycling, appliances and mattress recycling, 40-foot limit. See our Bow Lake guide.
- Factoria Recycling & Transfer Station, 13800 SE 32nd St, Bellevue: weekdays 6:30 a.m.–4 p.m., weekends 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., with a hazardous waste drop-off (Tuesday–Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m., weekends 9 a.m.–5 p.m.).
- Seattle's South Transfer Station for Seattle residents; see our South Transfer Station page.
Find more transfer stations near you
Find transfer stations and landfills near any ZIP code on the nationwide dump map, browse our King County listings, or see the Renton station listing. Our transfer station near me guide explains how these facilities work.
Renton Transfer Station FAQ
What are the Renton Transfer Station hours?
Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It's closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
What is the vehicle length limit at the Renton Transfer Station?
Twenty-five feet total, bumper to bumper, including any trailer.
Does the Renton Transfer Station take refrigerators and other appliances?
No. King County doesn't accept major appliances as garbage, and Renton doesn't recycle them. Take them to Bow Lake, Factoria, Shoreline, Enumclaw or Vashon.
How much does the Renton Transfer Station charge?
In 2026 garbage costs a $40.25 minimum for loads up to 320 pounds and $243.38 per ton above that. Mattresses are $33.39 each for disposal.
Can I recycle at the Renton Transfer Station?
Yes, but only cardboard and mixed recyclables such as paper, cans, bottles and plastic containers. Both are free.
Before you go
Hours, fees and rules change. We last checked this page on 2026-09-25 using King County's Renton station page, its disposal fees and restrictions pages, the 2026 facility guide and the Renton fact sheet. Confirm details on the official Renton Recycling & Transfer Station page or call 206-477-4466 before you haul.