The South Transfer Station most people are looking for is Seattle Public Utilities' public drop-off at 130 S Kenyon St, near South Park and just south of the First Avenue South Bridge. It's the city's second self-haul station (the other is the North Transfer Station in Wallingford), and it handles everything from bagged household junk to trailer loads of yard waste. A few other places around the country have a "south transfer station," but this page is about Seattle's.
Last checked 2026-09-25 against Seattle Public Utilities' official pages. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm before you go.
See the South Transfer Station and nearby drop-offs on the map
South Transfer Station at a glance
| Operator and owner | Seattle Public Utilities (City of Seattle) |
| Address | 130 S Kenyon St, Seattle, WA 98108 |
| 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 | (206) 684-8400 |
| Payment | Cash, check, Visa or MasterCard |
| Hazardous waste | Separate SPU facility across the street at 8105 5th Ave S |
A newer station on an old site
SPU finished the current South station in 2013, replacing the older South Recycling and Disposal Station a couple of blocks away. The city built it to LEED Gold standards and designed it to serve for decades. For visitors, the practical upgrades are an automated weigh-and-pay system that keeps lines moving, a big open tipping area, and a separate entrance for garbage trucks so residents aren't backing up next to them. It also has a misting system for dust and odor, a rainwater cistern, a public viewing room and artwork made from salvaged street signs and pieces of the old South Park Bridge.
South Transfer Station hours
Hours are the same every day: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On the first Wednesday of each month, the station opens at 10 a.m. instead.
SPU's holiday notice lists closures for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and says the Fourth of July closure applies to the North station only. If you're hoping to haul on July 4, call ahead to make sure South is open that day.
Getting there
The approach roads loop around the bridge ramps, so SPU's own routes are worth following:
- From I-5: SPU routes you off at the Corson/Michigan Street exit (Exit 162), west on Michigan, then south over the First Avenue South Bridge toward SR-99. Take the first South Park exit after the bridge, keep right as the road loops under the bridge, continue past S Holden St, and take the South Park/S Kenyon St exit following the transfer station signs.
- From SR-509 northbound: take the SR-99 South/W Marginal Way exit, turn right onto W Marginal Way, then take the South Park/S Kenyon St exit and turn right on Kenyon.
Either way, you enter through the second gate on the right.
What the South Transfer Station accepts
SPU applies the same material rules at both stations. At South you can bring:
- Household garbage, including furniture and many larger items
- Yard waste and clean wood, at a lower rate when separated
- Vehicle tires (up to four per load at the tire rate)
- Household appliances; refrigerators must be empty and have the doors removed, and commercial units aren't accepted
- Household sharps, around a gallon per visit
- Recyclables such as scrap metal, tires and vehicle batteries
SPU's pages for South don't describe a separate Recycling and Reuse Building like the one at North, so ask staff where recyclables go when you arrive.
What it turns away
Leave these at home or take them to a specialized facility:
- Household hazardous waste such as oil-based paint, cleaners and chemicals
- Guns, ammunition, fireworks, flares and explosives
- Tanks for propane, fuel or heating oil, sealed drums, compressed gas cylinders and fire extinguishers
- TVs, monitors and other electronics
- Furnaces, wood stoves and ductwork
- Asbestos or anything that might contain it
- Items that are both over 8 feet long and over 200 pounds
- Animal carcasses over 15 pounds, and sewage
Seattle's construction and demolition rules also send clean concrete, brick, asphalt, metal, cardboard, new drywall scraps and clean untreated wood from job sites to recyclers rather than the garbage.
Hazardous waste right across the street
South has a big advantage for mixed cleanouts: SPU's South Household Hazardous Waste facility is directly across the road at 8105 5th Ave S. It's open Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no appointment and no fee. That makes it easy to drop paint and chemicals on the same trip, as long as you go on one of those three days.
South Transfer Station rates (as of April 1, 2026)
| Load | Minimum charge | Per-ton rate |
|---|---|---|
| Recyclables only | No charge | No charge |
| Garbage | $37, covers up to 420 lb | $174 |
| Clean yard waste | $25, covers up to 380 lb | $132 |
| Clean wood waste | $25 | $132 |
| Vehicle tires only | $16 per load (4-tire limit) | $16 per load |
| Appliances | $34 each (2 per load) | $9 each plus tonnage if mixed |
| Unsecured load fee | $3 | $5 up to 1 ton; $10 above |
Sort yard waste and wood before you arrive to qualify for the lower rate, and tell the scale attendant what's in the load. Checks go to "City of Seattle, Dept. of Finance," with valid ID.
Tips for a smoother trip
- Midweek is best. SPU says Tuesdays through Thursdays are the least crowded; Monday mornings and weekend middays are the worst.
- Beat the 3 p.m. rush. Commercial collection trucks cluster between roughly 3 and 5 p.m. on weekdays.
- Plan a Thursday-to-Saturday combo run if you also need the hazardous waste facility.
- Tarp and strap the load to avoid the unsecured-load charge.
- Unload fast and safely. Wear gloves and closed-toe shoes, and keep kids and pets in the vehicle.
Our guide to how much it costs to go to the dump explains weight-based pricing if you want to estimate the bill.
Nearby alternatives
- North Transfer Station in Wallingford, with the same rates plus a free Recycling and Reuse Building for batteries, bikes, cardboard and metal.
- Bow Lake Recycling & Transfer Station in Tukwila and the Renton Recycling & Transfer Station are King County facilities to the south and east. King County says they serve people who live or work in its service area; Seattle has its own system, so confirm you're eligible first.
Find more transfer stations near you
Search the nationwide dump map for other transfer stations and landfills, or see every listing in King County. For the basics of how transfer stations work, read our transfer station near me guide.
South Transfer Station FAQ
Where is the South Transfer Station?
Seattle's South Transfer Station is at 130 S Kenyon St, Seattle, WA 98108, south of the First Avenue South Bridge. Seattle Public Utilities operates it.
What time does the South Transfer Station open?
It's open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, except the first Wednesday of each month, when it opens at 10 a.m.
How much does it cost to dump at the South Transfer Station?
As of April 1, 2026, garbage is $174 per ton with a $37 minimum covering up to 420 pounds. Clean yard waste and clean wood have a $25 minimum and a $132 per-ton rate. Recyclables alone are free.
Can I drop off paint at the South Transfer Station?
Not at the station itself. Oil-based paint and chemicals go to SPU's South Household Hazardous Waste facility across the street at 8105 5th Ave S, open Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., free of charge.
Is the South Transfer Station open on the Fourth of July?
SPU's closure notice lists the July 4 closure for the North station only, which suggests South stays open, but call (206) 684-8400 to confirm before a holiday trip.
Before you go
Hours, fees and rules change. We last checked this page on 2026-09-25 against Seattle Public Utilities' transfer station, South station, station features and rates pages. Always confirm on the official South Transfer Station page or by calling (206) 684-8400 before you go.