Requirements for Junk Haulers in WA State
Note: This article is for informational purposes only. Please check with your state, county, and city government offices for complete guidance.
With few exceptions, junk hauling professionals in Washington State are required only to have a standard business license from the state Department of Revenue and a license from the city in which you’ll operate your business.
Are you interested in starting a junk hauling business in WA state?
We lead a junk removal training program designed to walk you through the process of starting a junk hauling company. Request our free info kit and syllabus below for more information.
Business Licenses for Haulers
The cost for a state business license is $90, plus $5 per trade name.
You can apply for a Washington state business license from the DOR here:
https://dor.wa.gov/open-business/apply-business-license
Most cities in Washington State require a local business license to operate within city limits. The fee varies from city-to-city. You can view the full list of cities and their fees here: https://access.wa.gov/topics/business/City/Business/License.html
Special Hauler Requirements
Depending on the type of waste you’re hauling in WA state, you may be subject to additional regulations. Below are a few examples.
Haulers in Washington State who are transporting waste tires must carry a Waste Tire Carrier endorsement from the state. The cost is $200 per business location, plus $50 per transport vehicle.
To get your endorsement, you’ll need to log into your dor.wa.gov account, select “get started,” and then select “Add city or state endorsements.”
In addition to the endorsement, you’ll need to mail a $10,000 bond to the WA State Dept. of Ecology. The bond form can be found here: https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/publications/ecy02014.pdf
Where to Dump Garbage & Debris in Washington
King County
King County’s landfill is closed to the public. Instead, the county operates a number of transfer stations.
Locations include:
- Algona Transfer Station at 35315 W Valley Hwy, Algona
- Bow Lake Recycling & Transfer Station at 18800 Orillia Rd S., Tukwila
- Cedar Falls Drop Box at 16925 Cedar Falls Rd SE, North Bend
- Enumclaw Recycling & Transfer Station at 1650 Battersby Ave E., Enumclaw
- Factoria Recycling & Transfer Station at 13800 SE 32nd St., Bellevue
- Houghton Recycling & Transfer Station at 11724 NE 60th St., Kirkland
- Renton Recycling & Transfer Station at 3021 NE 4th St., Renton
- Shoreline Recycling & Transfer Station at 2300 N 165th St., Shoreline
- Skykomish Drop-Box at 74324 NE Old Cascade Hwy, Skykomish
- Vashon Recycling & Transfer Station at 18900 Westside Hwy SW, Vashon
Skagit County
Options for disposing of garbage in Skagit County include:
- Skagit County Recycling and Transfer Station 14104 Ovenell Road, Mount Vernon
- Sauk Recycling & Transfer Station (does not accept construction or demolition debris) 50796 State Route 20, Concrete
- Clear Lake Recycling & Compactor Site (only accepts household garbage) 23202 Howey Road, Clear Lake
Snohomish County
Dumping locations for haulers in Snohomish County include:
- Airport Road Recycling & Transfer Station 10700 Minuteman Drive, Everett
- North County Recycling & Transfer Station 19600 63rd Avenue NE, Arlington
- Southwest Recycling & Transfer Station 21311 61st Place West, Mountlake Terrace
Whatcom County
If you’re hauling garbage in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, or anywhere else in Whatcom County, the main garbage disposal facility is Recycling & Disposal Services Inc, located at 4916 La Bounty Dr., in Ferndale.
In addition to the larger, county-wide dumping sites and landfills available for trash disposal, some cities operate additional disposal sites. Please contact your municipality for more information.
Claim your junk removal business listing
Are you interested in starting a junk hauling business in WA state?
We lead a junk removal training program designed to walk you through the process of starting a junk hauling company. Request our free info kit and syllabus below for more information.
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