With spring’s arrival in Issaquah, bears and other wildlife are becoming more active — and your waste can easily attract them. To prevent unwanted encounters and protect both people and animals, please follow these simple waste management tips:
Set Out Waste Responsibly
Only place your garbage, recycling, and compost carts at the curb by 7 AM on collection day — not the night before.
Store Carts Securely:
Keep carts in a garage or sturdy shed between collections — this includes after they’ve been emptied, too.
Freeze Smelly Scraps:
To avoid attracting wildlife, don’t toss fresh meat, fish, or other strong-smelling scraps into your carts early. Instead, wrap and store them in the fridge or freezer until your pickup day.
Control Odors:
Keep your carts fresh by requesting a free cart cleaning from Recology or use a disinfectant spray when needed.
Report Wildlife Incidents:
If wildlife tampers with your carts, please report it to the City of Issaquah so we can track these interactions and take action if needed.
Bear-Proof Options Available:
Recology offers bear-resistant garbage, recycling, and compost carts for a small fee. Prefer to retrofit your current cart? Ask us about our locking kits!
We want to hear from you!
Tell us how wildlife is impacting your neighborhood by filling out a quick survey.
Take the survey by clicking here or scanning the QR code to share your experience!
Need Help or More Info?
Call Recology at 425.837.1234 or email issaquah@recology.com.
You can also visit the City of Issaquah’s website to learn more about living alongside wildlife safely.