Separate outdoor material before anyone loads it. Clean branches and leaves, untreated wood, soil and rock, pots, plastic, metal, and ordinary household trash can follow different routes. A mixed pile is harder to price and easier for a receiving facility to reject.
Start with five material groups
| Group | Examples | Keep out |
|---|---|---|
| Green material | Branches, brush, leaves, trimmings | Plastic, wire, soil, pet waste |
| Clean wood | Untreated, unpainted lumber | Painted, stained, treated, or glued products |
| Dense material | Soil, rock, concrete, stumps | Do not hide in ordinary bags or bins |
| Outdoor household | Pots, furniture, hose, tools | Fuel, chemicals, and unknown liquids |
| Restricted | Pesticides, solvents, fuel | Keep outside a general hauling load |
Check the side-yard route
Measure the gate, note steps and slope, remove hoses and trip hazards, and show where the truck can legally stop. Wet branches and soil weigh more than they look; photograph pile dimensions and disclose recent rain or saturation.
Before property handoff
- Confirm what the lease, sale, or management agreement requires.
- Remove tools, chemicals, keys, and personal items from sheds.
- Keep green material separate from treated lumber and trash.
- Ask before including soil, concrete, stumps, or large rounds.
- Leave gates and access paths usable.
Compare curbside, drop-off, and hauling
Routine material that fits the account’s current organics rules may belong in curbside service. Larger clean separated loads may fit an approved drop-off. Hauling can make sense when volume, access, time, or vehicle safety makes self-transport impractical. Confirm the current hauler or facility rule for the exact address.
Source: City of Bothell, Garbage, Recycling, and Compost. Retrieved September 28, 2026. Addresses outside city limits may use another provider.
Publisher: Ruff Removal Co. Material program details are informational and can change. Check the linked authority before relying on fees, acceptance rules, or preparation requirements.