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Welcome to the summer edition of Recycling and Garbage News! In this issue, we highlight the safe disposal of fireworks, batteries, and other summer-related waste, upcoming events, facility updates, and more.
What do I do with...
Summer activities can generate a lot of waste. Help us recycle right by correctly sorting these seasonal items:
Air conditioning units contain hazardous refrigerants and must be recycled at designated appliance drop-off locations.
Aluminum foil and trays are garbage. Swap these for reusable containers or casserole dishes for your next barbecue or camping trip.
Paper and plastic plates are garbage. Opt for reusable plates or bring your own container to your next summer party.
Plastic cups, clamshells, platters, and bakery trays are garbage. These plastics are the wrong shape for recycling. In Kitsap, only four shapes of plastic packaging are accepted for recycling: bottles, jugs, jars, and dairy tubs. These shapes can be sorted at the sorting facility, are consistently purchased by companies to use in their manufacturing, and can be recycled using today's technologies.
Pool toys such as floats, pool noodles, and beach balls are garbage. If they're still in good condition, consider giving them away or donating them.
Sunscreen tubes and empty aerosol cans are garbage. Full or partially full aerosol cans must be safely disposed of at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility.
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Prevent fires with safe disposal
Don’t let things heat up this summer! Remains from hot coals, used fireworks, and used marine flares can ignite in your garbage if not properly handled during disposal.
To safely dispose of used fireworks and used marine flares:
- Soak fireworks in a bucket of water for at least 15 minutes.
- Wrap them in plastic.
- Place them in your garbage.
- Dump used water onto grass or gravel to prevent heavy metals from polluting local waterways and the Puget Sound.
To safely dispose of hot coals and residual ash:
- Thoroughly soak in water.
- Place them in a plastic bag and in your garbage.
For more information on firework safety, please visit the County Fire Marshall’s Office webpage. If you have unused fireworks and marine flares, contact the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. Our solid and hazardous waste facilities do not accept unused fireworks, marine flares, and other explosives.
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Include the food in your yard waste cart
Watermelon rinds, corn husks, rib bones and more — they all belong in your food and yard waste cart!
Summer barbecues, cookouts, and celebrations are centered around food, but about 20% of the food prepared for these gatherings ends up going to waste (ReFED, 2025).
Help reduce food waste in the landfill by planning your meals, sticking to your shopping list, and placing food scraps or leftovers in your food and yard waste cart.
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What goes in your food and yard waste cart?
All food and yard waste are accepted in yard waste carts, including fruits and vegetables, bones, seafood and shells, meat, coffee grounds, eggshells, and more. Please help reduce contamination by following our curbside composting guidelines.
Kitchen toolkit giveaway
We're giving away kitchen compost toolkits to help residents store and carry food scraps from their kitchen to their collection cart. Pledge to "Include the Food" and claim your free toolkit today!
How to reduce smells and fruit flies in your kitchen toolkit
As the weather warms up, your kitchen food scrap bin may start to attract fruit flies and odors. Here are a few tips to help keep things fresh:
- Store your kitchen bin in your refrigerator or freezer until you're ready to empty it into your food and yard waste cart.
- Sprinkle baking soda in the bin to help absorb odors.
- Use BPI-certified compostable liner bags to keep your bin clean. Please note: BPI-certified liners are the only compostable packaging currently accepted in your food and yard waste cart.
- Rinse or wash your bin between uses.
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Tips for safely disposing your hazardous camping waste
Heading into the outdoors is all about enjoying nature — but it's just as important to protect it and yourself. When your trip wraps up, safely dispose of unwanted hazardous waste at our Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. The facility is free for residents to use. We accept:
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Small propane and butane canisters (up to 1 liter), full or partially full.
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Bug spray and insect repellent (full or partially full). These products often contain pesticides that must be disposed of as hazardous waste.
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Insect-repelling coils and space foggers, which also contain pesticides and must be treated as hazardous waste.
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Bear spray (full or partially full).
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Fire starters (unused, fuel-soaked). Many fire starters are soaked with kerosene or other flammable fuels.
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Lighter fluid and fuel (full or partially full).
Put empty hazardous waste containers into your garbage but leave the lid off so your waste hauler can see that the container is empty. Learn more about the HHW Facility on our facility webpage.
 Examples of household hazardous waste used during camping trips, outdoor recreation, or backyard barbeques. These items must be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility for safe disposal.
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Facility news
Kitsap County Facility named second largest paint recycler in Washington
Paint is one of the primary waste streams collected at our Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. In 2024, the facility collected a total of 29,157 gallons! According to PaintCare's 2024 Annual Report, this made us the second largest paint collector in the state — second only to the paint recycler itself.
Have unwanted paint? Residents can drop it off for free at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility or at participating local paint stores through the PaintCare program.
New accessible recycling bins at our Silverdale and Olalla facilities
In April 2025, we installed new recycling dumpsters at the Silverdale and Olalla Recycling and Garbage Facilities to make recycling more accessible. The new dumpsters are low to the ground and don't require stairs to use.
The addition follows a successful year-long pilot program at the Hansville Recycling and Garbage Facility and comes in response to customer feedback. We're exploring the feasibility of adding a similar container to Olympic View Transfer Station and continuing to look for opportunities to make our facilities accessible for all.
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Summer holiday hours
Juneteenth: Olympic View Transfer Station, Hansville Recycling and Garbage Facility, Silverdale Recycling and Garbage Facility, and the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility will remain open on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
Fourth of July: Olympic View Transfer Station will remain open on Friday, July 4, 2025. All other Kitsap County solid and hazardous waste facilities will be closed.
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 Make your summer litter free
A litter bag is a handy place to keep your waste in your car until you can toss it into a garbage can or recycling bin! It keeps your ride tidier, keeps the state litter free, and sets a good example for others! For a limited time, we're giving away free car litter bags. Pledge to keep Kitsap litter free to get your car litter bag before your next road trip!
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Community events and resources
Waste reduction events
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Kitsap Fix-it Fair in Silverdale: We're hosting a free community repair event June 21, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Silverdale library. Visit our Fix-it Fair webpage for more details.
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Craft supply swap in Port Orchard: The Kitsap Regional Library Port Orchard Branch is hosting a free craft supply swap on June 21, 2025, 12 to 2 p.m.
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Trash Talk: A History of Waste and Repair in Kitsap: Join the Kitsap History Museum and our Solid Waste Division Program Supervisor for a night of history of waste and repair on June 26, 2025, at 7 p.m. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!
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Paint Recycling Event: GreenSheen Paint and the City of Bainbridge Island are hosting a free community paint event on June 28, 2025, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is for Kitsap households and contractors. Visit the event website for more details.
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Kitsap Fix-it Fair in Bremerton: We're hosting a free community repair event July 12, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the MLK-Bremerton library. Visit our Fix-it Fair webpage for more details.
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Bremerton Farmers Market: We'll have a booth at the Bremerton Farmers Market on Thursday, July 17, 2025, 4 to 7 p.m. Come talk to us about curbside composting or recycling!
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Whaling Days in Silverdale: Find us at Whaling Days at our Secure Your Load for Safer Roads information booth on July 25-27, 2025.
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Kitsap Fix-it Fair in Port Orchard: Save the date! We're hosting a free community repair event August 16, 2025, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Port Orchard library.
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Mending meetup: People’s Exchange in Bremerton hosts a free mending meetup each month on the second Friday.
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Community closet: People's Exchange in Bremerton hosts a community closet where you can drop off, swap, or just take clothes each month on the third Sunday.
Resources and creative ways to reduce waste
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Contact information
Kitsap County Public Works, Solid Waste Division, 360.337.5777 or solidwaste@kitsap.gov
Kimberly Pleger, Public Works Communications Manager, 360.337.5777 or kpleger@kitsap.gov
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