About Us

The West Seattle Recycling Center was formed by Metrocenter YMCA in 1979. Metrocenter started the "buy-back" recycling center as a "community service project" designed to provide youth employment training opportunities to low-income and at-risk youth as well as to generate income for the YMCA. Initially, the recycling center received a lot of support from West Seattle community groups such as the Kiwanis Club, Lion's Club, the Federated Women's Club and other civic organizations. The recycling center's first home was 2964 SW Avalon Way, the site of a former gas station.

In 1979, recycling in Seattle was radically different than it is now.
There were several "buy-back" centers in Seattle, as well as public "Drop"(donation) Stations; but free curbside recycling for residents and apartments was many years away. There were other large recycling centers (that still exist) that specialized in the collection and processing of scrap metals and large volumes of commercial paper; and "paper drives" sponsored by schools and churches were another common option for recycling and fund-raising.

Back in the 1980's before the advent of curbside collection, we were very busy - being one of the few recycling options for West Seattle residents. Back in the "old days", we bought a lot of refillable Rainer beer bottles (and other local brands), we bought color-sorted glass, and also newspapers and aluminum cans. We even accepted used motor oil.

Due to growing public concern about our landfills as well as dissatisfaction with garbage rates, the City of Seattle began to look at increasing the City recycling rate which was about 22%. With the goal of increasing that rate to 35-40%, the City initiated "curbside recycling collection" in 1986: providing free collection of recyclable items at one's home. At the same time, garbage rates were changed to penalize those who generated more than 1 can per week. The garbage rates actually subsidized the recycling collection program. At about the same time, market prices for newspapers dropped dramatically, and Rainier Brewing temporarily discontinued their bottle buy-back program. The combination of free recycling collection pulling many customers away and declining markets was devastating to many smaller recycling centers in the state. In 1989, Metrocenter decided to close the West Seattle Recycling Center due to a bleak future, declining profits and an emphasis on youth employment program that no longer fit the needs of the recycling center.

On January 1, 1990 West Seattle Recycling Inc. was born.
Because we had started Burien Recycling Center in 1988 which actually was growing and successful, I was reluctant to walk away from my job of 9 years; so I decided to purchase the recycling center from Metrocenter in YMCA. On January 1, 1990 West Seattle Recycling Inc. was born. It was obvious that we had to diversify and lessen our dependence on customers coming in to the recycling center and start to develop a collection route. The competition from curbside collection had dropped our customer base 30% in 3 years. Within 2 years, we had developed contracts with Highline, South Seattle, Shoreline and Bellevue Community Colleges as well as CRISTA Ministries in Shoreline. We initiated a collection program for print shops and offices to collect "high grade" white office paper as well as "printer's mix".

Most importantly, in 1992 we contracted with the City of Seattle to collect material from apartment buildings as the City was looking to further expand recycling programs for their residents. Our program started with a handful of apartment buildings in West Seattle using wooden boxes for newspaper and metal barrels for aluminum cans, then expanded to a source-separated system using 90 gallon "toters" for newspapers, mixed paper, aluminum and tin cans, and separated clear, green and brown glass. We now service all multi-family buildings in West and South Seattle with a "commingled" system (mixed glass separate) using a high end recycling packer truck. Since 2000, we have been under a subcontract with Rabanco. Revenue from the apartment collection contracts has enabled us to get through some lean years.

In 1996 we moved from our old location on Avalon Way to a larger facility off West Marginal Way, just 3 minutes from our old home. The move to a larger facility enabled us to install a large baler which completely changed our operation. Although we still provide premium service to our customers and buy or accept the same materials as we always have, we generate more revenue from our paper bales, especially when markets for paper are good. We have a significant paper collection route now, and we separate and bale newspaper, white ledger, printer's mix, cardboard and mixed paper. Unfortunately, we were forced to close Burien Recycling in 1999, but we still have many loyal Burien customers.

The recycling industry has changed significantly since the early days of the 1970's: most recycling is done by larger recycling companies or garbage haulers (specifally Waste Management and Rabanco). City, County and State governments (Solid Waste divisions or utilities) are more influential in setting recycling/solid waste policy and administering collection contracts. Many smaller recycling companies have either closed or been bought out by larger companies. We are proud of our heritage as a community buy-back center with our roots in West Seattle. We appreciate the many loyal customers who have been coming to us for years and we feel our excellent personal service is unmatched in the recycling industry.

At any time call 206-935-4255 for further information.