Green trash bin on the side of a sidewalk

Residential Garbage

Service Area

SSC is proud to serve our residential neighbors in Bellingham, Ferndale, and the majority of unincorporated Whatcom County. Residential garbage service is available to all single-family residences and multi-family units (1-4 units).

Start Service

Paperless Billing

Sign up to receive your bills via email. It’s convenient and saves paper too.

Start Paperless Billing

Service by Location

Residential garbage service is available to all single-family residences and multi-family units (up to four units).

Bellingham garbage collection center with white boats

City of Bellingham Garbage Collection

Choose from weekly, every other week, or monthly pick-ups of SSC Toters. Every-other-week recycling is included with your service.

Size options:

  • 90-gallon SSC Toter
  • 60-gallon SSC Toter
  • 32-gallon customer-supplied two-handled can (customer responsible for damages), monthly service only
View of forest and mountains

City of Ferndale Garbage Collection

Choose from weekly, every other week, or monthly pick-ups of SSC Toters. Every-other-week recycling is included with your service.

Size options:

  • 90-gallon SSC Toter
  • 60-gallon SSC Toter
  • 32-gallon customer-supplied two-handled can (customer responsible for damages)
Whatcom County

Whatcom County Garbage Collection

Choose from weekly, every-other-week, or monthly pick-ups of SSC Toters. Every-other-week recycling is included with your service.

Size options:

  • 90-gallon SSC Toter
  • 60-gallon SSC Toter
  • 32-gallon customer-supplied two-handled can (customer responsible for damages)
  • 20-gallon customer-supplied two-handled can (customer responsible for damages)

Collection Day Guide

Follow these guidelines to ensure the SSC truck can effectively reach your containers.

Graphic of proper placement of your container at the curb

Curb Placement

Place your container at the curb with the handle facing toward the house.

Graphic of proper distance between bins for pickup

Container Distance

Keep at least three feet of clear space on all sides. Do not place Toters near other garbage/recycling containers, trees, shrubs, utility poles, mailboxes, or vehicles.

Please bag and seal all garbage before placing it in your container. Make sure it all fits with the lid closed to avoid extra charges. Additional collection fees apply for overweight or overfull containers, as well as for garbage piled on top of or beside containers. Be sure to have your container in place the evening before your collection day to ensure you don’t miss the truck in the morning.

Extra Garbage Collection and Drop-off

Request an extra pickup or bring additional garbage to one of our transfer stations.

Bellingham Drop Box Facility & Recycling Center

Monday – Friday, 8AM – 5PM
Closed 12PM – 1PM and major holidays.

Bellingham Station

Birch Bay Drop Box Facility & Recycling Center

Sundays, 9AM – 5PM
Closed major holidays.

Birch Bay Station

Cedarville Drop Box Facility & Recycling Center

Saturdays, 9AM – 5PM
Closed major holidays.

Cedarville Station

Waste Wise Guide

Use the disposal guide to find out what you can and can’t put in your containers.  Here are four common items people are often unsure about.

Waste Wise Portal

Pet waste

OK to put in garbage. Place in a sealed bag first. Do not place in FoodPlus! Yardwaste Toter.

Styrofoam™

OK to put in garbage. Place packing peanuts in a sealed bag first. Do not place in recycling.

Paint, oil, and toxic materials

Do not put in garbage. Call Whatcom County Disposal of Toxics at 360-380-4840.

Hot ashes

Do not put in garbage. Cool completely and place in a sealed bag first.

Residential Garbage Collection FAQs

Quickly find answers to commonly-asked garbage collection questions.

How do I properly dispose of medicines?

Do NOT flush, trash, or store unwanted, unused, or expired medications. If medicine(s) cannot be disposed of through a participating pharmacy, mix the medicine(s) with wet coffee grounds or wetted cat litter in a plastic bag. Tie the bag shut and discard in the garbage. For more information, visit City of Bellingham Household Medicine Return Program or Washington State Medicine Disposal Program.

Narcotic pain relievers and prescribed controlled substances, not including illegal narcotics, are accepted at the Bellingham Police Department.

Do you offer replacement containers (garbage, recycling and/or FoodPlus! Yardwaste)?

If your SSC containers were lost or stolen or you need additional containers, you may order more. Fees may apply. Please contact us to place an order or order more online.

Note: SSC supplied containers are the property of SSC. Please label them with your address. DO NOT take them with you if you move. Customers are responsible for any theft, loss, or damage in excess of normal use of SSC containers. SSC is not responsible for items left in, on, or near garbage Toters® or garbage cans. SSC is not responsible for damage to customer-supplied 32-gallon two-handled cans.

My SSC container is damaged. Can it be repaired?

Please contact us or schedule a repair online.

SSC is not responsible for damage to customer-supplied 32-gallon two-handled cans.

Additional Residential Services

Recycling Collection

Paper, cardboard, bottles, and cans can be easily recycled with convenient curbside pickups.

Residential Recycling Service

FoodPlus! Yardwaste Collection

A convenient way to compost your organic debris, from kitchen scraps to compostable packaging to yard waste.

Residential FoodPlus! Yardwaste Service

Dumpsters & Drop Boxes

For your large projects and events, we offer residential dumpster rental with multiple size options to fit your needs.

Residential Dumpsters and Drop Boxes

Junk Hauling

Need to dispose of something that’s too big for your Toter? If you’ve got junk, you call and we haul.

Residential Junk Hauling

Storage Containers

A secure, weather-protected storage solution for any project or event — delivered to you when you need it.

Residential Storage Containers
Large house on top of a lush green field

Get Started

Sign up online, email us at info@ssc-inc.com, or call us at (360) 734-3490  to start your garbage collection service. We look forward to serving you.

Start Your Service