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City of Tacoma's Solid Waste Utility Expands 'Beyond the Bin' Community Reuse Events

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~ Tacoma, WA - The City of Tacoma's Solid Waste utility has announced plans to expand their Beyond the Bin community reuse program in 2026. This program provides residents with a convenient and environmentally friendly way to donate reusable household items instead of throwing them away.

Beyond the Bin is a series of free collection events that allow residents to drop off gently used household goods for reuse. These items are then redistributed or repurposed by local nonprofit partners, ensuring that usable items stay in circulation within the community rather than ending up in the landfill.

In 2026, the City plans to host 26 community reuse events, providing weekly opportunities for residents to donate reusable items from April to September. These events will take place on Fridays at the Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until the truck is full.

Partner organizations such as Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region, Habitat for Humanity, Northwest Center, Northwest Furniture Bank, and Second Use will work together to ensure that donated items are repurposed and redistributed back into the community.

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This expansion of Beyond the Bin supports Tacoma's broader waste reduction goals and aligns with the Tacoma 2030 Climate Action Plan, which prioritizes waste prevention and sustainable resource use.

At-Large Council Member Kristina Walker expressed her excitement for this program, stating "Last year, our Beyond the Bin program prevented thousands of tons of reusable items from ending up in our landfill. I can't wait to see our community engage with Beyond the Bin this year." She also emphasized how easy it is for residents to participate - simply bring usable items to the Tacoma Recovery and Transfer Center on a Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., where collection trucks will be available and Environmental Services staff will be present to assist.

District 1 Council Member John Hines also spoke about the importance of waste reduction in Tacoma. "Tacoma generates about 378,000 tons of waste every year and, unfortunately, almost half of it is buried in the landfill," he said. "We need to do more to reduce our waste and get valuable items back into our community." He encouraged residents to take advantage of Beyond the Bin and thanked the local nonprofit partners for their participation.

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District 2 Council Member Sarah Rumbaugh highlighted the core purpose of Beyond the Bin - providing a responsible second life for items that still have value. "We offer residents a seamless, environmentally friendly path for their unwanted goods," she said. "It's a practical way to keep our community clean while ensuring valuable resources continue to serve others."

Residents can find more information about Beyond the Bin, including a schedule of events and a list of accepted items, at tacoma.gov/beyondthebin. With this expansion of the program, Tacoma residents have even more opportunities to make a positive impact on their community by donating reusable household items instead of throwing them away.

Filed Under: Government, City

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