On March 30, new solid waste services will take effect throughout the city:
These improvements, which Seattleites have been requesting for years, were made possible by new solid waste contracts approved by Seattle City Council last year. The new contracts will bring new garbage route territories — and as a result, beginning March 30, most Seattle households will have new collection days.
Other changes:
- All food scraps, including meat, fish, bones, shells and dairy products, can go in the food and yard waste cart
- More food/yard waste cart sizes to choose from, including 13-, 32- and 96-gallon options
- Weekly food and yard waste collection for all single-family households. Organics were previously collected every other week
- Electronics, used motor oil and bulky items can be collected through special services.
- Glass bottles and jars go in the recycling cart — no more separating!
- More paper, plastic and metal items can be recycled, including cups, deli trays, aluminum foil and plastic plant pots.
Did You Know?
- Seattle strives to divert 60% of all its generated waste to recycling or composting by 2012
- Currently the city diverts 48.4 percent of its waste
- Food scraps account for one-third, or 45,000 tons, of residential trash each year
- Last year, more than 100,000 Seattle households helped divert 80,000 tons of food and yard waste from the landfill, turning into compost for local parks and gardens
