West Seattle Blog...

WSB Forum » Open Discussion

1. Alki77
   Member Profile

   This is just the sort of thing that makes you wonder about being taken advantage of. I ordered a new "mini" can to replace a damaged one that is many years old. I get this new tapered rectangle can, and it sure looks smaller than my old one. So I get out my ruler, and I measure the insides, and then I measure a neighbors round mini can. Unless my math is wrong, it comes out to being 15 gal in size, not the 20 gals that I am paying for. BTW, the old one had volume markings of 20 gals on it. The new ones have No markings anywhere of its volume. Nice eh?

   I call the city this morning, and the can replacement guy says that they are the new cans, from the new contractor, "Waste Management" and that, they are what they are. If I have a complaint, to take it up with WM (phone#206-819-7000) As of now, Im pretty bugged, since the city is proposing another rate hike, and yet not even savvy enough to check the contractors for compliance.

   I want my old can back :(

   Posted 2 years ago #         

2. WesCAddle
   Member Profile

   

   I'm pretty sure you can use any can you want that has the same volume. I think you can just go buy a 20 gallon can from Home Depot and use it, as long as it is the same volume that you are paying for.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

3. WSB
   Member Profile

   

   The city's not currently proposing another rate hike. One took effect when the trash/recycling contractors and other changes kicked in.

   Anyway, you may already have found this, but here's the list of can sizes:
   http://www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Garbage/GarbageatYourHouse/CanSizesWeightLimits/index.htm

   And rates:
   http://www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Garbage/GarbageatYourHouse/GarbageCanRates/index.htm

   So does yours look like it might be the MICRO can, not the MINI can?

   Posted 2 years ago #         

4. hopey
   Member Profile

   

   No, the photo on the can sizes page is out of date. The new Mini cans are square. I don't have one, but my neighbors do.

   And TR, I'm a little surprised to be correcting you on this, but rates are going up again in January.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

5. WSB
   Member Profile

   

   Sorry, operative word in the o/p was PROPOSING another rate hike. I should have re-looked up the fact that the rate hike which kicked in (it's not proposed, it's final) was a two-parter.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

6. Alki77
   Member Profile

   Yes, I am probably going to get my own 20gal from HD or... And yes, I was told by the city that all the new Mini cans will be the tall square ones. I have Micro cans at my rental, and know what they are like. It's just that we pay for cans based on Gallons, and the new Mini is not 20 gal. I know if we sold our imported olive oil based on 1 liter, and only gave out 750 ml. No one would buy it! It would be even worse if we did not label it, but inferred that it was.

   Im Sorry if this may be turning into more of a rant. Maybe should be moved as such.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

7. marianne
   Member Profile

   YOu may want to check with the city about using a can that you bought yourself. I did that a few years back and was being billed for a "specialty container". The can I bought was exactly the same as the city issued one with exception of a sticker label on it from Waste Management or Rubanco or whatever contracter they were using. Absurd, but true.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

8. KBear
   Member Profile

   I'd be curious to know the city's explanation for the size discrepancy. They do say your mini container may be a different SHAPE than the one pictured, but it ought to be the same capacity. However, since I have the 32-gallon service, I'll wait for someone else to find out.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

9. KatHP
   Member Profile

   Several months ago I spoke with SPU and asked about purchasing our own garbage can as well. Our beef was that although we tighly secured our garbage can the squirrels kept chewing large holes through the top of the can. We'd had the lid replaced twice and I was calling for the third replacement when I asked about the possibility of buying our own can (I was thinking metal). The answer I received was that if we used anything other than an SPU-issued can that we would be required to pay extra.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

10. rockergirl
    Member Profile

    

    On the website is a disclaimer - * Note: the shape/ color of your mini can may vary from the can pictured above - we have embraced the recycling and yard/food scrap recycling so much that we only use a micro containter now. While I realize that may be hard for a family it is worth trying to reduce your waste as much as possible.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.