Some trash cans changing: Bigger cans without bigger capacity

| Utilities | West Seattle news

After seeing an online discussion about trash-can changes in Beacon Hill – some customers getting a larger can without increased capacity – Scott wondered if the same swapout is going to happen here. So we checked with Seattle Public Utilities spokesperson Sabrina Register, who says yes, in fact, it is, and the new cans/carts either are about to start arriving or already have. If you have a 20-gallon solid-waste container, Waste Management wlll replace it with a new one that has, Register explains, “the same dimensions as the existing Rehrig-brand 32g-service garbage cart, but will have a tan-color insert (screwed in) that reduces the cart’s capacity to 20-gallons.The inserts are not designed to be removed or added (again, screwed in/permanent). The new carts are better for drivers and customers because they roll and have attached lids.” This shouldn’t be a surprise; Register says affected customers should have received postcards (like this one) that were sent in late January.

P.S. Register also reminded us that, unrelated to this, SPU’s garbage rates are going up next month. This chart shows the change.

1994 March 24, 2019 (9:48 pm)

Food and Yard Waste rates also increasing:http://www.seattle.gov/Util/MyServices/FoodYard/HouseResidents/Rates/index.htm

DAF March 24, 2019 (11:16 pm)

Our new 20 gallon unit arrived this past week. The previous one disappeared. Looks as if the new one may potentially be top-heavy when fully loaded. We’ll see how it rolls over the upcoming weeks.

sbre March 25, 2019 (4:40 am)

I was thinking the same thing DAF, and am concerned about them toppling-over due to high winds or racoons causing messes that will be strewn about.However I can see the benefits to those who dump them.
- Beckyjo March 25, 2019 (6:35 pm)
  
  Just my opinion, We are not supposed to be putting food waste in the trash so we should not have to worry about raccoons. Food scraps in the compost bin and rinse all recyclables.
  - Ttt March 25, 2019 (8:51 pm)
    
    But food grease/lard goes in the trash.

Andros March 25, 2019 (5:46 am)

You know, all we really need is weekly recycling service. We fill up our recycling can very quickly and it’s usually overloaded by the time we get bi-monthly service.

Syntagma March 25, 2019 (7:06 am)

That would be nice. However… I think we’re lucky to have recycling at all considering many cites have had to remove their programs due to cost increases as we’re no longer able to send our “recycling” to China for cremation.
- cjboffoli March 25, 2019 (7:27 am)
  
  The question remains how much of the material we THINK is being recycled is actually being recycled and how much is going to landfills as garbage.
  - KM March 25, 2019 (9:17 am)
    
    Absolutely. Curbside/municipal recycling is really the last gasp before (direct to) landfill. We really need to work to eliminate how much stuff we use that we don’t think twice about because it’s “recyclable.”
    - Nicole March 25, 2019 (11:29 am)
      
      Yes!
- Tony S March 25, 2019 (1:59 pm)
  
  That’s funny … and not in a “ha ha” kind of way.
John March 25, 2019 (8:13 am)

Andros,You can simply request another recycling can at no cost.
- Andros March 25, 2019 (10:29 am)
  
  I didn’t know this! I’ll call and set it up. Thank you.

just wondering March 25, 2019 (8:53 am)

Wonder what happens to the old garbage bin?

uncle loco March 26, 2019 (7:33 pm)

Same here. I’m pretty sure the perfectly functional trash can that I had will end up in a land fill…

Mj March 25, 2019 (9:25 am)

The new container inside a container will make stuffing the container more difficult.

AMD March 25, 2019 (9:50 am)

I’m pretty excited. I’ve had a 32-gal bin for a few years because it’s easier for me to roll and not have to pick up a lid, etc. So I just downsized mine to 20 gal. Hooray!

emcat8 March 25, 2019 (10:57 am)

Wow, I never got a postcard saying anything about this. I only just saw what I thought was my neighbor changing her can again–she’s directly across the alley but I still have my old little one.

Marie March 25, 2019 (4:38 pm)

Utilities claim the rate increase has NOTHING to do with the new garbage cans. I call BS!

Swede. March 25, 2019 (6:28 pm)

What’s the how/when of getting these cans? Noticed today that one of our neighbors got the new style can but not us or the other neighbor…

GeneseeHillRes March 26, 2019 (7:40 am)

The truck came through yesterday and swapped out the mid-sized cans for the new ones, up here on Genesee Hill. For those who have room and do a lot of recycling, you can order a second recycling can at no cost. We have done that, and almost completely fill both cans by our pickup date.

S - in West Seattle March 26, 2019 (8:20 am)

I sure hope the new cans don’t have an indent in the bottom like the new old ones. I sure miss my round can and the space.

TBTop March 28, 2019 (11:58 am)

A year and a half ago, we escaped Seattle, where we’d lived for 21 years, for Klickitat County, a far-flung area in the Columbia Gorge. Land area 1,900 square miles, population 23,000. We have garbage pickup service here, and it runs on the same schedule as Seattle’s: Weekly pickup, and biweekly recycling pickup.Given the low population density here, wouldn’t you think that garbage rates would be higher than Seattle’s? Nope, other way around. The same 32-gallon can that costs you $38.65 a month to be emptied costs us $13.50 a month. Recycling is picked up for free. Now that I’m talking about costs for services, we’re on septic and a well, so we pay nothing for water or sewer. And our electricity is cheaper. Property taxes are far lower here.But hey, we don’t have taxpayer-funded places for addicts to inject heroin and meth. Maybe we need to move back? Seriously, after hearing “If you don’t like it, just leave” from various “progressives” there, we took the advice and left. Wasn’t easy, but we haven’t looked back. Folks, Seattle was a great place 20 years ago, but it is now in sharp decline.