CANCELED AGAIN: No residential garbage, recycling, yard-waste pickup Wednesday

| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(WSB photo)

7:14 PM: For the third consecutive day, with most residential streets still coated in snow and ice, Seattle Public Utilities has canceled residential solid-waste pickup for Wednesday. Here’s the full announcement from SPU:

Due to significant remaining snow and ice on residential streets in Seattle, solid waste collections will not be able to Due to remaining ice and snow, there will be no residential garbage, recycling, or food/yard waste pickup in Seattle on Wednesday, December 29. Commercial & multifamily collections will resume on 12/29. Transfer stations and Hazardous Waste drop-off remain open with normal hours.

Collection schedules should resume as follows:

Monday (12/27) residential customers will be collected Monday (1/3).
Tuesday (12/28) residential customers will be collected Tuesday (1/4).
*Wednesday (12/29) residential customers will be collected Thursday (12/30).
*Thursday (12/30) residential customers will be collected Friday (12/31).
Friday (12/31) residential customers will be collected Friday (1/7) due to the holiday on 1/1.
*Both Wednesday & Thursday collections will be as conditions allow.

Customers missed this week will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and yard waste at no additional charge, on their next scheduled collection day.

P.S. We’re asking SPU whether missed recycling pickups will be made up next week too, for the customers who aren’t getting any collection this week.

ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: The reply to that question, via SPU spokesperson Sabrina Register:

Customers whose recycling was not picked up this week due to unsafe conditions created by snow and ice should set out their recycling carts (along with garbage and food/yard waste carts) on their next collection day, even though it is not their scheduled week for recycling pickup.

Our Solid Waste contractors will make every attempt to pick up recycling next week but this requires servicing an additional set of routes they are normally not equipped to cover, in addition to collecting double volumes on regular routes, during the recovery week.

If a customer’s recycling is not collected next week, they can set out extra recycling, at no additional cost, on their next scheduled recycling pickup day.

And a friendly reminder for customers-don’t forget to break down those holiday boxes before putting them in the recycling cart.

Marty2 December 28, 2021 (7:30 pm)

Looking like this whole week will be canceled based on the weather forecast of below freezing temperatures for rest of the week and more snow on Thursday.

Echo December 28, 2021 (7:53 pm)

I think this is probably a good call. With more snow in the forecast, I’ll be surprised if they are able to run for the rest of the week – which means we can set out double next week during our normal pickup days.In my neighborhood, close to the golf course, it will be a bonanza for the racoons – for sure.

AeroJunkie December 28, 2021 (7:56 pm)

So does this mean I can set out another can with my city-issued bin or do I have to somehow try and stuff double the trash in my tiny bin?

Bus December 28, 2021 (9:09 pm)

SPU has guidance on their website for how to put out extra garbage, recycle, and yard waste. Ignore the parts about the fee, since those won’t be charged next week: https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/collection-and-disposal/your-collection-day/setting-out-waste-for-collection

Tired of this December 28, 2021 (8:18 pm)

This is really infuriating. They better pick up recycling next week and they obviously should’ve stated whether they will. The amount of city services (trash, power, schools, bridges, roads…) that now are reliably absent is truly out of control.They really could’ve picked up trash tomorrow, before another round of snow. Not ok.

flimflam December 29, 2021 (5:24 am)

its garbage, i’d save your outrage for more worthy causes.
MLM December 29, 2021 (7:37 am)

OMG like FlimFlam says it’s just garbage and anyways how much do you all have that going a week without a pick up is making you so irate? I’d rather go a week without pick up than have the truck drivers get stuck or worse…
Turn that frown upside down December 29, 2021 (7:53 am)

The West Seattle American Legion warming center needs socks, cots, blankets, and volunteers, lets redirect your negativity to something positive and actually useful. Online ordering is quick and easy. Or, hopefully, you can put in a shift on site. See article above, includes address.
bill December 29, 2021 (11:15 am)

Pro tip: Keep your garbage outside, not in your living room. It will annoy you less out there.
Karen December 29, 2021 (11:44 am)

I don’t want garbage/recycling trucks backing down my curving dead end street on the ice ridges currently covering it. My garbage is not that important. My neighbors and their safety are that important.
Maria December 29, 2021 (5:38 pm)

I’m guessing TIRED OF THIS did not find a way to enjoy one bit of the beautiful snow. I’m inconvenienced with some of the outcome, but hardly infuriated. Choose to enjoy your New Year weekend; don’t let your year start off as a bummer.

Auntie December 28, 2021 (8:28 pm)

You can set out another can. You can put a note on it saying “garbage” or set it off to the side with your regular can so that it does not get confused with being extra yard waste or recycling, which will be picked up the same day.

Cd December 28, 2021 (9:16 pm)

In 2008 or 2009, the city did the same thing with pushing out the collection day to the following week. The problem was that it snowed on the make up days so we had to wait another week for pick up. I think some people had to wait a total of 3 weeks. All sorts of interesting things were strewn all over from animals getting in bags left curbside. Seems like the city would have learned from that and come up with a better idea. I’ve lived in other big cities that get more snow than Seattle and they never let garbage sit for 2-3 weeks like an emerging nation.

Jon Wright December 28, 2021 (9:53 pm)

The last time this happened there was NOT an extra recycling pickup the week following the cancellation and so we had to go 4 weeks between recycling pickups. I would bet on the same thing happening this time around, also. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

StopCuttingDownTrees December 28, 2021 (10:45 pm)

Meanwhile, Fed Ex, UPS, Amazon, and USPS are still delivering packages on our snow-covered streets.

Alki Local December 29, 2021 (3:27 pm)

Hmm, they usually park at the end of the street and walk their deliveries down the side street by me, even in good weather.
miws December 29, 2021 (4:04 pm)

Stopcuttingdowntrees, when was the last time you saw Fed Ex, UPS, Amazon, and USPS delivering via trucks the size and loaded-down weight of a “garbage truck”? —Mike
- StopCuttingDownTrees December 29, 2021 (4:26 pm)
  
  1) The heavier the vehicle the better the tires/chains bite into the ice. 2) My mom lives outside of Seattle in another sanitation vendor district, has much more snow than we got, and her trash has been picked up by a large garbage truck.

Stay Safe! December 29, 2021 (7:37 am)

I am trusting the Super Reporters/Editors of WSB to check in with City on pick up of recycling and let us know. PS on the post says they are doing that. Really appreciate all your work Team WSB.

Joan December 29, 2021 (8:28 am)

The UPS and postal trucks drive down our street, but it’s too dangerous for the garbage trucks? And what about the rest of us who need to get out for essentials? It’s treacherous for everyone. It’s time to start clearing side streets.

Mark B December 29, 2021 (9:16 am)

For better or worse, that’s not part of the plan. The City does not plow non-arterials.
MLM December 29, 2021 (9:55 am)

Big thumbs up to Local 174 and the USPS!!!!

anonyme December 29, 2021 (8:55 am)

It’s the right call. Thanks for the updates.

WSB December 29, 2021 (9:35 am)

I’ve received the recycling reply and added that above – TR

David December 29, 2021 (10:13 am)

Garbage trucks back down alleys with the most minimal of clearances. Ups and Fedex do not. That truck slides a few feet and it’s a much heavier truck bumping your car/fence/garage. It will do a lot of damage.

trickycoolj December 29, 2021 (1:56 pm)

@WSB can you please add Seattle Housing Authority/Impact Property Services to these in the future? High Point (SHA and non-SHA) is not served by SPU for garbage and compost collection. https://www.seattlehousing.org/homeowners

KT December 29, 2021 (3:53 pm)

So the answer is “no”, but they don’t want to say it …..Our Solid Waste contractors will make every attempt to pick up recycling next week but this requires servicing an additional set of routes they are normally not equipped to cover, in addition to collecting double volumes on regular routes, during the recovery week.

Sorry, comment time is over.