FOLLOWUP: Catching up on garbage/recycling pickup (updated Friday)

THURSDAY EVENING: After last week’s big freeze led to crews skipping garbage/recycling/yard waste pickups for Seattle Public Utilities‘ Tuesday-Friday customers, this has been a catchup week – at least for garbage and yard/food waste, Though SPU said crews would “attempt” to catch up on recycling for “off-week” customers, so far we’ve only heard from people (ourselves included) whose recycling was not caught up. So we asked SPU about it. SPU spokesperson Sabrina Register didn’t have numbers on how many “off-week” recycling pickups have been made, if any, she did stress these points:

-Customers can set out double the amount of recycling next week on their collection day at no additional charge.

-If customers’ recycling is not picked up at the end of their off-week collection day, they should bring in their carts and set out double next week on their collection day.

So if you have Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday pickup and your recycling hasn’t been picked up, you’re out of luck until next week. One thing she’s still checking into for us – how much recycling constitutes “double,” since the SPU website says you can put out “one unit” extra each week, which theoretically would limit you next week to one bin plus three “units.”

ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Register confirms that some customers served by Recology did get off-week recycling pickup this week. For everybody who was missed last week and did NOT get off-week pickup this week, you can set out up to four units next week – see the link above for the description of an “extra unit.”

10 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Catching up on garbage/recycling pickup (updated Friday)"

  • StreetChimes December 29, 2022 (9:31 pm)

    Disregarding your specific question – at my house in Pigeon Point everything we put out this week (Wednesday) was taken away on schedule 

    • WSB December 29, 2022 (10:00 pm)

      Thanks for the update!

  • Ts December 29, 2022 (11:15 pm)

    I couldn’t help but notice that the boxes and bins are on / blocking the sidewalk. This creates a lack of access for those with crutches/walkers or wheelchairs. Can we all place them on the parking strip instead. I know we are all running out of room, especially if we celebrated Christmas but access is important and a right

  • WS5 December 30, 2022 (1:58 am)

    I thought recycling is free in the since that you can always put as much out as you have without additional charges.  Why is this saying you can put out more if your pick up was missed and will not be charged extra?  Yard waste and trash is limited to the size you purchased in your plan. 

    • WSB December 30, 2022 (10:38 am)

      That’s why I asked SPU for clarification. This is the first time I’ve seen anything that didn’t suggest basically unlimited recycling.

  • Thomas Wood December 30, 2022 (6:46 am)

    I don’t get why people don’t break the boxes down?

  • TR December 30, 2022 (7:55 am)

    Are smaller holiday  trees set beside the yard waste container allowed for no fee again this year? 

    • WSB December 30, 2022 (10:35 am)

      4′ sections if your tree is more than 4′. Publishing the annual reminder next, in fact.

  • Claudia Williams December 30, 2022 (3:20 pm)

    Thank you to my garbage/compost/recycle haulers!  They picked up everything today after skipping last week’s pickup for obvious reason – icy roads.I would have appreciated some communication from Waste Management though. WM never emailed to give customers/accounts an update for pickup day or that I could set out any extra. Unfortunately this is typical for WM 😠

    • Angela December 30, 2022 (5:47 pm)

      Sign up for AlertSeattle solid waste notices and you’ll get an email or text with instructions next time.  

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