NOTE: Solid waste collections are on regular collection schedule for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 16. Seattle’s recycling & disposal stations will also remain open on that day.
Did you know? Solid waste rates increased 15% for residential customers effective January 1, 2012.
New monthly garbage rates – for weekly curbside collection:
- 12 gallon micro-can: $17.55
- 20 gallon mini-can: $21.55
- one 32 gallon can: $28.05
- two 32 gallon or one 64 gallon cart: $56.10
- three 32 gallon or one 96 gallon cart: $84.15
- additional 32 gallon can: $28.05
- extra garbage, per bundle: $8.60
Food and yard waste rates also increased. New monthly charges for weekly collection:
- 13 gallon mini-can: $4.65
- 32 gallon can: $6.95
- 96 gallon cart: $8.95
- extra yard waste, per bundle: $4.45
Now would be a good time to downsize to a smaller garbage can. Food waste makes up over 30% of Seattle’s garbage. Paper waste makes up almost 20%. If you recycle all of the materials that are acceptable in your recycle bin and separate your yard and food waste, you should have very little left to go into your garbage can.
For some special items (computers, cell phones, unwearable clothing and shoes, styrofoam), we have local recyclers who will help you keep those items out of your garbage can. Stay tuned to Wallyhood where you will soon find Recycling information under Wallingford Resources.
To change the size of your garbage, yard/food waste, or recycling container, go to SPU Manage Your Account or call 206-684-3000. You will need your Seattle Public Utilities account number and the last name of the account holder to authorize a change.
Thank you for this information. a previous post informed me that there is an even smaller garbage can than the one I was using, got it, and here I learned that there is a mid-size Clean Green can, 32 gallons, should MUCH easier to manage than Big Hulky Greenie.
We recently switched from a 32 gallon flip top to a 20 gallon mini (at least I think those are them) and now find ourselves in an on-going battle with animals that tip the smaller can over and spread our trash around. Any suggestions on how to avoid this?
Thanks for the pricing. I always wondered what a extra yard waste bundle every once in a while was costing me.
Dear Not a Fan of Crows – I use a nice big rock on top of the can. But I’d love to see some friendly community pressure on the SPU to provide better mini cans – ones with locking lids and wheels. While downsizing to the smaller can was easy trash-making wise, I miss the old days of the easily cartable can!
And I would love to see creative trash can sheds so all the containers have a place to live. The block watch people tell us that storing the cans out of sight makes homes look inhabited to opportunists who are looking to break in.
Maybe we could have a contest.
The lid of our 20 gallon can fits so tight that I have a hard time getting it off using both hands. I’m surprised the lids come off!
Ask for a new 20-gallon. Ours finally lost it’s lid completely in a windstorm, and we were given a whole new can with the super tight-fitting lid Lauren’s talking about. You do have to pay for a new one, but the crows will keep out.
I apologize, in shame, for saying it’s instead of its.