Garbage pickup twice a month? Seattle plans a small test in July

Image Source: http://atyourservice.seattle.gov/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Garbage-Truck.jpg

Seattle is considering picking up garbage only every other week as a way to save money and boost recycling, and would start with 800 households this summer. 

By Lynn Thompson
Seattle Times staff reporter

Seattle is considering picking up garbage only every other week as a way to save money and boost recycling.

The city hopes to start a six-month pilot project in July involving 800 households in four demographically diverse neighborhoods. If the test proves successful, the every-other-week garbage collection could be extended citywide, although that wouldn't happen until 2015 because of labor contracts.

"We've dramatically reduced the amount of stuff we send to the landfill. We think there's an opportunity to do more," said City Councilmember Richard Conlin. He also cited reduced truck traffic and carbon emissions as potential benefits of the change.

The City Council would have to approve temporary rates for households in the pilot neighborhoods. The committee that oversees utilities will take up the issue Tuesday, but full council approval isn't expected until May.

Seattle Public Utilities officials say the test neighborhoods will be selected by mid-May. Residents in those areas must participate, but they will get a $100 stipend to offset any costs associated with the every-other-week collection, such as a larger can because of the less-frequent pickup.

The trial period will involve testing two different rate structures. The utility's goal is not to make money on the potential change but to cover its costs.

The city first floated the idea for every-other-week garbage collection in August 2010, with the pilot planned to start up last year. But the project stalled as city officials weighed the potential savings — $6 million a year — versus the operational challenges of making the change.

Utility officials say the experiences of other jurisdictions that have already gone to every-other-week collection, including Portland, Renton and Olympia, have been positive. But those cities have different rate structures and populations.

"There's no way to predict our own customers' subscription behavior," said Tim Croll, solid-waste director for Seattle Public Utilities. He said SPU would follow up to evaluate customer concerns, costs and changes to recycling patterns.

"It's not clear-cut. There's savings, but is there enough savings to make it worthwhile?" Croll asked.

Several surveys done by the utility since 2006 show that about half of Seattle residents are open to the prospect of pickup every two weeks, while half are unenthused, Croll said.

Among residents' concerns were smelly garbage standing for an extra week, a higher cost associated with a larger can, and the risk that if they forget to put out the garbage, it would be a month between pickups.

Croll notes that Seattleites have successfully diverted tons of food and yard waste from their garbage already. "Organics," as the compostables also are called, would still be collected every week.

But city officials acknowledge there are still some smelly things that can't be recycled or composted — disposable diapers and pet waste, to name two.

The pilot would run over the hottest months of summer and the most trash-intensive months of the Christmas holiday, Croll said.

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