No Solid Waste Collections on New Year’s Day
Post-Holiday Waste Prevention Tips

For immediate release: 12/27/07
For more information, Contact: Customer Service (206) 684-3000

SEATTLE — No garbage, yard waste or recycling collections are scheduled in Seattle on New Year’s Day, Tuesday, Jan. 1. Tuesday collections will occur on Wednesday, Jan. 2. All other collections that week will be delayed by one day due to the New Year’s Day holiday. Please be sure to have your containers available by 7 a.m., to ensure collection.

Both of the City of Seattle’s recycling and disposal stations will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 1

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, Americans throw away 25 percent more trash than any other time of the year. To prevent waste AFTER the holidays, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) offers the following tips:

Recycle Your Holiday Greens! Seattle residents who subscribe to curbside yard and food waste collection can put their trees and greens out on their regular collection day at no extra charge from Dec. 26, 2007 to Jan. 13, 2008. Trees should be cut into sections of six feet long or shorter, with branches trimmed to less than four feet to fit into the collection trucks. Sections should be bundled with string or twine.

Trees that are flocked and/or have tinsel or ornaments will be collected as extra garbage. Customers will need to cut the tree into three-foot pieces and each piece will be charged as extra garbage. Each unit of extra garbage costs $5.60. Plastic trees are also not recyclable.

Seattle residents can also drop off their holiday trees and greens for free at Seattle Public Utilities’ North and South Recycling and Disposal stations between Dec. 26, 2007 and Jan. 13, 2008. The North Recycling and Disposal Station is located at North 34th Street and Carr Place North. The South Recycling and Disposal Station is located at 2nd Avenue South and South Kenyon Street. The stations are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Both of the city’s recycling and disposal stations are normally open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

To be accepted at the transfer stations, tree sections must be cut to eight feet or less in length and the trunk must be four inches or smaller in diameter. The limit is three trees per vehicle. Only trees without flocking or decoration may be disposed of free of charge.

Reuse Styrofoam Packaging or take it to a shipping store. Visit the Resource Venture website for a list of local mailing centers that will take packing peanuts for reuse.

Plastic Ribbons and Plastic Wrap are Not Recyclable. Consider reusing ribbons for next year’s presents.

Recycle Your Old Computer. Because electronics may contain heavy metals, such as mercury and lead, do not put them in your garbage or recycling containers at home. Take your old TV, VCR, computer or fluorescent lights to a Take It Back Network location near you. Visit the Take it Back Network for information. There may be a charge to recycle your electronic equipment due to collection and processing costs

Leftover Fruitcake isn’t Garbage Anymore! Put your leftover fruitcake, nutshells, pumpkin pie, paper napkins, pizza boxes and other vegetative leftovers in your yard waste cart to make compost for local parks and gardens. Consider donating non-perishable food at your local food bank.

Recycle! Cardboard boxes and wrapping paper are recyclable, even with some tape on it.

For more information on recycling in Seattle, visit SPU’s website.

In addition to providing solid waste services in Seattle, SPU provides more than 1.3 million customers in the metropolitan area with a reliable water supply and provides essential sewer, drainage and engineering services that safeguard public health, maintain the City’s infrastructure and protect, conserve and enhance the region's environmental resources.

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Seattle Public Utilities