Seattle considers cutting back trash pickup

With so many people recycling and composting more in
Seattle, the City Council is launching a pilot program to
cut trash pickup back to just twice a month.

“People are ready for this change. There are lots of
people who’ve talked to us about, ‘all I have left in my
garbage is a couple of pieces of plastic and why should I
have a truck come by my house and just to have anything
really to pickup,'” says Seattle City Councilmember
Richard Conlin, who is leading the effort.

Conlin says the experiment would start in July with about
800 homes in four demographically diverse neighborhoods.
He says residents will get a $100 stipend to help offset
any potential costs, and could be given larger cans if necessary.

“That’s going to make your streets cleaner and safer, less
pollution, less risk of accidents and it’s going to be
really positive.”

Conlin says eliminating two pickups each month could save
the city $6 million per year.

Other cities including Portland, Renton and Olympia have
switched to twice-monthly pickup and report significantly
increased recycling rates.

Officials say it’s impossible to predict how well it
will work in Seattle, however, because the city already has such an
aggressive recycling and composting program in place.

Conlin says if Seattle decides to pursue twice monthly
pickup citywide, it would take several years to implement
because of needed changes in labor contracts with garbage
haulers.