Most residents happy with bi-weekly trash pickup
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- It appears some Seattle residents can handle fewer trash pickups with few complaints.
A trial run just wrapped up in a part of the city that had residential garbage services happening only once every two weeks, rather than the standard weekly pickups. The positive feedback about the trial could mean big charges in other parts of the city.
In Seattle's Wedgwood neighborhood, the trash talk has been pretty positive.
"I think the pluses are that it makes people think about what they're throwing away and what they're purchasing," said homeowner Lauren Feldman, who said her recycling is more full that her garbage.
That's exactly what the city wants to hear -- less waste, more recycling.
Residents say they also liked seeing and hearing fewer garbage trucks chugging down their streets. As expected, one gripe with the new pickup schedule was the smell of trash sitting around for 14 days.
"I thought it worked fine, except the little garbage can was stinky after two weeks. But I can rinse it out. I can hose it," said homeowner Jan Bucy.
As part of the test run, roughly 800 residents had their garbage picked up ever other week. They were allowed to choose their container size, with different sizes costing different amounts of money.
"The only problem we had was we had to get a larger garbage can. For some reason or another, even though we're old, we have a lot of garbage," said Louis Geissel.
But officials from Seattle Public Utilities say instead of rushing out to get a bigger can, most residents made due with what they had.
"One thing that surprised us from the pilot (program) is that very few people switched their garbage can size. Only maybe five percent," said Timothy Croll with Seattle Public Utilities.
Another surprise is that the city says early data shows that with trash collection only once every other week, families tossed out about 20 percent less garbage.
Each family involved in the pilot program received $100 for taking part in the study. SPU will analyze the findings over the coming months, but a citywide plan wouldn't happen until 2015 at the earliest.
A trial run just wrapped up in a part of the city that had residential garbage services happening only once every two weeks, rather than the standard weekly pickups. The positive feedback about the trial could mean big charges in other parts of the city.
In Seattle's Wedgwood neighborhood, the trash talk has been pretty positive.
"I think the pluses are that it makes people think about what they're throwing away and what they're purchasing," said homeowner Lauren Feldman, who said her recycling is more full that her garbage.
That's exactly what the city wants to hear -- less waste, more recycling.
Residents say they also liked seeing and hearing fewer garbage trucks chugging down their streets. As expected, one gripe with the new pickup schedule was the smell of trash sitting around for 14 days.
"I thought it worked fine, except the little garbage can was stinky after two weeks. But I can rinse it out. I can hose it," said homeowner Jan Bucy.
As part of the test run, roughly 800 residents had their garbage picked up ever other week. They were allowed to choose their container size, with different sizes costing different amounts of money.
"The only problem we had was we had to get a larger garbage can. For some reason or another, even though we're old, we have a lot of garbage," said Louis Geissel.
But officials from Seattle Public Utilities say instead of rushing out to get a bigger can, most residents made due with what they had.
"One thing that surprised us from the pilot (program) is that very few people switched their garbage can size. Only maybe five percent," said Timothy Croll with Seattle Public Utilities.
Another surprise is that the city says early data shows that with trash collection only once every other week, families tossed out about 20 percent less garbage.
Each family involved in the pilot program received $100 for taking part in the study. SPU will analyze the findings over the coming months, but a citywide plan wouldn't happen until 2015 at the earliest.
chuck0308, I second your thought about cost, and about recycling. We regularly have a very full recycle bin and have to stash our cardboard, etc. for a week or two to get it all in; however, we rarely fill our garbage container. We should have recycle pickup every week, and garbage pickup once every two weeks, all for the same price that we are already paying. Fair turnaround, wouldn't you say? :)
Those garbage cans are really going to stink in the summer!
Most residents in Seattle wouldn't mind paying three times as much for half the work either.
Â
Just tell them it's "going green" or something.
Ask me; I am not happy
Most of the time we could go two weeks, but what about the times when you can't? Then it gets backed up. And I'm sure they will still charge the same amount of money for less service. The biggest problem we have is that our recycle bin is full after a week. That's really what we need is recycle pick up each week.Â