Neighborhoods trashed no more: Seattle garbage service resumes Wednesday

SEATTLE -- For some people, it's been more than a two week wait to have their garbage collected amid a record-setting series of winter storms, but that wait ends Wednesday.

"The snow is starting to melt and roads are once again safe for our drivers, so garbage collection resumes (Wednesday)!" Seattle Public Utilities officials said Tuesday night.

Solid waste crews plan to collect garbage from Monday and Tuesday customers on Wednesday. Crews also plan to collect recycling from Monday customers in Northwest and Southwest Seattle on Wednesday. Customers missed last week may put out additional waste at no additional charge.

Officials say collecting garbage from Monday customers whose waste was not picked up the last two Mondays is the priority.

"Therefore, recycling and food & yard waste not collected from Monday and Tuesday customers (Wednesday) will be collected next week, on February 18th and 19th," officials said. "Customers may put out double the usual amount of recycling and food and yard waste at no additional charge."

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday collections will occur on a one-day delay this week, officials said.

Can't wait? Seattle residents are also now eligible to bring garbage, clean yard waste and/or recyclables to the city's North or South transfer stations for free from Feb. 13-16, just be sure to mention you're a Seattle resident who hasn't had garbage collected for more than a week. They just ask that you separate your materials and cover any loads. There is a limit of one car/truck load her household up to 420 pounds. Any overage will be charged $30.

Waste Management Northwest, which serves a large portion of the rest of the Puget Sound Metro area, is posting updates on their services on their web page.

At just over 20 inches of snow this month, Seattle has set a record for the snowiest February on record at Sea-Tac Airport, and it's the snowiest February anywhere in the city since the blizzards of 1916.