Seattle Public Utilities says it will adjust customers’ bills due to the ongoing strike by garbage, recycling and yard waste drivers from Waste Management. SPU is fining WM for delaying pickups during the strike, and those penalties will be returned to customers in the form of lower bills.
Mayor Mike McGinn has also ordered that all transfer stations be opened to the public at no charge beginning tomorrow, so single-family residences can drop off waste for free.
SPU is now making informational robo calls to all customers.
“We will be rigorously inspecting Waste Management’s work and fining them for every violation,” McGinn said. “We understand that this disruption of service has real consequences for businesses and people, so we will not be charging those who bring their waste to a transfer station. Every penny that we collect from Waste Management in fines will be returned to our customers as reductions to their bill.”
Starting tomorrow (Aug. 1), single-family residents in Waste Management’s service areas may drop off up to six bags of garbage and yard waste for free at the South and North transfer stations, which operate from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week. Customers should bring appropriate identification — for example, a driver’s license or a utility bill — to demonstrate they are City of Seattle residents.
Recycling drop-off is always free.
SPU is asking Wednesday customers to put garbage, yard waste and recycling out before 7 a.m. tomorrow morning. Carts should be left out until 6 p.m. Thursday night, August 2, for possible collection and recording for fines — up to $1.25 million a day — to be issued to Waste Management.
SPU operates two transfer stations:
- The North Recycling and Disposal Station is located at 1350 North 34th Street in the Fremont/Wallingford area.
- The South Recycling and Disposal Station is located at 8105 5th Avenue South in the South Park area.
Both stations are open daily 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Customers who want to avoid lines should drop off items before 2 p.m. Customers can also check to see if there are lines with SPU’s station web cams:
- North Transfer Station
- South Transfer Station
