For Seattlites concerned about the extra volume of recycling created by holiday activities, Seattle Public Utilities issued the reminder that residents can always recycle as much as they want at no extra charge. Simply put additional recyclables in sturdy bins or boxes next to the recycling receptacle on collection day.
Remember to flatten empty cardboard boxes, and do not put recyclables in bags. Also, common holiday items for recycling include:
- clean pie tins
- plastic deli/veggie trays and lids (wider than 3 inches)
- empty eggnog cartons
- paper, plastic and metal cups
- bottles, cans, jars, and tubs
- catalogs, greeting cards, envelopes, cardboard
- clean aluminum foil
- gift wrap
- plastic grocery bags (bundle and tie together)
- glossy/shiny shopping bags
Food scraps, and yard clippings, can go in the Food and Yard cart. These include:
- Figgy pudding
- fruitcake
- mistletoe
- wreaths
- bones, meat, seafood
- cheese, fruit and vegetables
- paper bags and used napkins
- greasy cardboard pizza boxes
Some traditional holiday items must be disposed of in the general garbage. Please consider, even if for next year, reducing use of these items to lower the need for their disposal. These include:
- ribbons and bows
- burned out holiday lights
- alkaline batteries
- Styrofoam packaging
- Fats, oil and grease placed in a lidded container
Over the holidays – on Sunday, December 25th and Sunday, January 1st – the City of Seattle North Recycling and Disposal Transfer Station will be closed. However, solid waste collections during the week will continue on a normal schedule.
After the holidays, Seattle residents with curbside food and yard waste collection can put out Christmas trees and greens on their regular collection day at no extra charge, from Dec. 26, 2011 to Jan. 8, 2012. Multi-family buildings can put out one tree next to each food and yard waste cart per collection day at no extra charge during this time.
Trees should be cut into sections 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. Metal, plastic and ornaments in trees and wreaths must be removed. Flocked trees, and/or those with tinsel or ornaments will be collected as extra garbage. Starting January 1, each unit of extra garbage will cost $8.60.
Seattle residents can also drop off holiday trees and greens for free at Seattle Public Utilities’ North Recycling and Disposal Transfer Station between Dec. 26, 2011 and Jan. 8, 2012. The limit is three trees per vehicle, all trees must be free of flocking and/or decoration.
Learn more about Seattle Public Utilities on their website.