SPOKANE, Wash. — The City of Spokane has announced that they will be suspending green cart pick-ups on Dec. 1.
All residents who utilize curbside yard and food waste pick-up have until Dec. 1 to finish their fall yard clean-up before it is suspended through the winter. This program runs from March through November.
“We appreciate the community’s teamwork to get as many leaves out of their yards as quickly as possible heading into winter to assist with keeping the right-of-way and storm drains clear,” says Street Department Director Clint Harris.
Thanksgiving is one of the biggest food waste producers. Residents who use this service are encourage to prepare adequately-sized meals to reduce the amount of waste accumulated through the holiday. One of the best way to get rid of leftovers and not produce waste is to send family and friends home with “to-go” containers.
If there is food waste, they encourage residents to dispose of it in green carts with any of their yard waste.
Here is how you can help:
Stuff your green cartsResidents who subscribe to the optional clean green cart service are urged to put as many leaves and yard waste as possible into their green carts between now and Dec. 1.Extra bag rulesPlastic bags do not belong in food & yard waste green carts. Green carts with plastic bags are billed as garbage. Paper leaf bags are acceptable in the green cart or left next to the green cart.Reduce food waste and put scraps in green cartsMake the most of Thanksgiving leftovers with these tips to reduce food waste. Green cart customers also can dispose of food scraps and food-soiled paper in the carts.
The City has also provided the acceptable scraps for green carts:
Meat, poultry, fish, beans, dairy products, fruit, vegetables, breads, grains, pasta, eggshells, nutshells, coffee grounds, tea bags and leftovers.Acceptable food-soiled papers include greasy pizza boxes, coffee filters, paper towels, paper napkins, uncoated paper plates and cups, paper egg and berry cartons and paper grocery bags with food scraps.
The cost of the optional collection service will be $20.72 a month in 2024, with no charge when the service is suspended for winter. For more information about this service, go to the City of Spokane website.
