The city of Seattle has officially begun enforcing its recycling ordinance after months of educating residents and businesses about the recycling process.
Beginning this week, solid waste collectors will not pick up trash cans containing large amounts of recyclable paper, OCC, as well as UBCs, glass, tin cans, plastic bottle sna jars. Instead, collectors will leave a notice instructing the resident or business on where to take the recyclables before the trash can be collected.
Apartments, townhouses and condominiums whose garbage containers are filled with more than 10 percent recyclable paper, cardboard, aluminum and tin cans, as well as glass and plastic bottles and jars will be tagged with warning notices by Seattle Public Utilities inspectors. After a third notice, a $50 charge will be added to the garbage account.
Recyclable paper, cardboard and yard debris are not allowed in commercial garbage. Businesses will be tagged with warning notices by Seattle Public Utilities inspectors if large amounts of these recyclables are dumped in the garbage. After a third notice, a $50 fine will be added to the garbage account. Street containers that receive waste from the public will be exempted.
Tim Croll, solid waste director for Seattle Public Utilities, said, “Residential recycling has increased by more than 5.8 million pounds, and commercial garbage has decreased about 5 percent since the city’s ordinance went into effect in 2004. However, 20 percent of our garbage is made up of recyclable paper. “Seattle’s goal is to recycle 60 percent of its waste. Currently, the city’s recycling rate is 40 percent.”