Recyling Truck Violates City's Anti Idling Ordinance

The Laurelhurst Blog received many emails following a Recycling Truck that idled early Monday morning for at least 20 minutes from approximately 6:40-7:05am on NE 45th Street, near Children's Hospital and in the vicinity of many residences. This is in violation of City Ordinance. 

The City of Seattle has an Anti-Idling Provision which states: 

Why does the City of Seattle have an anti-idling provision? It’s basic common sense: there is already too much pollution in the air. Seattle wants to reduce air pollution. The goal of the City of Seattle Anti-Idling contract provision is to improve air quality by reducing unnecessary air pollution from idling vehicles. Limiting car and truck idling supports cleaner air.

The contract provision limits unnecessary engine idling to five minutes. No operator shall unnecessarily idle the engine of a diesel fueled car or truck that is stopped for a foreseeable period of time in excess of five minutes. Vehicle idling is the running of a car or truck engine while the car or truck is stopped for a foreseeable period of time and not in a PTO (or similar) mode.

The Laurelhurst Blog contacted Recology who said:

Thank you so much for your detailed email!  We had received another similar report and with the additional information you provided it will allow us to complete a more detailed review of the incident.  All of the details were passed along to our management team for review and follow-up.

The Laurelhurst Blog also contacted, SDOT Media, and a response  was received from Sabrina Register who said: 

Thank you for your email. We are addressing your concern with our contractor, Recology..

The Laurelhurst Blog followed up with SDOT Media to ensure that the City was aware of the Anti-Idling Provision and Katie, Senior Public Relations Specialist with Seattle Public Utilities said:  

Thank you for alerting us to the idling incident that occurred earlier this week. Please accept our sincere apology. Seattle Public Utilities & our contractor, Recology, strive to be a good community partners but at times we fall short of our own expectations. We appreciate you taking the time to bring this issue to our attention and for providing us with the opportunity to improve.

 

You are absolutely correct that excessive idling is unacceptable and in violation of city ordinance. Seattle Public Utilities has been in contact with Recology on this matter and have reiterated the requirements of the City’s anti-idling ordinance and collection time window provisions of agreement.

 

Please find below a summary of Recology’s investigation into the incident and corrective action plan:

• We have conducted a review of GPS data on all Recology trucks operating in the Laurelhurst area on the date and time in question
• We have identified opportunities to minimize truck idle time through driver training as well as an on-board automatic anti-idle system
• We have reiterated and reviewed our standard operating procedure regarding truck idling and collection time windows to the individual driver in question as well as all drivers who serve the Laurelhurst community

 

Through these actions, Recology hopes to prevent future incidents from occurring. Again, we apologize to the Laurelhurst community and appreciate you bringing this issue to our attention. 

 

Here also s the City noise ordinance on garbage/recyling/yard waste collections before 7am:

Commercial garbage trucks are not allowed to collect in residential zones or any property adjacent to residential zoned property before 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. This section of the code is enforced by the Seattle Public Utilities.

Free Garbage Transfer Station Drop Off Through Saturday

Seattle Public Utilities posted this information:

Garbage Collection Resumes and Free Garbage Drop-off at Seattle Transfer Stations Feb. 13-16 

 

Garbage collection resumes today for Monday and Tuesday customers.  Recycling and food and yard waste not collected from Monday and Tuesday customers today will be collected next week, on February 18th and 19th. Customers may put out double the usual amount of recycling and yard waste at no additional charge.  

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

Seattle residents significantly impacted by delayed pickups, due to icy residential streets, may visit the transfer stations for free February 13-16th. Customers are asked to indicate they are Seattle residents whose solid waste services have been delayed due to weather for more than a week.   

There is a limit of one truck or carload, per household, up to 420 pounds of combined garbage/recycling/compost. For any amount more than 420 pounds, there will be a charge of $30 (minimum charge) or more.  Customers are advised to separate materials and cover the load.  

What to bring: Residential Garbage, Clean Yard Waste and Recyclables  

North Transfer Station: 1350 N 34th Street 
8am-5:30pm (until 7:30pm on Feb 14th and 15th)  

More information on transfer stations and collections for the rest of the week go here.

Update On Garbage Pick-Up

Seattle Public Utilities posted: 

No Seattle residential garbage pickup today

Due to continued icy road conditions, there will be no residential or commercial garbage, recycling or food/yard waste pickup today.  Weather and road conditions permitting, garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste service will resume Wednesday, on a revised schedule, with customers scheduled for pickup today collected tomorrow.  

All remaining residential services will be delayed one day this week. Monday customers will have their garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste picked up next Monday, Feb. 11, and are allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling and food/yard waste at no additional charge. 

Go here for more information. 

City Yard Waste Christmas Tree Pick-Up Through Sunday

 

 

Seattle food and yard waste subscribers can leave Christmas trees and greens curbside to be picked up through Sunday. The trees will be turned into wood chips or compost.
 

The trees need to be cut into sections of six feet or shorter with branches trimmed to less than four feet to be able to fit into the collection trucks.
 

Each section should be bundled with sisal string or twine, not plastic
 

Decorated, flocked and plastic trees are not recyclable, and will be charged as extra garbage. 
 

Trees not higher than eight feet long and free of decorations, can also be taken to the North Recycling and Disposal Station (1350 North 34th Street). The station is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

City Conducting Survey To Possibly Change Frequency Of Garbage Pick-ups From Every Week To Every Other Week

A reader let us know that Seattle Public Utilties is currently conducting a survey, as part of their Solid Waste Management Plan, to gather customer input on plans to reduce waste and improve recycling, food and yard waste composting, and other solid waste services.

The reader is concerned that the City is considering garbage pickup every other week, rather than weekly.

Here are two of the questions:

• Right now the City's Seattle Public Utilities picks up garbage on a weekly basis. They also pick up food and yard waste every week. Now that food scraps are allowed in the weekly yard and food waste service, the City's Seattle Public Utilities is considering changing garbage to an every other week service. If this change is made, how satisfied would you be?   
• Would you favor or oppose a plan that forbids food waste from being placed in the garbage container? Garbage containers with food and yard waste in them would not get picked up. Seattle already has similar rules about placing garbage in the recycling container and garbage in the food and yard waste container.

There is also a question about recycling diapers and dog do.

Here is some information on the survey and the Solid Waste Management Plan.