Kirstin Davis, Communications Manager, 509.625.7773
Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 4:27 p.m.
Curbside yard and food waste customers have until Friday, Dec. 2, to finish their fall yard cleanup before the City of Spokane suspends the collection service for the winter. The optional Clean Green curbside yard and food waste collection service runs from March through November.
Weather over the last month has presented unusual circumstances for leaf pick-up, snow removal and stormwater runoff. The unseasonably warm temperatures through mid-October have kept leaves from turning and dropping. Followed by a quick drop in temperatures, rain and snow; many trees have not dropped their leaves. These cold temperatures have continued, leaving a combination of snow and ice in the right-of-way and delaying leaf pick-up routes throughout the City.
“We need the community’s help 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.
How You Can Help
Residents who subscribe 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. 2. This will help reduce the number stormwater drains being blocked that often causes urban flooding and challenges for leaf and snow removal. Never push leaves from the yard into the street. Take the time to make sure there is a clear path for stormwater and snow melt-off to reach the drains in neighborhood streets.
The 96-gallon green yard waste cart can be filled with all types of yard waste—leaves, pine needles, grass, pumpkins, pinecones, weeds, vines, thatch, plant trimmings, small amounts of sod, and branches. Please do not overload carts and make sure that the lids are fully closed.
Customers also can dispose of food scraps and food-soiled paper in the carts. Acceptable scraps include 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 $18.84 a month in 2023, with no charge when the service is suspended for winter. Customers can add the service by calling the City at 311 inside City boundaries or (509-755-2489).
Even after curbside collection is suspended for winter, recyclers and composters can still recycle yard and food waste at the City’s Waste to Energy (WTE) facility. Clean green materials are accepted year-round at WTE, which is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The minimum charge is $6.29 for clean green material in 2022 and $6.47 in 2023. There is also a self-haul fee of $2.06 in 2022 and $2.12 for 2023.
