Seattle Public Utilities will pick up garbage, yard waste and recycling like usual on Monday, even though it’s a holiday. Make sure your containers are set out by 7 a.m.

The North Recycling and Disposal Station in Fremont/Wallingford also will be open on Monday during regular business hours, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Also, SPU is reminding customers that it will pick up bulky items such as couches, beds or dishwashers for a $30 fee ($38 for items containing gases). Call 206-684-3000 to request a bulky item collection. (The Recycling and Disposal stations accept bulky items for the same $30 fee.)

If you want to recycle a refrigerator or a freezer, Seattle City Light will pay you $30 and pick it up for free. Call 1-877-577-0510 or visit www.jacoinc.net to schedule a pick up.

Seattle Public Utilities will not pick up customers’ garbage, recyling or yard waste on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Customers with Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday collections will have their waste picked up one day later than usual those weeks.

Seattle Public Utilities is telephoning customers this week to let them know of the change.

Both of the city’s Recycling and Disposal Stations will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The City of Seattle has reached a $1.24 million settlement with Waste Management over its Teamsters Union drivers’ eight-day strike last month. That means residential customers will receive a $10 credit on their November-December bill for missed collections. Apartment/condo buildings and business customers will receive a $50 credit.

Waste Management drivers are trying to catch up after their week-long strike left residential customers’ waste bins overflowing. Wednesday customers will have their garbage, recycling and yard waste collected tomorrow, on Saturday. Customers won’t be charged extra for any additional items placed at the curb.

Here are Seattle Public Utilities’ instructions for other customers:

Friday Customers:

All carts should be collected today. If not, Leave carts out until 6 p.m. Saturday.

Thursday Customers:

Most recycling pickup was missed yesterday, August 2. Put out all recyclables next Thursday, August 9.

Customers who have been affected by the strike may drop off up to 6 bags of either garbage or yard waste in any combination at either of Seattle’s transfer stations for free, through this weekend. Yard waste should not be in plastic bags. Recycling drop off is always free.

Hours have been extended through Friday at the South Transfer Station: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Waste Management’s union drivers voted this morning to end their strike and begin collecting garbage, yard waste and recycling immediately. Trucks will be out on the roads today, but not all scheduled pickups will be completed.

City of Seattle inspectors will be out today, checking for uncollected waste from yesterday, so the city can fine Waste Management for yesterday’s missed pickups. Any missed pickups today will not result in a fine.

Missed waste collections should be set out on the regular day next week; there will be no charge for extra waste.

Residential customers can still drop off up to six bags of either garbage or yard waste at the North and South Transfer Stations for free. (Recycling is always free to drop off.)

Seattle Public Utilities says it will adjust customers’ bills due to the ongoing strike by garbage, recycling and yard waste drivers from Waste Management. SPU is fining WM for delaying pickups during the strike, and those penalties will be returned to customers in the form of lower bills.

Mayor Mike McGinn has also ordered that all transfer stations be opened to the public at no charge beginning tomorrow, so single-family residences can drop off waste for free.

SPU is now making informational robo calls to all customers.

“We will be rigorously inspecting Waste Management’s work and fining them for every violation,” McGinn said. “We understand that this disruption of service has real consequences for businesses and people, so we will not be charging those who bring their waste to a transfer station. Every penny that we collect from Waste Management in fines will be returned to our customers as reductions to their bill.”

Starting tomorrow (Aug. 1), single-family residents in Waste Management’s service areas may drop off up to six bags of garbage and yard waste for free at the South and North transfer stations, which operate from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week. Customers should bring appropriate identification — for example, a driver’s license or a utility bill — to demonstrate they are City of Seattle residents.

Recycling drop-off is always free.

SPU is asking Wednesday customers to put garbage, yard waste and recycling out before 7 a.m. tomorrow morning. Carts should be left out until 6 p.m. Thursday night, August 2, for possible collection and recording for fines — up to $1.25 million a day — to be issued to Waste Management.

SPU operates two transfer stations:

• The North Recycling and Disposal Station is located at 1350 North 34th Street in the Fremont/Wallingford area.
• The South Recycling and Disposal Station is located at 8105 5th Avenue South in the South Park area.

Both stations are open daily 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Customers who want to avoid lines should drop off items before 2 p.m. Customers can also check to see if there are lines with SPU’s station web cams:

• North Transfer Station
• South Transfer Station

The continuing strike by Teamsters Union drivers means Waste Management will not pick up garbage, recycling or yard waste in Seattle today. Tuesday customers should put out all their waste next Tuesday, and they won’t be charged for extra.

Seattle Public Utilities says Wednesday customers should put out their bins by 7 a.m. Wednesday as usual, in the hopes that the strike will be over by then.

The strike is affecting about 60 percent of the city, in Northwest and South Seattle. Teamsters Local 117’s contract with Waste Management expired May 31 and union drivers went on strike last Wednesday, July 25. Teamsters 174 garbage and yard drivers have been honoring the Local 117 picket lines.

Collections by CleanScapes, which covers about 40 percent of the city are not impacted by the strike.

SPU continues to urge Waste Management and the Teamsters to engage in good faith negotiations toward a speedy and successful outcome.

Under its contract with the city, Waste Management is required to continue services in the event of any disruption. Specifically, any missed collections due to any labor complications must be collected later in the week, or the following week. Waste Management will not be paid for any non-service.

The contract allows the city to deduct approximately $15,000 to $20,000 per day in payments to Waste Management for any services that are not completed the next day. For any interruptions that continue more than a week, contractors can also be fined substantially for service failure, up to $1.25 million per day.

Protecting public health and safety continues to be the city’s top priority throughout this collection disruption.

Customers with solid waste service issues or concerns may call the Call Center at (206) 684-3000.

Because of the continuing strike, Seattle Public Utilities says Waste Management will not pick up garbage, recycling and yard waste for most Seattle customers on Tuesday. Customers missed today and tomorrow should put out their waste next week on the usual day; they won’t be charged for extra waste.

Under its contract with the city, Waste Management is required to continue services in the event of any disruption. Specifically, any missed collections due to any labor complications must be collected later in the week, or the following week. Waste Management will not be paid for any non-service.

The contract allows the city to deduct approximately $15,000 to $20,000 per day in payments to Waste Management for any services that are not completed the next day. For any interruptions that continue more than a week, contractors can also be fined substantially for service failure, up to $1.25 million per day.

Protecting public health and safety continues to be the city’s top priority throughout this collection disruption.

SPU will provide updates as needed. Customers with solid waste service issues or concerns may call the Call Center at (206) 684-3000.

Life is getting back to normal after last week’s snow storm. Seattle Public Schools will reopen Monday morning, and Metro Transit has returned all buses to normal routes, after canceling dozens of routes last week.

Seattle Public Utilities is back on its normal pickup schedule for garbage, recycling and yard waste starting Monday.

Residential customers that had their collections missed last week can set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling and yard waste on their regularly scheduled collection day at no additional charge.

Extra recycling that doesn’t fit in the city-provided container should be placed in sturdy bins or boxes next to your recycling cart. Remember to flatten empty cardboard boxes and do not put recyclables inside of bags.

Extra yard waste that does not fit in the city-supplied cart should be set out in one of the following ways:
• A 32-gallon can with handles. Label your can “yard waste,” and fill it loosely, so that it will empty easily when turned upside down.
• Bundles, tied with fiber twine, up to 4-feet long by 2-feet in diameter. Do not use wire, nylon cording, or plastic banding to tie these bundles.
• Kraft paper bags, available at many home and garden retailers
• Reusable yard waste bags, made of polyethylene.

No food waste is allowed in these extra units.

Extra garbage should be placed in plastic bags or your own garbage can (up to 32 gallons), and put next to your regular garbage.

We’ll continue to update this post throughout the day.

Update 11:14 a.m.: According to KING 5, Gov. Gregoire has declared a state of emergency, 100,000 people are without power across the state, and one man died near Issaquah when he was hit by a falling tree.

Update 11 a.m.: If anyone has driven on neighborhood roads or taken the bus, please put a note in comments and tell us about it. We’re curious to know how well the buses are running.

One man took to his skis to get around the neighborhood (thanks to Lynn for the picture!)

Update Thursday 8:30 a.m.: The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for the Seattle area until 12 p.m. today.

According to the NWS, an ice storm warning means “severe weather conditions are imminent or occurring. Significant amounts of ice accumulation will make travel dangerous or impossible. Travel is strongly discouraged…Ice accumulations will likely lead to snapped power lines and falling tree branches that add to the danger.”

On traffic cameras, television or from your window, streets may appear bare and wet but they may still be covered with ice. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) continues to treat major arterial roads with salt brine and granular salt. Some secondary or neighborhood streets are very slick and changes in conditions between treated and untreated roadways can be very sudden. Four wheel drive is not a solution – vehicles need chains to have traction. Keeping the roads clear of traffic is extremely helpful for emergency vehicles.

Many sidewalks are icy. Pedestrians should use caution while walking and crossing streets. It is the responsibility of property owners to keep their sidewalks clear of ice to protect pedestrian safety. SDOT is dispatching 22 crews to activate the Pedestrian Safety Element of the Winter Response plan to clear and salt pedestrian landings, crossings, and intersections.

Seattle Public Utilities will not pick up garbage, recycling and yard waste today as planned, because the roads are too icy.

Weather permitting, garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste service will resume Friday, on a revised schedule — with customers scheduled for pickup today collected Friday, and Friday customers collected Saturday.

If your materials are not picked up this week, please put them out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day. Missed customers will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling and yard waste at no additional charge.

All Seattle Public Library branches are closed on Thursday.

Woodland Park Zoo is closed again on Thursday.

Many King County offices are closed today, including District and Superior Court, Council offices, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Department of Assessments. For a full list of county closures, click here.

Someone created some great snow creatures in front of Santoro’s Books on Wednesday. (Thanks to LS for the pictures!)

Earlier: Wednesday was a very fun snow day of sledding and drinking hot chocolate. Unless, of course, you had to drive somewhere. The roads will likely be very icy on Thursday, so please drive carefully if you must go somewhere.

Here’s what’s on tap for Thursday:

Seattle Publish Schools are closed again.

Seattle Public Utilities will pick up Wednesday’s garbage, recycling and yard waste on Thursday, weather permitting. That means regular Thursday pickups will now happen on Friday, and Friday customers should set their refuse out on Saturday by 7 a.m.

If your materials are not picked up on the revised schedule, please put them out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day. Missed customers will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling and yard waste at no additional charge.

Metro Transit will continue to operate on snow routes, with 27 routes canceled. Other routes may experience significant delays, so check Metro’s Snow & Ice page for updates before you head for the bus.

Greenwood Hardware was all out of sleds on Wednesday, but they’re getting more on Thursday.

We may be out of sleds for today, but we’ve seen a lot of creative solutions: garbage can lids, cardboard+rope+tarp… Send us pictures of your ad-hoc sled-like device and whichever we think is the most creative we’ll hold a sled for you from tomorrow’s truck!

Lexy sent us a photo of the hordes of sledders at Woodland Park on Wednesday.

Next door, at the Woodland Park Zoo, the animals frolicked in the snow.

Photo by Kirsten Pisto, Woodland Park Zoo.

The city, utilities and schools are all getting ready for possible major snow on Wednesday. KING 5′s Jeff Renner is forecasting snow accumulations of up to 10 inches in the foothills tomorrow.

Seattle Public Schools has canceled all classes and activities on Wednesday.

The Seattle Public Library has canceled Wednesday night’s meeting for community input on library services at the Ballard Library. The meeting will be rescheduled.

Seattle Public Utilities says Wednesday customers should set out all garbage, recycling and yard/food waste carts by 7 a.m. tomorrow, but collection will depend on the weather.

Please put your garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste out by 7 a.m. Wednesday. If your collection is missed, please leave your materials out for one more day. If your materials still have not been collected by the end of the day Thursday, put them out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day.

Customers, who were missed today, Tuesday, Jan. 17, should set out your materials for pickup Wednesday morning. If your material is not picked up Wednesday, please set it out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day.

Customers who were missed Monday, Jan. 16, should set your materials out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day.

Missed customers will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling and yard waste at no additional charge.

SPU is also asking people to make sure the storm drains in the street in front of their homes are clear of leaves, ice and other debris. Blocked storm drains can cause localized flooding. Seattle has about 80,000 storm drains.

Metro buses remain on snow routes, and some routes will be canceled on Wednesday. Metro plans to cancel as many as 30 routes tomorrow morning, depending on how severe the storm is.

Due to the weather forecast for treacherous and impassable roadways, Metro is scaling back some service Wednesday to be able to operate the rest of its system safely and as reliably as possible. The routes scheduled to be canceled for Wednesday are: 2EX, 38, 42, 45, 46, 51, 53, 79, 114, 161, 162, 175, 192, 193, 197, 205, 210, 215, 216, 219, 224, 237, 251, 268, 277, 316, 355, and the Center Park Shuttle.

Information about these Wednesday route cancellations will be added to Metro’s snow page after midnight tonight. But, service on those routes could be restored depending on overnight weather forecasts and actual travel conditions tomorrow. So before traveling, riders should check either online or by phone (206-553-3000) for the most current status of Metro service.

For travel on Wednesday, check Metro’s snow web page before leaving. Updates to the online information begin as early as 4 a.m. and continue as needed until travel conditions improve. Also, it is important to sign up for Transit Alerts so you can be alerted when bus service status changes.

Even though weather and road conditions in the morning may not be bad in your area, delays and service disruptions can occur in other parts of the county that affect bus service in your area. Buses will also be chained, which means they have to travel at slower speeds.

As Christmas approaches with its mounds of wrapping paper, leftover food and dried out Christmas trees, Seattle Public Utilities wants to remind everyone just what can and can’t be recycled or composted.

Since recycling is free, you can put extra cans, bottles, paper and whatnot into a bin or box and set it next to your recycling cart on your regular collection day. Flatten empty cardboard boxes.

All recycling, garbage and compost needs to be put out by 7 a.m. on collection day.

Tips from SPU:

Common holiday items that go in recycling:

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) and glossy/shiny shopping bags.

All food scraps and yard clippings can go in your food and yard waste cart, including:

Figgy pudding, fruitcake, mistletoe, wreaths, bones, meat, cheese, seafood, fruit and vegetables. Paper bags and napkins can also be composted, as well as greasy cardboard pizza boxes.

There are several local Drop-off Recycling Locations for hard-to-recycle items, including:

• TVs, cell phones and other electronics, as well as Styrofoam, batteries and other items.
• To find a location near you, call (206) 684-3000 or go to www.seattle.gov/util and click on “How do I dispose of this?”

Holiday items that go in the garbage include:

• Ribbons and bows, burned out holiday lights, alkaline batteries and Styrofoam packaging.
• Fats, oil and grease should be placed in a lidded container and placed in the garbage.