Recycle, Reuse, Keep Seattle Green!

Keep Seattle and Washington green is a theme we are familiar with all around our beautiful city.  Here are a few tips on how to take care of your recyclables and reusables in an environmentally friendly way.  If we all do our part to recycle and reuse, we will definitely go a long way to keeping our natural resources enjoyable for generations to come. 

Recycle!  With trash collection in the City of Seattle, each homeowner is entitled to one large green 96 gallon recycle bin that is picked up every two weeks.  (The off weeks are offered an optional 96 gallon yard waste pick up which is a paid service through the city. )  Now,  the recycle rules have changed and glass, aluminum and paper can all be put in the same recycle bin.  In addition, we now have a free small green bin which will hold food and yard waste as well.

If you are a business, through the new CleanScapes company that took over the City of Seattle Garbage Contract, you have the option of using food/yard waste bins in an effort to reduce the amount of trash generated.  As a restaurant owner, I have been able to reduce garbage costs by at least 25% just by using these food waste bins!

Instead of throwing all of the food scraps into the trash as we normally do, we throw them in the food waste bins, which cost a minimal $7.00 per month for each 96 gallon tote.  Our trash volume has decreased by at least 25% and not only that, we feel good about reducing our carbon footprint and the amount of trash that goes into our city landfills.  As restaurants are mostly food waste anyways, this is a great way to save money as well as to help the environment. 

If you ever have huge amounts of trash, recyclable cardboard or glass, you can even haul your load to the nearest City Transfer Station.  Cardboard, glass bottles, newspaper, and mixed paper is always free regardless of quantity.

For trash, the transfer stations charge by the weight.  For a truck load, the normal charge of trash will run you about $19.00, depending on the weight.  Appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and stoves are charged per appliance and run you about $25 per appliance.  There is also a section for free recycling of scrap metal, and clean wood.  If all else fails, you can always post your unwanted furniture or item on Craigslist for free (a free online buy/sell service) and even if that fails, you can cart your item to the street, mark it “free” and see how quickly it will disappear!  Handy information for all of us who plan on doing our summer cleaning anytime soon and don’t want to add more to our landfills.  Even though you don’t need an item, chances are good that somebody would love to have that item!   So lets all do our part to reducing that carbon footprint and being earth friendly.  Here’s to all of us earth conscious citizens. 

Go Green, Live Small, Be Considerate!

Realtor