Lots of discussion here following the city’s update on the recycling/trash transition Thursday, now there’s a sequel: The city is cracking down on the apartment/condo pickup problems – read on:
News release from Seattle Public Utilities:
Today Seattle Public Utilities told its waste hauler contractors that they have to show improvement in the pickup rate of dumpsters for apartment and condo locations next week or face the possibility of fines of up to $500 per day per dumpster.
Under the contract agreement between SPU and its contractors, the City can impose performance fees if the pickup goals rate is not being met.
After two weeks, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) new recycling and garbage services are exceeding pickup goals for residential collection services *currently 99.5 percent. However, SPU*s business and apartment/condo customers who have dumpster pick-up services are experiencing a five percent miss rate.
*This performance rate is unacceptable to both us and our customers so we are telling our contractors that they need to show steady improvement next week,* said Lael Hoppler, Customer Service Director for Seattle Public Utilities.
In an effort to deal with missed pick ups, SPU has: Expanded SPU*s customer service 206-684-3000 call center hours so people can contact a service representative Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. * 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. * 1 p.m.
Placed inspectors on the ground shadowing contractor services to help catch and deal with issues as they arise, such as missed pickup locations, computer glitches, and access to dumpsters that have locked gates.
*I urge our customers to call our 206-684-3000 customer service line so we can make sure their service expectations are being met,* added Hoppler.
On March 30, SPU changed solid waste collection services for its 165,000 business and residential accounts. These changes included new garbage, recycling, food and yard waste collection routes, collection days and new recycling services.
Rates went up, too.
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