xxxxxxx

Winter 2004

C i t y o f T a c o m a E P u b l i c W o r k s E E n v i r o n m e n t a l S e r v i c e s

Give experiences instead of stuffTacoma households typically throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving

and New Year’s Day. Food waste, shopping and gift bags, wrapping paper, product

packaging, bows and ribbon unnecessarily use up valuable

landfill space.

How can you help reduce holiday waste? Give gifts of experiences instead of stuff through Waste Free Holidays, a program offering

discounted tickets to many Tacoma and Seattle-area attractions and events, such as museums, restaurants, the theater, sports games, concerts,

zoos, massages, yoga and more.

Tacoma is partnering with King County for Waste Free Holidays, providing more than

100 experience gift offers at discounts up to 50 percent on select tickets at

participating organizations.

Tickets must be purchased by Dec. 31, but event dates extend into 2005. Event dates and discounted offers vary. Waste Free Holidays tickets may be purchased only by contacting organizations directly.

Check out more holiday waste reduction tips on page 7.

Reduce, Reuse, TreecycleIf you’re a residential garbage customer, Solid Waste Management will pick up your holiday tree for FREE with your yard waste. Just make sure to:

F Remove all decorations (including tinsel)

F Take the tree out of the standF Cut into lengths no

longer than three feet and bundle with twine

F Place on the curb next to your yard waste container

We don’t accept flocked trees or trees with decorations or stands. Dispose of flocked trees in the garbage or at the landfill.

Trees from apartments and businesses may be brought to the Tacoma Landfill for free from Dec. 27 to Jan. 16. Apartment managers or landlords who collect tenants’ trees may drop them off all at once, free of charge. Please call 591-5543 in advance. Tree-lot operators and nonprofit groups are charged for tree disposal.

The Tacoma Landfill (3510 S. Mullen St.) is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The landfill is closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Waste Free Holidays

S o l i d W a s t e E W a s t e w a t e r E S u r f a c e W a t e rE n h a n c i n g y o u r q u a l i t y o f l i f e

E Ballet/DanceE Museums/

Visual ArtsE MusicE Rest and Relaxation

E RestaurantsE Sporting Events/

RecreationE Theater

Go to www.wastefreeholidays.com for a complete list of participants with discounted experience gift offers for:

Spruce up your home for the holidaysThe holidays often mean heavy traffic at home. Dazzle your friends, family and house guests with these earth-friendly, easy-to-make cleaners.

Floor Cleaner and Polish Mix 1 capful of baby oil into a half-bucket of water. Use a mop or cloth to polish vinyl or linoleum floor. Let the floor dry for about 10 minutes. You may need to use a dry cloth to wipe away the remaining water/oil mixture.

Carpet Stain Remover Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray on stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Dip the soft side of a sponge or a soft brush in warm soapy water and rub the stain firmly. Let the soap sit for a few minutes and then blot with plain warm water.

All recipes tested by City staff; your results may vary. Test recipe on a small, out-of-the-way area before using on the entire floor. See more earth-friendly recipes at www.cityoftacoma.org/greenercleaners.

Take out your woods for winter

practice at Tacoma Firs Golf Center. The all-weather

facility offers covered, heated and lit driving range stalls perfect for

practicing your golf swing year-round.

The golf center also features an 18-hole miniature golf course, natural-grass putting

green and 50-yard short practice area.

Tacoma Firs Golf Center (4504 S. Tyler St.) operates under a revenue-sharing agreement with the City. Fall and winter hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Special offers and gift certificates available. Find more information at www.cityoftacoma.org/solidwaste/golf or 472-6899.

New gadgets on your holiday wish list? Don’t trash your old technology. Recycle or donate yesterday’s electronics.

B Electronics contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury and cadmium, and they need to be handled properly to protect the environment.

B Recycling the metals, plastics and glass in electronics conserves natural resources, saves energy and reduces or eliminates pollution created when these components are made from virgin materials.

B Recycling creates jobs in our communities.

Instead of throwing away your electronics, take them to recycling businesses or give them to charities. Find suggestions at www.cityoftacoma.org/electronicsrecycling.

3

If the sewers at your home or business are served by City of Tacoma Wastewater Management, you may be eligible to receive a special low-interest loan to help pay for up to 90 percent of the cost of side-sewer repair. Loans are also available for purchase of pollution control equipment at your business.

For more information, call the Environmental Services Conservation Loan Program, 591-5588, or visit www.cityoftacoma.org/sewerloan.

During storms, the City’s stormwater system may overload and low-lying areas may flood. If you live in a flood-prone area, follow these helpful tips:

Keep the storm grates on your streets free of leaves and trash. The City needs your help maintaining more than 17,000 storm grates located on public streets. Use a rake, broom or blower to clear trash and leaves.

Clogged storm drain basin? Call us! Under each storm drain grate is a basin that catches larger debris. Sometimes the basin gets clogged and the area floods. Call us at 591-5588 and we’ll send a crew to fix it. Keep in mind our crews are extremely busy during storms, so notifying us of problems before the rains and flooding starts is helpful.

Install a downspout extension or use splash blocks to direct water away from your foundation. A lot of pain and agony over water in

Flooding Tipsyour home could be avoided if rainwater is directed three to five feet away from the foundation by using inexpensive and easy-to-install materials from home improvement stores.

For more information, visit www.cityoftacoma.org/flood or call 591-5588.

4

The cost of your solid waste, wastewater and surface water services will rise in 2005. If you’re a typical residential customer*, the combined increase means you’ll pay about $3 more each month. That’s just an average increase. Your actual bill may be higher or lower depending on your circumstances.

With a little extra effort, there are ways you can save hundreds each year.

Reduce your ‘waste’ lineYour solid waste rates are based on the size of your garbage can. The smaller the can, the less you pay. Switching from a 90-gallon can to a 60-gallon can saves you more than $140 a year. Dropping from a 60 to a 30 saves more than $120 a year, and dropping from a 30 to a 20 saves nearly $80 a year. At the same time, request a larger recycling container—there’s no extra charge.

Less water in, less water outThe more fresh water that comes into your home, the more wastewater that goes out your sewer pipes. And, the more you use, the more you pay. In 2005, wastewater rates for typical residential customers* will be $30.75 per month. If you want to lower your sewer bill, watch your water consumption during the most recent winter months**, since this is what your bill is based on. Also look out for leaks and other household changes in usage that may result in higher charges.

Call us with questions. Wastewater/Surface Water: 502-2100, Solid Waste: 591-5543.*A typical customer has a 30-gallon garbage can, lives on a 7,000-square-foot lot and uses 700 cubic feet of water from Tacoma Water each month.

**Actual months vary depending on your account. Residents who haven’t accumulated a full winter’s worth of consumption, or residents who don’t have Tacoma Water have their rates based on a citywide average.

2004 2005

Curbside garbage (per month)20-gallon can ................................................. $ 18.10 $ 19.5530-gallon can ................................................. $ 24.20 $ 26.1060-gallon can................................................. $ 33.85 $ 36.5090-gallon can................................................. $ 44.85 $ 48.40Landfill feesFirst 400 lbs for City residents........................... $ 5 $ 10More than 400 lbs for City residents.................. $ 90/ton $ 125/tonFirst 400 lbs for non-City residents .................... $ 90/ton $ 125/tonWastewater charges (per month)Typical residential use ...................................... $ 30.31 $ 30.75 Based on 700 cubic feet of fresh waterSurface water charges (per month)Typical residential lot size of 7,000 square feet..... $ 11.59 $ 12.28

Environmental training makes a difference—volunteer todayCoordinating a creek monitoring program, writing a regular environmental magazine column and teaching your family and friends how to recycle are just a few ways volunteers are helping protect Tacoma’s environment through the City’s free resource conservation training program.

Going into its fourth year, the Resource Conservation

Stewardship program, sponsored by

City of Tacoma Environmental

Services, has graduated 52 people who have

volunteered a combined

1,000 hours in teaching others

about natural lawn care, home composting, waste reduction, water quality, recycling and household hazardous wastes.

In exchange for 40 hours of free training, graduates promise to spend 40 hours of their time teaching others earth-friendly practices.

Sign up now for the next Resource Conservation Stewardship class, beginning March 1, 2005. The eight-week training includes evening classroom lectures and some Saturday field trips. To apply*, visit www.cityoftacoma.org/envirosteward or call 573-2415. Application deadline is Feb. 22. *The program accepts enthusiastic volunteers 18 years or older. Volunteers must complete their 40 hours of volunteer work within the City of Tacoma limits.

5

2005 Recycling andYard Waste Calendar

Recycling and yard waste collection occurs every other week on your garbage day. Look at the map on the back that corresponds to your garbage day. If you live in a shaded area, your recycling will be picked up during the shaded weeks. If you live in an unshaded area, your recycling will be picked up during the unshaded weeks of the calendar. Please have all garbage, recycling and yard waste containers ready for pickup by 7 a.m.

S M T W T F SOctober 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

S M T W T F SNovember 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

S M T W T F SMay 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

S M T W T F SApril 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

S M T W T F SMarch 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

S M T W T F SFebruary 2005

S M T W T F SSeptember 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

S M T W T F SAugust 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

S M T W T F SJanuary 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

S M T W T F SDecember 2004

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

S M T W T F SJuly 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

S M T W T F SJune 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

S M T W T F SDecember 2005

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Offices closed, landfill closed, no collection services.Offices closed, landfill open normal hours.

If your regular Your pickup day pickup day is... will be...Christmas Day 2004 On schedule New Year’s Day 2005 On scheduleFourth of July 2005 Monday, July 4... Tuesday, July 5 Tuesday, July 5... Wednesday, July 6 Wednesday, July 6... Thursday, July 7 Thursday, July 7... Friday, July 8 Friday, July 8... Saturday, July 9Thanksgiving 2005 Thursday, Nov. 24... Friday, Nov. 25 Friday, Nov. 25... Saturday, Nov. 26Christmas Day 2005 On schedule

When is my recycling day?My recycling week is: shaded unshadedPlease check (✓ ) one.(Refer to maps to determine which weeks you recycle.)

Holiday Collection Schedule

See “Holiday Collection Schedule” at top left.

Solid Waste Management3510 S. Mullen St. Tacoma, WA 98409www.cityoftacoma.org/solidwaste

Administration8 a.m-5 p.m., Monday-Friday (closed all major City holidays)

General Information .......................................................... 591-5543Call-2-Haul........................................................................573-2468Recycling Updates(24-hour recorded message only) ..................................... 565-5955

Landfill Services8 a.m.-6 p.m., daily(closed 4 p.m. Christmas Eve)Closed: New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day

Household Hazardous Waste Facility .............. 591-5418Scalehouse................... 593-7724

Please turn page for maps.

City Limits

Marine View Drive

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S. 68 St.

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S. 80 St.

S. 36 St.

S. 38 St.

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Thursday

Sixth Ave. (Recycling Divider)

S. 36 St.

S. 38 St.

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N. 31

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Residents living in this areahave various garbage days.All have recycling pickup onthe unshaded weeks.

Friday

City Limits

The Narrows

Ruston

Park Ave.

N. 51 St.

Mild

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N. 49 St. Waterview

N. 46 St.

Stev

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N. 37 St.

Pro

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S. 19 St.

N. 26 St. (Recycling Divider)

Monday

7

Opening gifts usually means opening the garbage can as well. During the holiday season, parties, shopping and gift-giving add up to a lot of extra trash for our landfills. Here are tips for decreasing the amount of waste we produce:

Gift wrappingNationally, gift-giving and shopping bags produce 4 million tons of trash.

G Wrap in last year’s wrapping paper, comics or old posters and maps

G Use a reusable gift bag instead of buying gift wrap

G Save bows, gift tags, ribbons, bags and boxes to use again next year

G Use old holiday cards for gift tags

G Reuse packing materials like peanuts and bubble wrap or drop them off at your nearest mailing specialty store for reuse

General tipsPackaging accounts for one-third of our waste stream—about 72.4 million tons.

G Buy products with less packagingG Give an “experience gift” such as tickets to a sporting

event, museum or concert. Check out discounted gift offers at www.wastefreeholidays.com.

G Bring your own shopping bags instead of accepting paper or plastic bags at stores

G Send cards with recycled content or send e-cards to save paper

Holiday recyclingG Recycle your tree curbside from Dec. 27 to Jan. 16G Recycle wrapping paper (no metallic or foil paper)

Way to go Renton Gordon, Dustin Lowe, Tracey McGraw, Jake Roberts and Megan Scheidt! They won our last EnviroKids Challenge by identifying several things you can make out of an old milk jug, such as a planter or a ball catcher.

Here’s the next challenge: Check out the EnviroKids Web site at www.cityoftacoma.org/envirokids and name one project you can make out of empty jars.

The first five Tacoma kids* (ages 5-12) to correctly answer this question will win an awesome EnviroKids water bottle. E-mail your response to envirokids@cityoftacoma.org (no answers can be taken by phone).*Limit one winner per household, per calendar year.

Corner

Congratulations to our last EnviroChallenge winners: Jeff Carlson, Paula Curtis, Bob Muntz, Tiffany Price, and Julie and Jordan Williams. They correctly named three of the many products that can be made from recycled cooking oil, such as pet food, poultry seed, soap, cosmetics, perfumes and more.

Will you be cleaning out your house after the holidays? Or maybe making a New Year’s resolution to get organized? Consider this issue’s challenge: Name five items the City of Tacoma’s Call-2-Haul program will collect curbside.

E-mail your answer to envirotalk@cityoftacoma.org (no answers can be taken by phone). The first five Tacoma residents* to correctly answer the question will receive an Environmental Services backpack/cooler. Find the answer at www.cityoftacoma.org/solidwaste.* Limit one winner per household, per

calendar year.

issueissuein this

What can you do? Large amounts of cooking oil should be recycled and small amounts should go in the garbage.

Lots of cooking oilGot lots of cooking oil left over from, say, deep-frying a turkey? Take it to Tacoma’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility. It’s free!

A little cooking oilIf you have a couple of tablespoons of oil or grease leftover from your meals, collect those in a glass jar with a lid. When the jar is full, put the lid on and throw it in the garbage. The Household Hazardous Waste Facility only accepts oil and grease from residential use, and it must be strained to remove large food particles. Oil and grease contaminated with toxic or hazardous material and/or stored in a container that held hazardous material will not be accepted. The facility, located at the Tacoma Landfill (3510 S. Mullen St.) is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For more information, call 591-5418 or visit www.cityoftacoma.org/cookingoil.

It’s a common misperception that grease is too greasy to stick to your drain pipes. Wrong. Grease sticks to your pipes and builds up over time. Grease clogs cause nearly half the

sewer backups in Tacoma.

G Discounted “experience gifts” ............... page 1

G Electronics recycling .......... page 2G Sewer repair loans.............. page 3G Rate increases .................... page 4G Holiday waste

reduction tips ..................... page 7

City of TacomaPublic WorksEnvironmental Services747 Market Street, Room 420Tacoma, Washington 98402-3769

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAID

TACOMA, WAPERMIT NO. 2

We welcome your feedback about EnviroTalk. Contact us by e-mail at envirotalk@cityoftacoma.org.

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