Here's another sign winter is coming: Curbside yard and food waste customers have until Sunday to finish their fall yard cleanup before the City of Spokane suspends the service for the winter.

The optional City service runs from March through November. The 96-gallon green yard waste cart can be filled with all manner of yard waste—grass, leaves, pine needles, pine cones, weeds, vines, thatch, plant trimmings, small amounts of sod, and branches.

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.

Customers put their yard and food waste carts out the same day they haul their garbage and curbside recycling bin to the curb. The material is composted.

 

The cost of the service currently is $14.16 a month, with no charge when the service is suspended for winter. The Spokane City Council is considering rates for utility services in the coming year at their Nov. 18 regular meeting. If proposed rates are approved, the cost of the service will increase slightly to $14.57 a month for 2014.

City of Spokane Solid Waste Management customers can add the service by calling the yard waste hotline at 625-7965 or enrolling on-line at www.spokanecitysolidwaste.org.

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