Director's Rule

Title

Temporary Container and Bag Placement and Removal

at Curbs and Public Alleys Number

SW-406 Rev. no.

1

Responsibility

Solid Waste Line of Business Supersedes

N/A Pages

4

General Manager/CEO Signature

/s/ Andrew Lee Approval Date

June 3, 2023 Effective Date

June 15, 2023

1. PURPOSE

Seattle Municipal Code 15.04.010 requires a street use permit for anyone to make long-term "use" of a public place as an alley, planting strip, street or sidewalk. However, "use" of public places allows the temporary placement by a customer of garbage and recyclables for curbside/alley collection that comply with SMC 21.36.080. SMC Section 21.36.080 B allows containers to be placed or staged on the sidewalk, in the alley, street or planting strip if they are placed a "reasonable time prior to collection" and removed "within a reasonable amount of time thereafter."

Containers can include bags of extra garbage or boxes of recycle: 12-, 20-, and 32/35- to 96-gallon wheeled or unwheeled garbage, food waste or recycle carts, and 1- to 8-yard detachable containers or compactors/dumpsters used for collection of garbage, recyclable materials or organic waste (yard and food waste) by residents or businesses.

The reasonable amount of time prior to and after collection set forth in this rule pertains not only to all City contracted collection services for garbage, recyclable materials, and compostables (yard and food waste) but also non-contracted, private collection services as well. It does not apply to temporary placement of containers in a public right of way where a Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Street Use permit has been obtained from the City.

2. RULE

A. Placement and Removal of Residential and Commercial, Wheeled Carts and Detachable Containers in the Public Right of Way

There will be no permanent storage of cans, wheeled carts, or detachable containers on streets, public sidewalks, planting strips, or in alleys, unless the property owner has no space to store containers on their property or inside their building. The SPU General Manager/CEO designee may verify lack of private property storage.

Residential Carts

Residential carts with garbage, recyclables, or yard waste may be staged temporarily on the sidewalk, on the planting strip, or in the public alley up to 24 hours before the scheduled collection by the City-contracted hauler. Carts must be removed by the customer and returned to the customer's private property storage location within 24 hours of being

collected. Bundles of yard waste and boxes of recycle or bags or extra garbage may also be staged up to 24 hours before their scheduled collection.

If carts are to be staged on the street, restricted parking signs are required to be approved and implemented. The designee of the General Manager/CEO, in partnership with the designee of the Seattle Department of Transportation, will review and approve locations suitable for cart staging and collection.

Commercial Containers

Commercial wheeled carts and commercial or residential detachable containers (compactors or dumpsters) may be placed temporarily at the curb, planting strip or in the public alley up to 12 hours before scheduled collection by the City-contracted hauler; alternatively, the time containers are staged must match posted temporary parking restrictions.

Containers must be removed by the customer and returned to the customer's property within 12 hours of being collected; alternatively, the time containers are staged must match posted temporary parking restrictions.

In neighborhood business districts, if containers are stored permanently (a) in the public right of way because the property owner has no space to store containers on their private property or inside their building; or (b) on private property in publicly accessible areas, containers will be kept lidded, locked, and the surrounding area kept clean. The General Manager/CEO designee may verify the lack of private property storage.

Right-of-Way Staging

Containers shall not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic access and use, as determined by the SPU and SDOT designees.

For buildings constructed in 2019 or later, containers larger than 4 cubic yards or of any size that store compacted materials must be staged for direct access by trucks. Direct access means containers shall not be located such that drivers need to turn, push, or reposition containers.

If detachable containers (compactors or dumpsters) are to be staged on the street, restricted-parking signs are required to be approved and implemented. The designee of the General Manager/CEO, in partnership with Seattle Department of Transportation designee, will review and approve locations suitable for container setout and collection.

.

B. Clear Alleys Program

Throughout the downtown and designated neighborhood business districts, the City does not allow permanent right-of-way storage for most solid waste containers to reduce cover for uncivil and illegal behaviors, impede pedestrian and vehicular traffic use, or attract illegal dumping. For buildings without storage space on their property, the City provides a prepaid bag system in these areas, with frequent collections, for businesses, apartments, and condominiums.

The City's contractors provide prepaid-bag collection service for garbage and recycle at intervals of up 3 times per day based on the commodity and the zoned area.

C. Designated Business Districts for the Clear Alleys Program

The following are current designated business districts approved by the Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) or the General Manager/CEO for inclusion in the Clear Alleys Program:

Downtown (including Belltown, the Denny Triangle, and the Commercial Core)

The boundaries are Elliott Bay to the west, Bay Street to Denny Way to the north (south side of those respective streets), Interstate 5 to the east (west side of the highway) and Yesler Way to the south (north side of the roadway). Private streets, alleys, and piers are not covered under this rule. Residentially zoned areas in Belltown will have modified pickup times.

Pioneer Square

The boundaries are Elliott Bay to the west, Yesler Way to the north (south side of the street), Fourth Avenue South to the east (west side of roadway) to South King Street to the south and then west along South King Street to Occidental Avenue South (west side of roadway). The eastern boundary then becomes Occidental Avenue South (west side of the roadway) south to South Royal Brougham Way (north side of roadway). From the southern boundary of South Royal Brougham Way, the western boundary follows First Avenue South north to Railroad Way South and then to Alaska Way South north to South King Street. Private streets, alleys, and piers are not covered under this rule.

International District

The boundaries are Yesler Way to the north (south side of street), Fourth Avenue South to the west (east side of street) to South Dearborn Street to the south (north side of street) to Interstate 5 to the east (west side of interstate).

Columbia City

The boundaries are South Dawson Street to the south (north side of street), South Alaska Street to the north (south side of street), 37th Avenue South to the west (east side of street), and 39th Avenue South to the east (west side of street).

Capitol Hill/Pike/Pine Corridor

The boundaries are Melrose Avenue and Minor Avenue to the west, 12th Avenue to the east, and East Union Street to the south. North boundary follows East Pike to Harvard Avenue, then north to Denny Way to 12th Avenue. Residentially zoned area next to Cal Anderson Park, between 11th Avenue and 12th Avenue, and East Olive Street and East Denny Way, will have modified pickup times.

D. Placement and Removal of Residential- and Commercial-Wheeled Carts and Detachable Containers on Public Sidewalks and Alleys within Designated Business Districts

Residential- and commercial-wheeled carts or detachable containers with garbage, recyclables, or compostables may be placed at the curb or along the side of public alleyways during the hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. or up to 3 hours before their scheduled collection by a City-contracted or private collector if no storage space is available on private property. They must be removed and returned to the customer's property within 3 hours of being collected. Boxes of recyclables may also be placed up to 3 hours before their scheduled collection. The General Manager/CEO's designee may deny the overnight storage locations or the daytime collection of containers if it interferes with vehicular or pedestrian passage or introduces safety issues.

E. Prepaid Color-Coded Bag Alternative to Detachable Container Use

Residential and commercial customers, choosing this City-contracted service for garbage, will be provided with prepaid color-coded bags and a collection schedule by their City-contracted hauler. Prepaid bags may be used for recyclables subject to the requirements of section G of this rule. Customers will set out prepaid bags for collection no more than three hours before the scheduled pickup time.

The bags will be color-coded according to the type of material being collected. Private recycling collectors may choose to offer customers a similar bag service, and must provide customers with a collection time schedule and offer one-time per day service. Customers will set out bags for collection no more than three hours before the scheduled pickup time.

F. Exemptions within Clear Alleys Designated Business Districts

The following types of containers and materials are exempt from this rule with specific conditions:

1) Collection containers for used cooking oil that meet public and environmental health requirements are categorically exempt.

2) Labeled Carts (32/35, 60/64 or 96 gallon) with tight fitting lids for source separated food scraps/food soiled paper and yard trimmings if no on-site storage on private property is available as verified by the City.

3) Labeled Carts (32/35, 60/64 or 96 gallon) for glass if no on-site storage on private property is available as verified by the City.

4) Labeled Carts (32/35, 60/64 or 96 gallon) for animal waste if no on-site storage on private property is available as verified by the City.

5) Cardboard Only Dumpster for flattened cardboard. These dumpsters are provided by the contractor. They are 1-yard size, mesh in front, labeled for cardboard only, and collected 2 times per day.

All customers interested in obtaining an exemption for bag use or cart containment of organic waste, glass and animal waste, and long-term storage in the public alleys must contact Seattle Public Utilities to have the exemption reviewed for the lack of on-site cart storage space on private property verified.

3. AUTHORITY/REFERENCES

SMC 21.36.080B Placement of Containers

SMC 15.04.010 Street Use Permit Required

Frequently Asked Questions for Clear Alleys Program

www.seattle.gov/util/clearalleys