SNOHOMISH — Expect traffic congestion at the west end of First Street on Saturday, April 6 as hundreds of vehicles haul trash to the city’s annual garbage and recycling extravaganza.
Pickups piled high with mattresses, appliances and tires, and cars crammed full of old household goods will form an unsightly parade.
It’s a day scores of residents eagerly await.
For city employees, “it’s our way to get to know the citizens,” said Mike Johnson, the city’s services manager.
During the six-hour event you can dump as much as you can carry, with certain exceptions. The prohibitions include roofing material, construction rubble, tree stumps, paint, batteries and medical waste.
Residents cleared nearly 90 tons of rubbish and recycling from homes and yards last year alone.
During the past few years, about 450 customers have taken advantage of the free dumping opportunity each time, Johnson said.
The event is funded by the city as a part of its solid waste contract with Republic Services.
The free dump day saves city residents the equivalent of $10,000 in dump fees and costs Republic about $15,000 in labor to put on, Johnson said.
Furniture, busted toys, yard waste and general trash are all welcome. Hot tubs are cool, too. Republic will also accept most electronics including computers, laptops, monitors and mobile phones.
It keeps recyclables from landfill and garbage from being illegally dumped, said Mayor John Kartak in a statement about the event.
Special assistance is available to seniors in city limits who need help transporting their trash.
Volunteers from the Snohomish Roadies take appointments to pick up debris for those who are unable.
Last year, Roadies organizer Bill Rockwell had the pleasure of meeting a newly married couple in their 70s, high school sweethearts who had gone on to different lives and reunited after both were widowed. The Roadies helped the two clear out the excess of their newly combined households.
“It’s amazing to get to know the community” through the event, Rockwell said.
About 15 city staffers, including the mayor, will join Republic employees to facilitate the massive drop off.
Mattresses, appliances, bags of trash and old tools are among the most common drop-offs, Johnson said.
Last year, Republic Services carted off 12 tons of recycling and 76 tons of debris.
Residents chucked more than seven tons of metal.
The dump day is for residential trash and recycling only: commercial refuse is not permitted.
Proof of residence — either a driver’s license or utility bill — is required: each year Johnson has had to turn away just a few “grumpy” would-be customers who hoped to do some spring cleaning at the city’s expense but aren’t residents.
Calls come in about the event weeks early. Johnson said some callers are just confused because they see “Snohomish” on the event listing and think it refers to the county rather than the city.
The annual residential garbage and recycling cleanup event is Saturday, April 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drop off materials at the city’s Public Works Yard at 1801 First St.
Seniors living within city limits who aren’t able to make it to the drop off can email or call Bill Rockwell of the Snohomish Roadies at ww.rockwell@comcast.net or 206-679-3825.
