News Flash

Letters have been mailed to city households that currently are exempt from curbside garbage collection to ensure they are aware of new exemption requirements that take effect next month.

As of July 1, the city will stop providing backyard garbage collection to any household that has not submitted a letter from a medical provider verifying that no one in the house is capable of rolling a garbage cart to the curb.

The letter will have to be dated and printed on the medical practice letterhead.

Existing exemptions from curbside garbage collection will no longer be in effect. Households that currently have an exemption will have to apply for a new exemption and submit the letter from their medical provider.

This change does not affect backyard recycling collections.

Households that need an exemption from curbside garbage collection should start the process of getting a new exemption soon, to allow time to get the doctor’s statement and submit their exemption request before the change takes effect July 1. 

More information and the curbside exemption application form are posted at CityofWS.org/Sanitation. Residents without access to a computer should call CityLink 311 and ask that an application be mailed to them.

The City Council approved the change in February. The council also approved a new, three-year time limit for curbside garbage exemptions, after which households must apply for a new exemption.