Weekly-Bellingham
Every other week (EOW)-all other customers
Note: Recycling can be placed out for pickup weekly in Bellingham and every-other-week (EOW) in all other locations regardless of your frequency of garbage collection
Large quantities? Home business-generated materials? Please contact us for options.
Lost or Stolen Bin(s)? Need an extra bin? Stack 3 Recycling Bins replacement sets are $30 delivered. Individual bins are $10 per bin delivered or picked up in person. Extra or replacement bin(s) Pay by cash (US dollar), check, credit card or bill it to your SSC account. Order here. For questions, please contact us.
Note:SSC supplied containers are the property of SSC. Please label them with your address. DO NOT take them with you if you move. Customers are responsible for any theft, loss or damage in excess of normal use of SSC containers. A replacement fee will be charged for lost or stolen SSC containers. SSC is not responsible for items left in, on, or near garbage Toters® or garbage cans.
Collection: Please set out containers the evening before your collection day. SSC crews works all holidays that fall on weekdays. Please set out collection containers as usual. Click here for holiday collection schedule tips. Please place each bin on the ground on windy days. Do not stack. For more windy weather tips, click here.
Forgot to set containers out? If you missed your regularly scheduled pickup, please contact us or (360) 734-3490 for collection options.
Weather-related Service Delays: Collections may be missed due to weather or road conditions. Visit our weather-related delays page for more info. For schedule changes or service interruptions, see our News page or contact us during office hours or (360) 734-3490 for instructions.
Collection Schedules: To request a collection calendar, click here, contact us or call (360) 734-3490.
Pack Out Service (Option): Available for an additional fee. Contact us for rates, questions or to schedule service.
New Customer? To start service, click here, contact us or call (360) 734-3490.
Start / Stop Service: To start or stop service(s) on an existing account, login to your online account or contact us or call us at (360) 734-3490.
Our temporary stop service option is available to customers gone one month or more. To arrange this service, contact us at info@ssc-inc.com or (360) 734-3490.
During the temporary service stoppage, all SSC recycling and garbage containers are removed (at no charge). Once service resumes, containers are re-delivered free of charge.
All sizes are approximate. For enclosure guidelines and info click here. For additional questions please contact us.
Gate Service (Option) Available for a small charge. If locked, customer must unlock or supply a standard SSC dumpster lock. Purchase lock from Accurate Lock & Security, Inc. or Security Solutions. Options also available for roll-up doors, parking garage gates, etc.
Pack Out Service (Option) Available for customers whose containers must be moved more than 5 feet to reach collection truck. SSC driver takes container to truck, empties it and returns it to designated storage location. Small charge per pick-up on containers 4-yd and smaller (note: there are no wheels on 6-yd and up). Due to weight, most restaurants cannot have Pack Out Service over 2-yd. Contact us for rates or more info.
Options
Wheels (Option)Available on containers up to 4-yd in size.
Lock Bars (Option)Available upon request for any size container.
Dumpsters
Width*
Depth**
Height
1-yd
80"
24"
34"
1.5-yd
80"
28"
36"
2-yd
80"
38"
40"
3-yd
80"
50"
46"
4-yd
84"
62"
56"
6-yd (cathedral roof)
80"
68"
71"
8-yd (cathedral roof)
80"
73"
86"
Width: *Left to right as you face the container. Includes pockets.
Depth: **Front to back as you face the container.
All dimensions are approximate: Allow 3" +/-
All sizes are approximate. For enclosure guidelines and info click here. For additional questions please contact us.
Gate Service (Option)Available for a small charge. If locked, customer must unlock or supply a standard SSC dumpster lock. Purchase lock from Accurate Lock & Security, Inc. or Security Solutions. Options also available for roll-up doors, parking garage gates, etc.
Drop Boxes
Width*
Length**
Height
15-yd
8'
12'
5'
20-yd
8'
17'
6'
30-yd
8'
18-20'
8'
40-yd
8'
23'
8'
Width: *Left to right as you face the container
Length: **Front to back as you face the container
Recycle the following properly sorted materials by placing them in a curbside recycle bin. Set out the night before or by 6:30AM on your collection day. Max. 35 lbs. per bin.
Overfull recycling bins? Moderate quantities of extra materials can be placed next to recycling bins in an open cardboard box or plastic container
(basket, bucket, etc.) no larger than your SSC curbside recycling bins. Additional recycling bins are available for purchase. Order here.
For extra aluminum and plastic containers ONLY, you may also use (or purchase) your own 30-32 gallon lightweight, plastic can (see photo examples). No wheels, wheeled carts, metal cans, or barrels. Please drill holes in the bottom for drainage and clearly label container Aluminum and Plastic Recycling Only. Cans with water in them may not be able to be emptied for safety reasons. If your can is not collected for safety reasons, please drain any liquid and place out for collection on your next regularly scheduled pick-up day. Use your recycling bin to recycle extra glass bottles and metal cans.
For extra large quantities or home business-generated materials, please contact us or call our office (360) 734-3490
Windy out? Click here for tips on preventing wind-blown litter. Thank you for helping us keep your neighborhood clean!
Scrap Paper and newspaper can now be recycled together.
Drivers cannot take recyclables in plastic bags for safety reason - use a small plastic tub or cardboard box no larger than a standard curbside bin for extras.
Reminders: Place paper (or top layer of papers) in a paper bag if possible. Lay bag on side in bin to prevent windblown litter.
Stack corrugated cardboard next to bins or Toters® for recycling.
Envelopes, stationery, computer/copy/notebook/poster/carbonless paper, file folders, paperback books, guides, manuals. Staples, paper clips, file folder clips OK.
Shredded paper. Place in paper bag and tape shut with masking tape.
Masking paper/tape, floor protection paper (ex. Ram Board). Fold and flatten.
No:
No foil, plastics, plastic bags, including delivery bags, rubber bands, or strapping tape.
Aseptic (non-refrigerated, shelf-stable) cartons and boxes (ex. soy milk, broth, etc.) or paper with foil or plastic (ex. foil gift wrap, (TYVEK) postal envelopes).
Polycoated paper (refrigerator/freezer) cartons or boxes (ex. dairy, juice or frozen food containers), paper plates, napkins, towels, tissue.*
No paper sacks except those holding paper inside a curbside bin or box/tub no larger than an SSC recycling bin. Large, heavy duty paper sacks sold for yard waste OK. 50 lb limit.
Drivers cannot take recyclables in plastic bags for safety reason - use a small plastic tub or cardboard box no larger than a standard curbside bin for extras.
Overfull recycling bins? Moderate quantities of extra materials can be placed next to recycling bins in an open cardboard box or plastic container (basket, bucket, etc.) no larger than your SSC curbside recycling bins. Additional recycling bins are available for purchase. Order here.
For extra aluminum and plastic containers ONLY, you may also purchase a 30-32 gallon lightweight, plastic can (see examples to right) and label it Aluminum and Plastic Containers. Drill several holes in the bottom of the plastic can for drainage. Cans with water in them may not be able to be emptied for safety reasons. If your can is not collected for safety reasons, please drain any liquid and place out for collection on your next regularly scheduled pick-up day.
Use your recycling bin to recycle glass bottles and metal cans.
Yes:
Glass Bottles and Jars. All colors. Labels & caps/lids OK. Throw away plastic corks; compost real corks. Remove caps/lids. Rinse bottles and jars clean. Bottles must be removed from 6-pak and 1/2 case boxes, etc. and placed loose in bin or Toter®. Avoid breaking glass. Chipped or cracked OK. For broken/shattered glass, bag or place inside an empty carton (milk/juice) or box and discard in garbage.
Aluminum Cans, Tin Cans and Foil. Remove tin can labels and recycle with scrap paper. Rinse all cans and foil clean.
License Plates - Remove or invalidate the month and year tabs then bend the plates so they can't be used on another vehicle.
Recycle old license plates, except those listed below, with bottles, cans and plastic containers or at one of our Recycling Centers.
We cannot accept the following types of plates. Please return to a vehicle licensing office. For more info click here.
Commercial vehicle plates (gross weight over 12,000 pounds)
Personalized plates
Baseball stadium plates
Horseless carriage plates
Amateur radio operator (HAM) plates
Medal of Honor plates
Pearl Harbor survivor plates
Gold Star parent plates
Aerosol Cans (recycle with scrap metal - see below). Non-hazardous, aerosol cans ONLY. Aerosol cans must be EMPTY - no pressure or contents left in can. Leave cap on (if you have it). Place in a cardboard box with any other scrap metal. Set next to recycling bins or recycling Toters® for collection. Hazardous product aerosol cans or cans that are not empty must be taken to Disposal of Toxics for safe disposal. For more info call (360) 380-4640 or visit www.whatcomcounty.us/833/Disposal-of-Toxics-Facility.
Plastic Containers
Bottles, Jugs, Caps & Rings.
Cups, Jars, Tubs Pails, Buckets & Lids
(max. bucket size - 3 gal. with metal handles removed) All colors and numbers. Labels OK. Put caps/lids back on all plastic bottles before recycling. Rinse CLEAN and recycle loose or nested together.
FLATTEN bottles - especially bottles half-gallon size or larger.
Recycle plastic containers used for these types of products:
Beverages, dairy products, deli foods, sauces/condiments, cooking oils, soaps, detergents, cleaners (kitchen, laundry & garage), snack foods, frozen foods, storage/freezer-type containers, hair/body care, health/medicine, single-serve cold beverage cups/lids, hot beverage lids, caps and rings.
PLEASE FLATTEN BOTTLES - ESPECIALLY HALF-GALLON SIZE OR LARGER
Flattening bottles saves room in your recycling bin and on our recycling truck - allowing us to collect more
recyclables and make fewer trips to the recycling center. This conserves fuel, saves time and money and reduces
our impact on the environment. Thank you for your cooperation.
Vehicle Batteries (Lead Acid) - Car, truck, motorcycle and boat batteries. Store in a box. No cracked, leaking, household or rechargeable batteries accepted. Leave battery caps on. Note: Battery should say "Pb" on it, which designates it as Lead Acid.
Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) Batteries - Used in security, emergency, backup, mobile medical devices, etc. Store in a box. No cracked, leaking, household or rechargeable batteries accepted. Note: Battery should say "Pb" on it, which designates it as Lead Acid.
Note:
Rechargeable Batteries - Ni-Cad, NiMh, Lithium and those used for cell phones, cameras, hearing aids, rechargeable tools, etc. Please contact Disposal of Toxics for recycling or disposal options.
Household Batteries - Alkaline and carbon-zinc batteries no longer contain hazardous materials and can be disposed of with your regular household garbage.
Scrap Metal - Steel, copper, aluminum, brass and aerosol cans. Maximum 35 lbs. per pick up. Maximum length 24 inches. Store in a box. No plastic pipe.
Cords, Wiring, and Holiday Lights - Please coil/bundle and tie with string, rubber band or twist tie and place next to recycling bins for pick-up.
Aerosol Cans - Non-hazardous, aerosol cans ONLY. Aerosol cans must be EMPTY - no pressure or contents left in can. Leave cap on (if you have it). Place in a cardboard box with any other scrap metal. Set next to recycling bins or recycling Toters® for collection. Hazardous product aerosol cans or cans that are not empty must be taken to Disposal of Toxics for safe disposal. For more info call (360) 380-4640 or visit Disposal of Toxics.
Used Motor Oil - Used motor oil ONLY. Do not mix with anything else. Store in a one gallon (or smaller), sealed, non-breakable container. Clean plastic milk or water jugs work great. Do not use bleach, detergent, or antifreeze containers. Screw on threaded lids tightly. Seal "pop top" style lids with duct tape. Mark container "Oil." Set next to recycling bins (residential) or recycling Toters® (multi-family) for collection. Commercial customers should contact us for options. For questions, or to recycle larger quantities, contact us at (360) 734-3490 or info@ssc-inc.com.
Oil & Water Don't Mix - Separating Oil from Water
Let the oil / water mix stand. The oil will float to the top.
Pour off oil into an approved container (see above). Seal and label as instructed above.
Soak up any contaminated water and dispose of in the garbage
Used motor oil is also accepted for recycling at our Cedarville and Birch Bay Drop Box Facility & Recycling Centers. For hours and directions, click here.
Corrugated cardboard and brown paper bags. Remove packing materials. Flatten ALL boxes. Do not stuff cardboard into boxes or bins. Leave flat on ground or bundle. Max. stack size 2' W x 4' L x 6" H per pick-up. If windy, bundle or tape to prevent blowing. No Styrofoam™, plastic packing or wax-coated boxes (ie. fruit boxes).
Food scraps, food-soiled papers, approved compostable packaging, and yard waste are all composted into rich soil amendment through our award-winning FoodPlus! Yardwaste program. FoodPlus! Yardwaste is a cost-effective way to reduce waste, trim your garbage bill and support local businesses creating new products from recycled materials. All FoodPlus! Yardwaste materials are composted at Green Earth Technologies (GET) in Lynden. Compost from GET is available for sale in Whatcom County.
Service Area: Bellingham, Ferndale, Birch Bay, Blaine and parts of unincorporated Whatcom County. Currently, there is no FoodPlus! Yardwaste service on Lummi Island.
Order FoodPlus! Yardwaste service here. Note: FoodPlus! Yardwaste is also available to commercial customers.
*Or use your own container(s), paper bags or boxes for extra material. NO PLASTIC BAGS PLEASE. Set extra materials next to FoodPlus! Yardwaste Toter® for pick-up. Charges for extra materials apply.
Start / Stop Service: To start or stop service(s) on an existing account, login to your online account or contact us at info@ssc-inc.com or (360) 734-3490.
Bulky Items: Bulky material that will not fit in Toters® should be cut to 4' (foot) lengths, tied in bundles (max. weight 50 lbs.) and set next to Toter®. Charges for bulky material apply. Please contact us for questions.
Woody Debris: For larger amounts of yard waste and/or woody debris like branches, brush more than 4' (feet) long (max. 7" (inches) diameter and 16' (feet) long), check out our dumpster and drop box rental options (1-40 yard) or contact us for service options.
Collection:
Please set out containers the evening before your collection day. SSC crews works all holidays that fall on weekdays.
Please set out collection containers as usual. Holiday collection schedule tips are here.
Weather-related service tips are here.
For schedule changes or service interruptions visit our news page or contact us during office hours at
info@ssc-inc.com or (360) 734-3490 for instructions.
Note:SSC supplied containers are the property of SSC. Please label them with your address. DO NOT take them with you if you move. Customers are responsible for any theft, loss or damage in excess of normal use of SSC containers. A replacement fee will be charged for lost or stolen SSC containers. SSC is not responsible for items left in, on, or near Toters® or garbage cans.
Pack Out Service: Ideal for weekend residents, those in neighborhoods where covenants prohibit leaving garbage and recycling containers out overnight or for customers who need assistance. SSC driver takes container to truck, empties it and returns it to its designated storage location at your home. Available to all customers for a small charge per pick-up.
Toter Cleaning: Call (360) 734-3490 or email us for current pricing and to schedule a Toter swap. Note: Five (5) days notice required for scheduling.
Rates: For rates, please contact us or (360) 734-3490.
NO Plastic(s)/Plastic Bags, Aseptic Cartons/Boxes (non-refrigerated, shelf-stable), Pet/Human Waste, Manure, Diapers, Roadkill, or Garbage
Where Does It All Go?
All materials collected in the FoodPlus! Yardwaste Recycling program are composted at Green Earth Technologies (GET) in Lynden. Composting is a natural process that break down organic materials and turns them into rich soil amendment. Compost from GET is available for sale in Whatcom County.
Sanitary Service Company, Inc. (SSC) provides you with garbage and recycling collection service. You pay us to collect these materials. On your bill, you will see:
Actual cost of collecting your garbage
Actual cost of collecting your recyclables
The value (less any processing charges) of recyclables sold (shown as a commodity credit or commodity debit)
Recyclables are sold and the value we receive (if any) from the sale of these materials is applied to your collection bill in the form of a commodity credit or debit. The commodity credit or commodity debit that appears on your bill reflects market conditions of the previous six months. Market prices for recyclables go up and down just like prices for other commodities, such as lumber and gasoline. Following a period of high (or positive) market values, your commodity credit will increase, but still may be a debit depending on market conditions. Following a year of low (or negative) market values, your commodity credit will decrease and may become a debit. The sale of these recyclables helps lower your overall bill. In years when we pay to have your recyclables processed, please remember it is still less expensive than disposing of these materials as garbage. We encourage you to continue recycling!
The commodity credit or commodity debit is reviewed and adjusted by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC). The UTC reviews and approves our rates (except for residents in the cities of Bellingham and Ferndale) to ensure you are paying a fair price for the service you receive and fair value for your recyclables.
Residential Recycling Commodity Credit/Commodity Debit History
1996
Commodity Credit
$0.26/month
1997
Commodity Debit
$0.83/month
1998
Commodity Debit
$0.46/month
1999
Commodity Debit
$0.62/month
2000
Commodity Credit
$0.26/month
2001
Commodity Credit
$0.27/month
2002
Commodity Debit
$0.62/month
2003
Commodity Debit
$0.24/month
2004
Commodity Debit
$0.22/month
2005
Commodity Debit
$0.16/month
2006
Commodity Debit
$0.21/month
2007
Commodity Debit
$0.32/month
2008
Commodity Debit
$0.38/month
2009
Commodity Debit
$0.15/month
2010
Commodity Debit
$0.58/month
2011
Commodity Credit
$0.24/month
2012
Commodity Credit
$0.51/month
2013
Commodity Debit
$0.12/month
2014
Commodity Debit
$0.47/month
2015
Commodity Debit
$0.16/month
2016
Commodity Debit
$0.47/month
2017
Commodity Debit
$0.42/month
2018
Commodity Debit
$0.89/month
2019
Commodity Debit
$1.99/month
January 1, 2020
Commodity Debit
$1.69/month
July 1, 2020
Commodity Debit
$2.36/month
January 1, 2021
Commodity Debit
$1.73/month
July 1, 2021
Commodity Debit
$1.73/month
January 1, 2022
Commodity Debit
$1.69/month
January 1, 2023
Commodity Debit
$2.83/month
You can help keep your bill low by recycling as much as possible and buying products made from recycled materials. Increasing demand for products made from recycled materials helps strengthen recycling markets. By recycling, you also reduce the amount of garbage you generate and help conserve valuable resources.
One step toward lowering your garbage bill is to recycle all you can. By recycling, you can reduce the amount of garbage you generate, which means less garbage you have to pay to dispose of. To save money, you can switch your service to less frequent collection (ie. every other week instead of weekly) or reduce the size of your garbage container and lower your bill.
Another way to help lower your garbage bill is to buy recycled products. Increasing demand for products made from recycled materials helps strengthen markets. Many products are now available that are made from recycled materials. Help yourself, our community and the environment - recycle all you can.
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