*Winter Weather Delays: This week’s winter weather forced Waste Management to suspend services in Newcastle on Monday and Tuesday. Customers will be serviced on their next regular collection day. When service is resumed, WM will collect a double load at no additional charge. In the meantime, please remove your containers from the street! Please visit our website newcastlewa.gov/winterwaste , where we've posted additional information on this topic. *
Waste Management Service Improvements
Residents and businesses in the City of Newcastle will receive enhanced garbage pickup and recycling services from Waste Management beginning March 4. New services will reduce the amount of solid waste going to the landfill, which helps protect the environment and lowers costs. All Newcastle residents will receive garbage, recycling and yard waste service at one price! Garbage and yard waste collection will be weekly with recycling on an every-other-week schedule. Service days will remain Monday and Tuesday. Businesses also will receive garbage and recycling services at one price, as well as other benefits.
WHAT TO KNOW
New Carts Coming for All Residents
All residential customers will receive easy-to-roll carts. Cart colors will change to grey for garbage and green for yard waste , while recycling will remain blue. Yard waste collection is now included with your garbage rate, so all residential customers will receive a yard waste cart. Personal cans will now only be allowed as extra cans. WM will be delivering new carts to anyone with a personal can. Uniform collection bins will lower costs for residents due to increased efficiency and safety for waste haulers.

Delivery of new carts is scheduled to begin Feb. 11 (weather permitting) and will continue throughout the month . Simply place your carts out on their scheduled service day and start using the new ones once you've received them.
Yard Waste Changes
Yard waste removal is now a weekly, year-round service and included with your garbage rate. Residents may pick up a free kitchen compost bucket and two liners from Newcastle City Hall (12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200) starting on March 1.
New Rates
The majority of residential customers will see a decrease in their collection rates. Rates continue to vary by container size, but based on current rates, customers who already subscribe to yard/food waste collection would see lower costs. Those who do not currently subscribe would see a rate increase, but it would come with the new embedded yard/food waste service.

An 8.49 percent street/administrative fee will be added to base collection rates and serve as an additional city revenue source. Revenue will be used to offset costs associated with wear and tear collection trucks put on Newcastle streets, as well as the contract administration costs. The fee will generate about $150,000 in new revenue annually. Even with the fee, the majority of residential customers will see a decrease in their rates, while all customers will receive an improved level of service.

The new rates, which will not take effect until March, will be posted on the Waste Management website , when available.
Additional Service Enhancements
Waste Management will install and manage six public garbage/recycling stations that are solar compacting in the city’s downtown area. The company will also increase its sponsorship of the city’s summer events to $15,000 annually.
Why the Changes?
The service enhancements are the result of a new 10-year contract the Newcastle City Council approved with Waste Management in July 2018. You can view the full background on that process and stories written about the contract at  newcastlewa.gov/wastecontract .
Additional Information
WASTE MANAGEMENT HANDOUTS
- Includes information about the collection schedule, service improvements and garbage/yard waste/recycling guidelines.

- Includes information about updated recycling service coming to Newcastle businesses and multifamily properties.

Visit  wmnorthwest.com/newcastle  or call Waste Management at 1-800-592-9995 for:
- Collection rate or service subscription 
- Bulky item collection (mattresses, appliances, etc.) 
- Construction/demolition containers (remodeling, etc.) 
- Disabled service 
- Vacation hold service (advance notice only) 
- Missed collection or missing/damaged carts
Questions?
Contact Newcastle Public Works Director Jeff Brauns at jeffb@newcastlewa.gov