Garbage collection back on schedule; clearing storm drains

City of Marysville solid waste crews resumed Monday the scheduled pickup of residential and commercial garbage, and have doubled staff on trucks to enable faster collection while freeing up time to grab missed pickup routes.

MARYSVILLE – City of Marysville solid waste crews resumed Monday the scheduled pickup of residential and commercial garbage, and have doubled staff on trucks to enable faster collection while freeing up time to grab missed pickup routes.

“Our goal is to pick up regular Friday routes today, and as many missed garbage pickups along way as road conditions allow,” said Doug Buell, Community Information Officer. “Saturday pickup service should be on schedule, and will give us another chance going into next week.”

Buell added that getting to some areas in the foothills is still problematic, and if unable to access those neighborhoods, they will continue to try as road conditions allow. In some instances, sander trucks are following behind garbage trucks to improve road access.

If garbage has been missed due to adverse snow and ice conditions, solid waste crews will collect all additional garbage on customers’ next regularly scheduled collection day. Customers should place excess garbage in a container or trash bag next to their existing garbage toter, and it will be picked up at no extra charge.

Most garbage service had been stalled since Dec. 17, with the exception of commercial pickup that was completed last weekend.

The city of Marysville provides solid waste pickup to more than 9,500 homes.

For recycling, Waste Management NW has not picked up recyclables or monthly yard debris since Dec. 17. These service days will not be made up. WM will pick up loads on customers’ next regular recycling pickup day. Yard debris will be picked up on customers’ next regular scheduled pickup day the week of Jan. 19.

Storm drain response due to melting snow

With forecasters calling for warmer temperatures in Western Washington that will bring melting snow and potential flooding, city of Marysville Public Works dispatched maintenance crews Monday to clear ice and melting snow blocking storm drains around Marysville.

Buell said that while city officials do not ask or encourage citizens to clear away storm drains along streets and public rights-of-way, there are other things they do to help make sure that melting snow and water goes where it needs to go.

“What people can do at home is, if they have a storm drain that is out front of their home or in their driveway, use a shovel or broom to clear the drain of snow the same as our crews are doing,” Buell said.

It also helps to clear heavy snow off the sides and back porches of home so that water will not leak inside.

Water service and preventing frozen pipes, water main breaks

The city of Marysville Public Works Department recommends the following tips to prevent frozen pipes and water main breaks:

* Know where your main water shutoff valve is located in your home. It will vary from home to home, but most often it is located in the garage or in a closet in an inlet before the hot water tank.

* Help city of Marysville Water Utility Crews by clearing away snow from the main ground-based water meter box near your road or sidewalk. This will enable quicker response in the event that water maintenance crews are summoned to address a problem, and it will help meter readers find them a lot sooner when they are out reading meters.

* In the event that temperatures remain at freezing or below, run cold water from a faucet in your home to prevent frozen pipes. Running water, even at a trickle, will help prevent pipes from freezing because the temperature of the water running through it is above freezing.