The Burien City Council on Sept. 16 voted to enter into a contract for collection of garbage, recycling and compost/yard waste with CleanScapes, a Seattle company. Service will begin under CleanScapes on June 1, 2014. The new seven-year contract replaces the current contract with Waste Management which expires on May 31, 2014.

Under CleanScapes, residents and businesses will see lower rates on their monthly bills and expanded services including more curbside collection options like plastics, motor oil, bottled kitchen fat/oil/grease, scrap metal, household batteries, fluorescent tubes, and bulky items. Additionally, CleanScapes will be adding a retail store and customer service center in Burien .

“We are excited to be partnering with CleanScapes the City of Burien’s next garbage and recycling hauler,” said Mayor Brian Bennett. “The new contract provides cost-savings to residents and businesses at a time when everyone could use more money. We are also pleased to see expanded service options for our City in this contract.”

The new contract lowers the rate for residential trash pick-up by $1.25 for a 32/35-gallon can and for commercial trash pick-up by $7.07 for the 1 cubic yard loose container. Customers who currently pay for yard waste pickup will realize significantly greater savings. Under the contract, the City will receive a higher franchise fee which will result in increased annual revenue for the City. The additional revenue will help fund the City’s street overlay program.

In addition to expanded curbside services, CleanScapes will provide a once-per-year opportunity for residents to leave up to one cubic yard of individual small items and one large item (appliances, mattresses, hot water heaters) for free pickup. CleanScapes will also provide debris clean-up from large windstorms at a per-event cost to the City.

CleanScapes plans to conduct an extensive outreach program in Burien. In the coming months, residents and commercial customers will receive multiple pieces of information from CleanScapes outlining their new service options and lower rates. CleanScapes currently serves several Puget Sound area cities including Seattle and Des Moines.