Small quantities of household liquids such as cooking oils and beauty products are acceptable. SSC is unable to collect hazardous liquids such as pesticides, paints, thinners, solvents, fuels or cooking oils from businesses. Please contact the Disposal of Toxics at 360-380-4640 for safe disposal options or click here.

Commercial establishments can contact the following rendering services for disposal of cooking oils:

Darling International or 800-524-2401

J&S Rendering or 800-562-5058

Collection of burn barrels is classified as a special pick-up. We can only accept empty barrels (no ashes).

For burn barrels with material in them please contact the Northwest Clean Air Agency for instructions or call 800-622-4627.

SSC has over 50 service and collection options available to our customers. Our routes are designed to provide the highest quality recycling and garbage collection service at the lowest possible cost. Each service has a different collection schedule, including every other week, monthly and weekly service. There are different calendars for each day of the week and for the different weeks in a month that we serve an area. The calendar you need may not be the same calendar your neighbor needs. In order to ensure our customers receive the correct recycling and garbage collection calendar, we ask that you contact us and request a calendar.

Thank you for understanding.

You can reach us in any of the following ways:

Email: ssc@ssc-inc.com or use the SSC Contact Form
Phone: (360) 734-3490
Postal Mail: PO Box 1702 Bellingham, WA 98227-1702
Office: 21 Bellwether Way Suite 404 in Bellingham. Office hours: Monday-Friday 8AM – 5PM. Closed major holidays.

Thank you for helping us keep your neighborhood clean!

Toters (Garbage and FoodPlus!)

Please bag all garbage, packing peanuts, shredded paper, animal waste/litter, sawdust and cooled ashes. 

Place a rock or brick on top of Toter lid to prevent tipping.

If you live in a neighborhood serviced by our automated (sidearm) collection truck…

• Place Toter at curb with handle toward the house so lid recloses after pick-up.
•  Place Toter with at least six (6) feet of clear space around all sides. Do not place Toter near other garbage cans, recycling bins, trees/hedges, telephone poles, mailboxes or parked cars.

Recycling and Garbage Service Questions

What if I lose my recycling bins or they are stolen?

Recycling bins remain the property of Sanitary Service Company, Inc. (SSC). Please do not take recycling bins, FoodPlus! Toters or garbage Toters with you if you move.

Please mark your address on your bins. A replacement fee will be charged for lost or stolen recycle bins. Customers are responsible for any theft, loss or damage in excess of normal use.

If any of your SSC containers are lost or stolen, please contact us to order replacements - ssc@ssc-inc.com or 360-734-3490.

For help in setting up service(s) please contact Rodd Pemble, Account Services Manager at rodd@ssc-inc.com or (360) 734-3490. Rodd will make sure you get exactly the service you need at the lowest cost. Chances are he will be able to identify waste reduction and recycling savings you didn't know were possible!

Click here for garbage and recycling enclosure guidelines. For additional assistance or to schedule a site visit, contact Rodd Pemble, Recycling Manager, at rodd@ssc-inc.com or 360-734-3490.

SSC rents bright, clean storage units with double-locking doors at both ends, ready for delivery to your site. Ventilated, with ports for electrical or phone lines, they make safe, secure storage a reality anywhere, for just a few dollars a day. Our storage containers are also great for extra retail inventory and storing household items during renovations, etc. For help in setting up service please contact Rodd Pemble, Account Services Manager at rodd@ssc-inc.com or 360-734-3490.

Yes, whether you are planning an outdoor wedding reception or weekend campout, concert or conference, we can help you with your event. We rent portable toilets, handwash units, storage boxes and offer complete FoodPlus!, recycling and garbage collection services.

From backyard celebrations to the annual Ski-To-Sea Festival, we have the experience to make sure your event runs smoothly. For assistance, please contact Rodd Pemble, Recycling Manager at rodd@ssc-inc.com or 360-734-3490.

Our portable toilets and handwash units are great for jobsites, community events, or while your bathroom is being remodeled. Click here for info on renting portable toilets. Click here for info on our handwash units. For help setting up service please contact Rodd Pemble, Recycling Manager, rodd@ssc-inc.com or 360-734-3490.

Rates are subject to change and are based on a variety of factors, including the location of your home or business. Please contact us or call 360-734-3490 for complete rate and service information. Thank you!

Preparing Materials For Disposal Or Recycling

How do I recycle compact fluorescents (CFL's)?

Fluorescent lighting, including regular tubes, compact tubes or bulbs (CFL’s), ballasts, High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps, UV lamps and mercury-bearing devices, contain mercury and cannot be thrown in the trash.

Recycle all compact fluorescents (CFL’s) at SSC’s main office only. When recycling lighting products, please deliver intact and packaged to avoid breakage

(Tip: save original containers).

SSC - 1001 Roeder Avenue (corner F & Roeder).
A recycling collection box is located at this location. No charge. Items accepted during office hours only. Open weekdays 8AM-5PM. Closed major holidays. Please check in upon arrival and press red buzzer for assistance. (360) 734-3490 or ssc@ssc-inc.com

To recycle, or properly dispose of, other types of lighting, such as fluorescent tubes, ballasts, High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps, UV lamps, and mercury-bearing devices, or for questions or more information about recycling and proper disposal options for lighting, check out these resources:

• Disposal of Toxics: (360) 380-4640 or
  http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/publication/solidwaste/construction/toxics.jsp

• Puget Sound Energy (PSE):
  http://www.pse.com/solutions/foryourhome/pages/rebatesOnLighting.aspx?tab=5&chapter=1

SSC accepts used motor oil ONLY for recycling. Please 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 360-734-3490 or ssc@ssc-inc.com.

Oil & Water Don’t Mix – Separating Oil from Water

1.  Let the oil/water mix stand. The oil will float to the top.
2.  Pour off oil into an approved container (see above). Seal and label as instructed above.
3. Soak up any contaminated water and dispose of in the garbage.

Used motor oil is also accepted for recycling at our Cedarville Transfer Station and Birch Bay Transfer Station. For hours and directions, click here.

For questions or more information please contact us at 360-734-3490 or ssc@ssc-inc.com.

Used motor oil accepted in SSC's recycling programs is collected by Thermo Fluids of Sumner, WA. More info about Thermo Fluids at http://www.thermofluids.com/

Commercial recycling service is available for recycling land-clearing debris, branches and other woody vegetation. We also offer an "all-in-one-box" construction recycling service for multiple materials including pallets and construction wood waste (plywood, lumber, particle board, OSB and engineered wood products). Please remove banding. Fasteners are OK. We cannot recycle painted or treated wood of any kind. You pay for container rental and hauling. If the material has a positive value, you receive a credit applied to your account. If the material has a negative value, you are charged accordingly for the materials. Even if there is a charge, in almost all cases, costs to recycle the material are still less than disposal costs. For help in setting up service please contact Rodd Pemble, Account Services Manager at rodd@ssc-inc.com or 360-734-3490.

Commercial container recycling service is available for recycling all types of scrap metal including steel, aluminum, brass and copper and items like wire (plastic-coated or not). Small quantities can be recycled through our residential curbside service, including wire (plastic-coated or not) and wire hangers. For larger amounts, contact us at 360-734-3490 about a special container for your location. You pay for container rental and hauling. If the material has a positive value, you receive a credit applied to your account. If the material has a negative value, you are charged accordingly for the materials. Even if there is a charge, in almost all cases, costs to recycle are still less than disposal costs. For help in setting up service please contact Rodd Pemble, Account Services Manager at rodd@ssc-inc.com or 360-734-3490.

Commercial recycling service is available for recycling most types of rigid and film plastics, including molded parts, bags, lumber wrap, pallet wrap and pipe. You pay for container rental and hauling. If the material has a positive value, you receive a credit applied to your account. If the material has a negative value, you are charged accordingly for the materials. Even if there is a charge, in almost all cases, costs to recycle are still less than disposal costs. For help in setting up service please contact Rodd Pemble, Account Services Manager at rodd@ssc-inc.com or 360-734-3490.

General purpose alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, etc.) are no longer very toxic and can be thrown away with your regular garbage.

Rechargeable batteries (Ni-Cad, etc.) are accepted for recycling at many electronic stores.

SSC accepts unbroken car, truck, motorcycle and boat batteries for recycling. Please store in a box or bag and set beside your recycling bins or recycling Toter. Leave battery caps on. Batteries are also accepted and at our transfer station recycling centers. For a location click here . For cracked or damaged batteries contact Disposal of Toxics at 360-380-4640 for options.

Scrap metal (ferrous and non-ferrous), including copper, brass, aluminum, steel and iron up to 24" long can be placed neatly next to your stacking recycling bins on collection day. Max. weight per pick up is 35 lbs. Types of items might include sheet metal, metal tools, hardware, wire (plastic-coated or not) and wire hangers For info about recycling old or expired Washington state license plates, click here .

New! Now accepting non-hazardous, 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 cardboard box along with other scrap metal and set next to recycling bins 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 click here. 

Hay Bale Covers
Shake off any dirt.  Fold in bundles of about 25 pounds or less as densely as possible.  Tie with a strip of plastic cut from the bale cover itself (please, don't mix plastics).

Keep plastic dry.

Plastic Baling Twine
Shake to remove loose dirt and straw.  Pack loosely in a large plastic bag.  

Store in a dry location.

The following plastic containers can be recycled in our residential and commercial CURBSIDE recycling programs:

Bottles, Jugs, Caps & Rings

Cups, Jars, Tubs, Pails, Buckets & Lids

(max. bucket size for curbside pick-up is 1 gal. with metal handles removed)

All colors and numbers. Labels OK.

Remove lids and caps. Rinse CLEAN and recycle loose or nested together. FLATTEN bottles.

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 containers, hair/body care, health/medicine, single-serve cold beverage cups/lids, hot beverage lids, caps and rings.

NO plastic pumps, Styrofoam, tableware/utensils, toys, foam rubber, insulation or any plastic containers that held potentially hazardous materials.

Please contact Rodd Pemble, SSC Recycling Manager at (360) 734-3490 about opportunities for recycling larger quantities or other types of plastics such as buckets larger than 1 gallon, pipe, film plastics, agricultural plastics and plant pots/planters/trays, hinged plastics and blister-type plastic packaging.

Accepted materials include grass clippings, garden trimmings, weeds, branches and leaves.

Larger branches or other yard debris are accepted in bundles next to your FoodPlus! Recycling Toter (TM). Please see the question about preparing yard debris bundles in the FoodPlus! Recycling FAQ section

Yard debris is accepted for recycling as part of the FoodPlus! Recycling service - an all-in-one Toter (TM) recycling service for all food scraps, food-soiled papers and yard debris.

Larger containers for recycling land-clearing debris and branches are also available. 

No sod, rocks, bricks, concrete, tires, garden hose, lumber, metal or general trash are accepted in the FoodPlus! Recycling program.

Recycling on-the-job has never been easier. Earn LEED point too! Recycle multiple construction waste/demo debris materials all-in-one-box with our Construction/Demo Debris Recycling Service*. Drop boxes from 15-40 yard available.

• Asphalt
• Brick
• Ceramic Tile/Porcelain (toilets/sinks – clean, all metal, plastic and wood removed and recycled loose)
• Cardboard
• Concrete (rebar OK)
• Pallets/Crating
• Paper (small qtys.)
• Plastics:
• Film (lumber wrap with no paper backing)
• Bags (insulation, Visqueen, sheeting, tarps, etc.)
• Pipe (PVC, HDPE/drain tile)
• Buckets (clean, metal handles removed and recycled loose)
• Scrap Metal (all types including wire)
• Wood - (plywood, OSB, dimensional lumber, particle board). All unpainted and untreated wood. Fasteners OK.

*List of accepted items subject to change. Please contact us for latest list of accepted materials.

All lids and caps should be removed and rinsed CLEAN. Lids can be stuffed inside containers or placed loose in the recycling bin or recycling Toter (TM).

All bottles and containers should be rinsed CLEAN.

Did we emphasize the word CLEAN – it is important if this program is to succeed! Thank you!

Bottles should be flattened if possible.

Containers should be nested (stacked) together as much as possible to conserve space.

Recycle with bottles and cans in the recycling bin or recycling Toter (TM).

Customers with large quantities of plastic have several options:

1) Put out a little each recycling pick-up until your stockpile is gone.

2) Place extras in a cardboard box no bigger than a curbside recycling bin and set out with the rest of your recyclables. If one of your other curbside bins goes unused (like your newspaper bin for example), feel free to use that for bottle/can/plastic overflow.

3) Recycle at SSC's Bellingham Recycling Center/Transfer Station located at 1001 Roeder Avenue (corner F & Roeder). Small fee charged.

4) Call us at 360-734-3490 for other collection options.

Buckets larger than one gallon can be recycled at SSC's Bellingham Recycling Center/Transfer Station located at 1001 Roeder Avenue (Corner F & Roeder). Hours are Monday - Friday 8AM - 5PM.Closed most major holidays.

Same prep instructions as other plastic containers apply – rinse clean, lids off. Metal handles removed.

Small fee charged.

Or call us at (360) 734-3490 for other recycling options.

These items are recyclable, but are not accepted through our curbside recycling program. They are accepted for recycling at our Bellingham Transfer Station & Recycle Center ONLY located at 1001 Roeder Avenue (corner F & Roeder). Hours are Monday - Friday 8AM - 5PM. Closed most major holidays. Small fee charged. Please contact us at 360-734-3490 or ssc@ssc-inc.com for current rates or questions.

Reminder: these items are NOT accepted through our curbside recycling programs or at any of our other Transfer Stations.

Please brush pots and trays clean and nest together.

Some local nurseries, garden centers and home improvement stores also accept plastic plant pots and trays for recycling.

Yes, SSC accepts film plastics including bags, film, wrap, tarps and sheeting at our Bellingham Recycling Center/Transfer Station ONLY.

IMPORTANT!  These plastic items are not accepted through our residential curbside recycling program. They are only accepted for recycling at the Bellingham Recycling Center/Transfer Station, located at 1001 Roeder Avenue (Corner F & Roeder).  Hours are Monday – Friday 8AM – 5PM. Closed most major holidays. Click here for more info. 

Commercial customers with larger quantities of these items that may be interested in routed collection options should contact Rodd Pemble, Recycling Manager at rodd@ssc-inc.com or 360-734-3490. Click here for info on our commercial services for recycling plastics.

Film plastics accepted for recycling include CLEAN:

• Bags (grocery, newspaper, produce, bakery, deli, dry cleaner, garden, shipping, mail order, storage/freezer, frozen food, etc.)
• Film/Wrap (food wrap, magazine/mail, bubblewrap, poly sheeting/Visqueen, painter’s drop sheets, pallet wrap, etc.)
• Tarps - please cut out metal grommets
• Commercial/Construction – (insulation bags, lumber wrap w/o paper backing, “Super Sacks”, sileage bags, etc.).  Commercial customers with larger quantities should contact SSC at 360-734-3490 for routed collection options.

All types and colors accepted.  Material must be clean.  NO Styrofoam™ or thin foam sheets!  Recommendation: compact (in can or plastic sack) to save money.  Small recycling fee applies.  Contact SSC at 360-734-3490 or ssc@ssc-inc.com for rates or questions. 

SSC accepts EMPTY, non-hazardous aerosol cans ONLY for recycling. Aerosol cans must be EMPTY - no pressure or contents left in can. Leave cap on (if you have it). Residential and multi-family customers should place in a cardboard box along with other scrap metal and set next to recycling bins or recycling Toters for collection. Non-hazardous, empty aerosol cans collected are recycled as scrap metal.

Note: Hazardous product aerosol cans, or cans that are not empty must be taken to Disposal of Toxics for safe disposal. For info call 360-380-4640 or click here.

Businesses with aerosol cans should contact Disposal of Toxics for disposal or recycling options. For info call 360-380-4640 or click here.

.

Yes. Shredded paper is accepted for recycling. Please bag all shredded paper in a paper bag, then tape shut with a bit of masking tape to prevent it from blowing. Lay sideways in your recycling bin. Place a rock, brick or another recycling bin on top to help prevent wind-blown litter. For more info click here or contact us at (360) 734-3490 or ssc@ssc-inc.com .

SSC also offers confidential data shredding – mobile on-site or drop-off at our Bellingham Recycling Center & Transfer Station located at 1001 Roeder Avenue (corner F & Roeder). For more info click here or contact us at (360) 734-3490 or ssc@ssc-inc.com .

Account Management, Billing & Payment Questions

Charges for extras appeared on my bill. What are they for?

Charges for extras may be the result of any of the situations listed below. These charges appear on your account in the form of equivalent 30 gallon cans. Extra charges are for each can, per pick-up. Charges for extras may be the results of any of the following:

• Capacity
• Overweight container(s) due to heavy materials.
• Extra bag(s), box(es) or can(s) other than your regular garbage container.
• Special pick-up of containers (non-scheduled collection).

Recycling service costs less than garbage service for the same amount of material. A typical family might have 60 gallons of garbage every other week and 35-40 gallons of recyclables every other week. That costs ~$12-$14 per month depending on where you live in Whatcom County. If that same family put all their recyclables back in the garbage, they would need weekly garbage service costing ~$18.50-$24.50 per month. Annual savings equal $75-$125! A business that starts recycling cardboard, paper, or other materials can downsize their garbage container and save more than enough to cover the new recycling costs. Our free business consultation service has helped thousands of local businesses design simple, cost effective recycling programs that save money, energy, pollution, and resources. Call us at 360-734-3490 or email us for rates and information.

We offer a number of ways to pay your bill.

Auto Pay Plan (check or savings account or credit card)

To sign up for auto pay click here to register online or download an enrollment form.

Online Bill Pay (one-time or recurring payments, deposits)

To pay your bill online, click here to register and manage your account online. Please note: you will want a copy of your most recent SSC bill when registering. You will need your account number and invoice number to sign up. You can find these in the upper left corner of your bill.

For a complete list of all payment locations and account payment options, please click here.

We accept cash (US Dollars), check, debit, VISA, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

To register for our online bill pay option, or to manage your account online, you will need the most recent copy of your SSC bill (dated 9/30/11 or later). The invoice number (and your account number) can be found in the upper left corner.

SSC's administrative office has moved as of February 21, 2011. Please visit us at our new office:

21 Bellwether Way Suite 404 - Bellwether Gate Building

Customers may pay their bill in person, sign up for service or pick-up service or educational information here. Office hours are 8AM-5PM Monday - Friday. Closed most major holidays. Phone and email remain the same - (360) 734-3490 - ssc@ssc-inc.com. 

Our Bellingham (F&Roeder) Recycling Center and Transfer Station at 1001 Roeder Avenue is still open 8AM-5PM Monday-Friday. For information on items accepted and how to prepare click here. Confidential shredding, e-waste recycling, CFL bulb recycling and bicycle recycle donations are still accepted at this location. Please check in at front for assistance.

The 24/7 Payment Drop at 1001 Roeder Avenue (F&Roeder) is still open.

For questions or more information please contact us at (360) 734-3490 or ssc@ssc-inc.com.

SSC Sustainable Practices

What is SSC's involvement in the EnviroStars program?

EnviroStars is a business certification program run by a 5 county Western Washington cooperative.  Businesses complete an application and audit. If successful, they are then recognized with a 2, 3, 4 or 5 star rating for their efforts to prevent pollution and properly manage hazardous waste.  The program is offered in Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Pierce and Whatcom Counties. 

SSC was awarded the 5 star EnviroStars rating in 2006 and was the first recycling and garbage collection provider in Washington state to receive a 5 star rating.

To earn a 5-star rating, we had to show proficiency in a number of areas in our business including: Cleaning, Purchasing/Inventory, Employee Involvement, Operations, Management/Accounting, Marketing/Promotion and Leadership. 

In general, we are committed to properly treat, store, document and either recycle or dispose of any hazardous wastes generated in our daily operations.  

Here are some highlights of programs or initiatives that helped us become a 5-star Envirostar:

Waste Prevention/Reduction

Spill/Leak Prevention: We strive to maintain all company vehicles for best performance and to reduce spills and leaks and emissions.  

Spill Management: We maintain a spill response plan and spill material kits on-site.  In addition, we have trained two spill response drivers and have two spill response vehicles.  Spill kits are installed on all of our trucks.     

A secondary containment area for drums of hazardous waste is located in our shop.

We keep a detailed product inventory to track materials efficiently and purchase less-toxic materials whenever possible.

We recently completed a review of toxic products used in our shop and researched less toxic alternatives.  As a result, we switched twelve products to less toxic (and in some cases less costly) alternatives.  

Recycling/Use of Recycled Products

There are a number of products we recycle internally including:

Antifreeze, Batteries, CFC's (refirgerant), Fuel, Oil/Oil Filters, Scrap Metal, Tires, Parts Washer Solvent, Radiators, Condensors, Core Parts, Aluminum, Scrap Paper, Window Washer Fluid and common materials from our office like scrap paper, cardboard, bottles and cans.      

These materials are in addition to the long list of items we accept from commercial and residential customers including: papers, glass and plastic bottles, cans, metal, oil, batteries, food scraps, yard waste and construction materials including sheetrock, concrete, asphalt, wood wastes, plastic pipe/film and more. 

Our oil filter crusher is a new purchase that now allows us to completely drain oil filters and crush the remaining case and recycle it as scrap metal.  We expect to recycle about 500 filters in 2007.  The approximately 750 gallons of drained oil is recycled as used oil.

We use re-refined motor oil and biodiesel fuel in our fleet of 60 trucks.  Our use of biodiesel allowed Yorkston Oil to be able to offer biodiesel at the pump for its regular customers.

Community Leadership

SSC sponsors and supports numerous community organizations and education efforts.  Efforts we support that tie in to our 5-star rating include being a proud business supporter of Sustainable Connections. We are a sponsor of their Green Building Program and a corporate participant in the Green Power (wind) initiative.

In addition, we have worked with local jurisdictions to install hazardous waste education decals on dumpsters in target areas.  We also help educate the public on the proper disposal of fluorescent tubes. Used motor oil is accepted for recycling through our residential curbside recycling program.          

For questions or more information about our environmental efforts or safety practices, please contact Recycling Manager, Rodd Pemble at rodd@ssc-inc.com.
 

Sanitary Service Company (SSC) is now “greening” 100% of its electricity usage through PSE’s Green Power program.  SSC’s switch in May 2007 makes them the largest private businesses in Whatcom County to use 100% Green Power. 

“We were at 46% Green Power when we originally signed up, but made the decision to go 100% Green Power because we wanted to do more to contribute to supporting renewable energy options for our region and help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels,” said SSC President Paul Razore.  “We hope our move will encourage other large Whatcom County businesses to join us as a Green Power Program Business Partner,” Razore said.

PSE’s Green Power Program, ranked as one of the top 10 Green Power programs in the U.S, provides SSC with just over 200,000 kilowatt hours annually of domestically-produced, alternative energy.  The city of Bellingham was also recently recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency as the first Green Power Community in Washington – one of only seven in the nation.  Green Power is electricity generated from renewable, non-polluting resources such as wind or solar power.