City of Tacoma residents who receive curbside yard waste service must use only City-supplied yard waste containers by Nov. 14. Yard waste set out in customer-owned containers will not be emptied after that date.

Single-family residential customers may order containers online or by calling (253) 591-5543 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The first two brown, City-supplied containers are available at no additional charge.

Residents who currently use City-supplied containers or have already placed their order do not need to order again. If they have not received a container by Nov. 7, however, they should call Solid Waste Management at (253) 591-5543.

The utility will assist yard waste customers with special needs or space restrictions. Customers who need to dispose of large amounts of yard waste or large bundles of branches may bring them to the Tacoma Landfill, 3510 S. Mullen St., at no additional charge.

The new automated collection system, which uses a mechanical arm to pick up and empty containers, allows Solid Waste Management to consolidate routes and decrease the number of employees, trucks and time spent at each stop. Overall, the new collection system should make the utility more efficient, keeping garbage rates down.

Solid Waste Management, a division of Public Works Environmental Services, has served the City of Tacoma since 1929. Solid Waste Management provides curbside garbage, recycling and yard waste collection for approximately 52,000 single-family residential homes and 4,400 multi-family units and commercial businesses. The utility also operates a full-service landfill, recycling center and household hazardous waste collection facility as well as a popular bulk collection pick-up service.