Waste Management outlines service changes, recycling outreach and contamination penalties in annual update to Mill Creek council

Robin Friedman, senior public sector manager for Waste Management, told the Mill Creek City Council on April 1 that the company’s contract with the city began July 1, 2024, and includes weekly collection for garbage, recycling and yard waste as well as a senior discount and a contamination charge for recyclables and yard waste.

The update matters because the contract defines routine curbside service, on‑call collection and special events that affect how residents dispose of hard‑to‑recycle items and organics. City staff and council members asked about contamination, multifamily outreach and additional community recycling and hazardous‑waste events.

“Your contract’s a lot different than many other neighboring cities. Garbage and recycling yard waste are collected weekly,” Friedman said. She introduced the local operations team and said the service includes six no‑charge community event pickups each year and twice‑yearly recycling events for hard‑to‑recycle items organized with the city and community groups.

Stephen Sobchak, district manager for WM’s North Sound operation, described operations and staffing: “We have 16 dedicated drivers en route to the city of Mill Creek. Of those 16 drivers, they bring 249 years of refuse collection experience.” Sobchak said crews monitor weather and road conditions early on days with snow and ice and that WM may delay service rather than risk unsafe operations. In cases of missed pickups, WM crews may perform a double load the following week at no charge.

Rian (Rianne) Janovich, who the company said will serve as Mill Creek’s contract manager, described outreach and recycling education tied to local processing at the Cascade recycling center in Woodinville. Janovich said the facility was upgraded in February 2023 and uses optical sorters and other equipment to sort and bale paper, metal, glass and plastics; she added WM does not export plastics outside North America.

Council members asked several operational questions. Council Member Jeremy Cavalieri asked whether contamination penalties had reduced repeat offenses; Friedman said available data show that once customers see a contamination charge or an “oops” tag (with a photo), they generally do not repeat the offense, and staff agreed they will follow up with written data for council.

Council discussion also raised multifamily recycling challenges. WM representatives said apartment complexes require different outreach because shared containers and higher turnover make standard “oops‑tag” approaches harder to use; WM said it will work directly with property managers when problems are reported.

Council members asked about additional city events. WM representatives said they can partner on electronic recycling events and hazardous‑waste collection days; WM noted they already provide two free recycling events a year under the contract and will coordinate publicity with city staff.

On service technology and customer access, WM described a “smart truck” camera system to help drivers identify cart placement or contamination without distracting drivers and a city‑specific website and mobile app for service alerts. WM said resident accounts can receive out‑dial alerts and that the company’s automated virtual assistant and live chat are available during business hours.

Council members praised drivers’ performance and asked WM to provide regular updates on contamination trends and attendance at special recycling events. WM agreed to share follow‑up materials and data with staff and council.

Ending: Council thanked WM for the report and said staff will follow up on specific requests for contamination data, hazardous waste event planning and whether a curbside cart‑cleaning pilot could be feasible under contract terms.