Spring 2009
WINTER STORM RESPONSE
Heavy rainfall produced two major
floods in early November and January.
The January flood, caused by most
areas receiving 3 to 6 inches of rain
in 2 ½ days, resulted in a Presidential
Declaration of disaster.
While some flooding did occur,
this was not considered a “100-
year storm” event which typically
gets 4 inches in a 24-hour period
or 12 inches in a 7-day period.
In between the flooding, the
county was hit hard by snowstorms.
Pierce County Public Works and
Utilities, along with Department of
Emergency Management and other
departments and agencies, enacted
their emergency plans and helped
people throughout the area.
Department leaders extend their
thanks to their crews and the many
volunteers who helped their neighbors
during the floods and snowstorm.
Following is a summary of Public
Works and Utilities’ storm response.
FLOOD
Levees, storm ponds helped
control flood
The Surface Water Management
Division was pleased to see that
the flood control system—levees,
urban storm ponds and other
drainage improvements—performed
well during the floods and protected
Pierce County citizens and
infrastructure.
However, 86 sites along the levees
were damaged. More than 21,700
lineal feet of levee had to be repaired,
at a cost of $7.3 million.
Fewer than 12 of the 450 storm
ponds were damaged. Crews worked
about 9,000 hours total to restore
flood protection to public infrastruc-
ture and communities.
Solid Waste Division focused
on debris
The county’s Solid Waste Divi-
sion worked with Murrey’s Disposal
Company to place debris collection
containers in neighborhoods with a
high concentration of debris. About
410 tons of flood debris was removed
through this process.
Where homes and damage were less
centralized, the Solid Waste Division
and Tacoma-Pierce County Health
Department staff responded in person
to 395 requests for debris-related
assistance. Teams issued 217 vouchers
allowing residents to dispose of flood-
damaged household goods for free.
RESIDENTS GET HELP WITH DEBRIS
Staff from the Pierce County De-
partment of Emergency Management
and the Solid Waste Division inspected
flood-damaged properties to
determine if residents qualified for
assistance. Approved sites received
help from volunteers and Pierce
County District Court Probation crews
to remove damaged property.
In addition, District Court Probation
work crews filled
more than
15,000 sand
bags.
Worm Classes
SNOW
Safe roads in DECEMBER
snowstorm cost $1.5 million
County road crews, working in 12-
hour shifts, plowed more than 22,000
lane-miles after the snowstorms.
Teams also applied over 4,200 tons
of sand and 3,100 tons of salt.
Working to keep the roads safe and
passable cost nearly $1.5 million in
sand, salt, labor and equipment.
How can you be prepared?
• Keep your family’s emergency
response plan and evacuation
kits handy.
• Trim trees.
• After a storm, do not move debris
to the curb or street unless
advised to do so by the county.
• Do your part to prepare your
family, property and pets to with-
stand and respond to disaster.
Visit http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/
pc/abtus/ourorg/dem/pubed.htm
or www.piercecountywa.org/
solidwaste for helpful emergency
preparedness information.
For more information
Surface Water Management:
(253) 798-2725
www.piercecountywa.org/flood
Road Maintenance:
(253) 798-6000
www.piercecountywa.org/roadops or
www.piercecountywa.org/rfa
Debris management:
(253) 798-2179
www.piercecountywa.org/solidwaste
Who to Contact for
Join us to learn how you can set up your own worm compost
Garbage Collection
& Curbside Recycling Are We Recycling As Much As We Can?
bin. You can register for “instruction only” (no fee), or for $30
American Disposal Pierce County Refuse how are we doing keeping recycling out of the GARBAGE?
you will receive a pre-drilled, 14-gallon plastic worm bin with
(800) 529-9892 (253) 537-8687
lid, a pound of red worms, all class supplies and a certificate of To find out, a “waste characterization study” tabulates the composition of each waste stream.
www.murreysdisposal.com www.lemayinc.com
completion your friends will envy. will be conducted to help us evaluate the effec- The team conducting the audit includes the
Lakewood Refuse University Place Refuse/ tiveness of our collection, recycling and disposal Pierce County Solid Waste Division; Pierce County
Classes are offered monthly. Registration
(253) 588-1705 Westside Disposal programs. Recycling, Composting and Disposal, LLC (LRI,
deadline is two weeks before each class. www.lemayinc.com
(253) 564-3212 Over the next year, the county will coordinate Inc.); the garbage haulers and engineering consult-
Additional classes and locations may be added. www.uprefuse.com
Murrey’s/DM Disposal three seasonal reviews of garbage from different ing firm R.W. Beck.
Check the website for an updated schedule:
(253) 414-0345 geographic areas and sources. Results of the analy-
www.piercecountywa.org/compost or call Audit covers more than
www.murreysdisposal.com sis will help identify where we can expand recy-
(253) 798-2179 for dates, times and household waste
cling programs and focus education and outreach.
locations. Besides residential garbage (single, multi-family
The first waste sort is scheduled for May. Right
and self-hauled), the waste audit will collect data
now we are gathering information from county
about the commercial/industrial sector. Determin-
solid waste haulers and their disposal locations
ing the amount and type of waste received by an
regarding current routes, customer counts
For More Information: area will be useful for future decision
and disposal volumes. This data will
PIERCE COUNTY SOLID WASTE DIVISION.......... (253) 798-2179 PIERCE CO. PUBLIC WORKS & UTILITIES, ROAD MAINTENANCE making.
24-hour Info Line...............................................(253) 798-4115 Adopt-A-Road Information..............................(253) 798-6000 help determine transportation
Website............................. www.piercecountywa.org/solidwaste routes of solid waste in the Stay tuned for updates
PIERCE COUNTY RESPONDS. ............................(253) 798-4636
E-mail......................................... pcsolidwaste@co.pierce.wa.us county, and will form the basis Pierce County’s last waste audit
Website.................................... www.piercecountyresponds.org
for how samples of waste are was in 1995. We’re eager to see the
STATEWIDE RECYCLING INFORMATION.............1-800-RECYCLE E-mail.......................................... pcresponds@co.pierce.wa.us
randomly selected for sorting. results of our new audit to find out
TACOMA-PIERCE CO. HEALTH DEPT. (Pierce County Responds accepts reports of illegal dumping, junk
how our system has changed over
Household Hazardous Waste Info...................(800) 287-6429 vehicles or trash on private property & abandoned vehicles.) What will happen
the past 14 years. We will publish
during the audit?
updates in the Earth
Samples from incoming
Matters newslet-
loads of waste will be collected.
ter, and audit
Typically 200 to 300 pounds of a
results will
garbage truck load will become the
be posted on
audited sample.
our website
The sample is transferred to a specially
next year.
designed table to be physically sorted into
more than 60 categories comprised of
several key material types (paper, plastic,
glass, etc.) Each sample is hand-sorted piece
by piece and placed into bins. After the
entire sample is sorted, the bins are
weighed and recorded.
This process is
repeated more
than 400 times,
so we can ob-
tain statistically
representative
results from
the county’s
waste streams. Data
University Place, WA 98467-1078 collected for each sample is
9850 64th Street West
entered into a database, which
Solid Waste Division
Public Works and Utilities
Earth Matters is a publication of Pierce County Pierce County Executive: Pierce County Council: Roger Bush, Chair
Public Works and Utilities, Solid Waste Division. Pat McCarthy Shawn Bunney Tim Farrell Joyce McDonald
Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper and recyclable Barbara Gelman Terry Lee Dick Muri
through Pierce County’s curbside recycling program.

FROM OUR MAILBAG
Q. I shred my junk mail; can I
still recycle it?
A. Yes. Put the shredded paper
in a brown paper bag (not
a plastic bag), roll down the
top and place it in your recy-
cling cart. (Then the shredded
paper doesn’t fly out onto
your street when emptied
into the recycling truck.)
Q. Can I recycle plastic bottle
caps in the recycling cart?
A. No. Please throw away the
plastic bottle caps. Plastic
caps are often made from a
type of plastic that is differ-
ent from the main part of the
container and generally are
not recyclable. In addition,
completely empty the bottles.
This improves the quality and
marketability of the collected
bottles.
Q. Where can I get my garbage,
recycling or yardwaste
schedule?
A. Contact your garbage hauler,
or visit the Pierce County
Solid Waste website for a
link to your hauler’s website
to download your schedule.
Go to www.piercecountywa.
org/recycle (click on link to
“Garbage Service”).
EARTH DAY IS APRIL 22nd
Simple actions make a big difference
In the kitchen... Set the refrigerator
temperature between 38 F and 42 F.
Don’t wash dishes with the water
running.
In the dining room... Use cloth
napkins, washable plates, cups and
silverware.
In the laundry... Wash and dry only
full loads. Wash with warm water
instead of hot. Rinse with cold water
instead of warm. Hang clothes out to
dry when possible.
In the bathroom... Shut off the water
while brushing your teeth and in the
shower while soaping or scrubbing.
Install a low-flow shower head. Reduce
the volume of water in your toilet tank.
In the living room... Switch off
unnecessary lights. Dress warm: don’t
turn up the furnace. Dress cool: don’t
turn on the air conditioner. Raise
shades on winter days; lower them in
summer.
In the yard... Compost leaves and
grass clippings. Avoid pesticides, use
nontoxic alternatives. Plant a
tree.
In the garage...
Recycle motor oil,
antifreeze
and car
batteries.
Spring Cleaning?
...........................................................................
REMEMBER TO RECYCLE
ELECTRONICS RECYCLING IS

EASIER THAN EVER: Recycle your
In the car... Check the tire pressure
monthly. Change air and oil filters
computers, monitors and TVs free
regularly.
of charge at more than 30 Pierce
County locations through the E-Cycle
At the store… Don’t buy over- Washington program. Visit www.
packaged items. Choose products in ecyclewashington.org or call 1-800-
reusable and/or recyclable containers. RECYCLE for more information.
Buy concentrated cleaners and
Another electronics
detergents. Bring your own tote bags.
recycling option: The Take It
At work... Send electronic copies Back Network is a consortium of
whenever possible. Copy reports and businesses committed to recycling
memos on both sides. Reuse tubes and electronics in a safe, efficient and
envelopes for mailing. Recycle. cost-effective manner. Items are
At play... Carry out what you carry recycled for a small fee: www.takeit
in. Hike, row, sail, ski or paddle—don’t backnetwork.org or (253) 798-2179.
motor. Observe, don’t disturb wildlife
2good2toss? Before you take
and plant life. Share books, cassettes,
perfectly good household items or
magazines and videotapes with friends,
building materials to the landfill,
hospitals, etc.
check out this free online option:
At school… Copy bulletins and exams www.2good2toss.com. This web-
on two sides, make notes and drafts site is designed to help you get rid
on scrap paper. Serve with reusable of usable items such as appliances,
trays, dishes and silverware. Compost furniture, carpet, windows and more.
cafeteria fruit and vegetable waste. Listings are posted for free. Items
must be offered for $199 or less.
RECYCLE!
Take care of your hazardous
waste safely: All Pierce County
residents may bring household
hazardous items to the following
facilities free of charge:
• Tacoma Household Hazardous
Waste Facility, 3510 S. Mullen St.,
(253) 591-5418 (open 8 a.m. –
6 p.m., seven days a week, except
major holidays)
• Hidden Valley Transfer Station,
17925 Meridian Street E., Puyallup
(253) 847-7555 (open Tuesday &
Thursday, 8 a.m. – noon and
1 - 5 p.m.)
For details on how to prepare
household hazardous waste for trans-
portation, call the Hazardous Waste
Line at (800) 287-6429 or visit
www.piercecountywa.org/hhw. Please
limit the amount of materials to less
than 35 gallons or 35 items per visit.
Waste generated by businesses will
not be accepted.
Work Smarter Outdoors—Try Natural Yard Care Lots of Free Advice Helps You Dig Into Spring
Tips for Natural Tree and shrub beds • Check soil moisture at plant roots
Local Garden
As you plan yard
Yard Care at • Prepare new tree and shrub beds by before watering—don’t water until
Centers
and garden mixing compost into the entire bed they need it.
Your House Support
activities (not just planting holes) or plant
this spring, Flower and
vegetable gardens trees in native soil. Mulch well with Composting Natural
consider how you • Prepare new planting beds 3-4 inches of wood chips. • Harvest compost from Yard Care
can use natural your bin. Throw any
and gardens by mixing in 1-2 Use natural
yard care Lawns sticks or stalks back in for
inches of compost. yard care practices
techniques. • Start mowing about 2 inches high another cycle. For information
• Pull weeds when they first start and products and
for most lawns, or 1 inch for bent- about composting, call
Sometimes growing, while soil is moist you’ll be doing
grass lawns. “Grasscycle” by leaving us at (253) 798-2179
we use too many and roots are short, your part to help
the clippings behind—it’s free or visit our website
chemicals or water before they go to the environment.
fertilizer. at www.pierce
inefficiently. Natural seed. Plus, you’ll have a
• Rescue lawns in poor condition: countywa.org/
yard care activities • When purchasing beautiful yard that is
aerate, overseed and top dress with compost.
help you have a great- new plants, look for healthy for your family,
½ inch of compost.
looking landscape drought-tolerant pets and neighborhood.
• Fertilize lawns in May with “natural
species and insect- The following retailers are inde-
that’s easier to care for organic” or “slow release” fertilizer.
resistant varieties. pendent local nurseries and garden
and better for our
....................
• Pest problems? See Watering centers that are Envirostars-certified,
environment.
“integrated pest manage- • Prepare sprinkler systems by testing, or they: 1) carry products for natural
Following are tips and ment” in the chart
adjusting and repairing leaks. yard care such as natural-organic
information to below. fertilizers, less toxic pest- and weed-
get you started • Lay soaker hoses in beds and cover Soak Up the Benefits of
with mulch. control products, and smart water-
in natural a Rain Garden
ing tools and 2) practice less-toxic
A rain garden is a shallow depres-
lawn care. pest control in their nursery.
sion in a yard planted with a variety of
flowers, shrubs and grasses that “don’t
Natural Solutions Available for Pesky Problems Alpine Nursery & Landscape
mind getting their feet wet.”
Topic Website Puyallup (253) 847-7078
Learn how rain gardens help soak up
Envirostars certified
General information: WSU MasterGardeners (253) 798-7170 http://mastergardener.wsu.edu/gardening.html rainwater from downspouts, driveways
and sidewalks, while protecting our Gardensphere
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/upest or
Integrated pest management local waterways. Tacoma (253) 761-7936
http://pep.wsu.edu/hortsense
When planted with the right types of www.gardensphere.biz
Noxious weed control http://piercecountyweedboard.wsu.edu plants, rain gardens also attract birds,
butterflies and bees. Peninsula Gardens
Pesticide safety and regulations (Department of Agriculture) www.agr.wa.gov/pestfert/pesticides
Gig Harbor (253) 851-8115
Rain garden workshops
Hazardous chemical alternatives and safe disposal options www.peninsulagardens.com
www.ecy.wa.gov/toxicfreetips 6:30–8:30 p.m.
866-939-9991 or e-mail toxicfreetips@ecy.wa.gov
Choose from these dates:
Sunnycrest Nursery & Floral
Protecting our water quality www.ecy.wa.gov/washington_waters/index.html April 20, University Place
Lakebay (253) 884-3937
April 30, Edgewood
Water conservation, indoors and outdoor www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/ws/wtrcnsv.html
May 28, Puyallup Watson’s Greenhouse
Puyallup (253) 845-7359
Building healthy soil and erosion control www.buildingsoil.org
Workshops are free, and advance www.watsonsgreenhouse.com
Choosing the right plant for the right place (includes photos) www.GreatPlantPicks.org registration is required. For more in-
formation, contact the Pierce Stream Windmill Gardens
Native plant information http://gardening.wsu.edu/nwnative
Team at (253) 845-2973 or e-mail Sumner (253) 863-5843
streamteam@piercecountycd.org. www.windmillgarden.com
Composting “how-to” information, including bin designs www.piercecountywa.org/compost

FROM OUR MAILBAG
Q. I shred my junk mail; can I
still recycle it?
A. Yes. Put the shredded paper
in a brown paper bag (not
a plastic bag), roll down the
top and place it in your recy-
cling cart. (Then the shredded
paper doesn’t fly out onto
your street when emptied
into the recycling truck.)
Q. Can I recycle plastic bottle
caps in the recycling cart?
A. No. Please throw away the
plastic bottle caps. Plastic
caps are often made from a
type of plastic that is differ-
ent from the main part of the
container and generally are
not recyclable. In addition,
completely empty the bottles.
This improves the quality and
marketability of the collected
bottles.
Q. Where can I get my garbage,
recycling or yardwaste
schedule?
A. Contact your garbage hauler,
or visit the Pierce County
Solid Waste website for a
link to your hauler’s website
to download your schedule.
Go to www.piercecountywa.
org/recycle (click on link to
“Garbage Service”).
EARTH DAY IS APRIL 22nd
Simple actions make a big difference
In the kitchen... Set the refrigerator
temperature between 38 F and 42 F.
Don’t wash dishes with the water
running.
In the dining room... Use cloth
napkins, washable plates, cups and
silverware.
In the laundry... Wash and dry only
full loads. Wash with warm water
instead of hot. Rinse with cold water
instead of warm. Hang clothes out to
dry when possible.
In the bathroom... Shut off the water
while brushing your teeth and in the
shower while soaping or scrubbing.
Install a low-flow shower head. Reduce
the volume of water in your toilet tank.
In the living room... Switch off
unnecessary lights. Dress warm: don’t
turn up the furnace. Dress cool: don’t
turn on the air conditioner. Raise
shades on winter days; lower them in
summer.
In the yard... Compost leaves and
grass clippings. Avoid pesticides, use
nontoxic alternatives. Plant a
tree.
In the garage...
Recycle motor oil,
antifreeze
and car
batteries.
Spring Cleaning?
...........................................................................
REMEMBER TO RECYCLE
ELECTRONICS RECYCLING IS

EASIER THAN EVER: Recycle your
In the car... Check the tire pressure
monthly. Change air and oil filters
computers, monitors and TVs free
regularly.
of charge at more than 30 Pierce
County locations through the E-Cycle
At the store… Don’t buy over- Washington program. Visit www.
packaged items. Choose products in ecyclewashington.org or call 1-800-
reusable and/or recyclable containers. RECYCLE for more information.
Buy concentrated cleaners and
Another electronics
detergents. Bring your own tote bags.
recycling option: The Take It
At work... Send electronic copies Back Network is a consortium of
whenever possible. Copy reports and businesses committed to recycling
memos on both sides. Reuse tubes and electronics in a safe, efficient and
envelopes for mailing. Recycle. cost-effective manner. Items are
At play... Carry out what you carry recycled for a small fee: www.takeit
in. Hike, row, sail, ski or paddle—don’t backnetwork.org or (253) 798-2179.
motor. Observe, don’t disturb wildlife
2good2toss? Before you take
and plant life. Share books, cassettes,
perfectly good household items or
magazines and videotapes with friends,
building materials to the landfill,
hospitals, etc.
check out this free online option:
At school… Copy bulletins and exams www.2good2toss.com. This web-
on two sides, make notes and drafts site is designed to help you get rid
on scrap paper. Serve with reusable of usable items such as appliances,
trays, dishes and silverware. Compost furniture, carpet, windows and more.
cafeteria fruit and vegetable waste. Listings are posted for free. Items
must be offered for $199 or less.
RECYCLE!
Take care of your hazardous
waste safely: All Pierce County
residents may bring household
hazardous items to the following
facilities free of charge:
• Tacoma Household Hazardous
Waste Facility, 3510 S. Mullen St.,
(253) 591-5418 (open 8 a.m. –
6 p.m., seven days a week, except
major holidays)
• Hidden Valley Transfer Station,
17925 Meridian Street E., Puyallup
(253) 847-7555 (open Tuesday &
Thursday, 8 a.m. – noon and
1 - 5 p.m.)
For details on how to prepare
household hazardous waste for trans-
portation, call the Hazardous Waste
Line at (800) 287-6429 or visit
www.piercecountywa.org/hhw. Please
limit the amount of materials to less
than 35 gallons or 35 items per visit.
Waste generated by businesses will
not be accepted.
Work Smarter Outdoors—Try Natural Yard Care Lots of Free Advice Helps You Dig Into Spring
Tips for Natural Tree and shrub beds • Check soil moisture at plant roots
Local Garden
As you plan yard
Yard Care at • Prepare new tree and shrub beds by before watering—don’t water until
Centers
and garden mixing compost into the entire bed they need it.
Your House Support
activities (not just planting holes) or plant
this spring, Flower and
vegetable gardens trees in native soil. Mulch well with Composting Natural
consider how you • Prepare new planting beds 3-4 inches of wood chips. • Harvest compost from Yard Care
can use natural your bin. Throw any
and gardens by mixing in 1-2 Use natural
yard care Lawns sticks or stalks back in for
inches of compost. yard care practices
techniques. • Start mowing about 2 inches high another cycle. For information
• Pull weeds when they first start and products and
for most lawns, or 1 inch for bent- about composting, call
Sometimes growing, while soil is moist you’ll be doing
grass lawns. “Grasscycle” by leaving us at (253) 798-2179
we use too many and roots are short, your part to help
the clippings behind—it’s free or visit our website
chemicals or water before they go to the environment.
fertilizer. at www.pierce
inefficiently. Natural seed. Plus, you’ll have a
• Rescue lawns in poor condition: countywa.org/
yard care activities • When purchasing beautiful yard that is
aerate, overseed and top dress with compost.
help you have a great- new plants, look for healthy for your family,
½ inch of compost.
looking landscape drought-tolerant pets and neighborhood.
• Fertilize lawns in May with “natural
species and insect- The following retailers are inde-
that’s easier to care for organic” or “slow release” fertilizer.
resistant varieties. pendent local nurseries and garden
and better for our
....................
• Pest problems? See Watering centers that are Envirostars-certified,
environment.
“integrated pest manage- • Prepare sprinkler systems by testing, or they: 1) carry products for natural
Following are tips and ment” in the chart
adjusting and repairing leaks. yard care such as natural-organic
information to below. fertilizers, less toxic pest- and weed-
get you started • Lay soaker hoses in beds and cover Soak Up the Benefits of
with mulch. control products, and smart water-
in natural a Rain Garden
ing tools and 2) practice less-toxic
A rain garden is a shallow depres-
lawn care. pest control in their nursery.
sion in a yard planted with a variety of
flowers, shrubs and grasses that “don’t
Natural Solutions Available for Pesky Problems Alpine Nursery & Landscape
mind getting their feet wet.”
Topic Website Puyallup (253) 847-7078
Learn how rain gardens help soak up
Envirostars certified
General information: WSU MasterGardeners (253) 798-7170 http://mastergardener.wsu.edu/gardening.html rainwater from downspouts, driveways
and sidewalks, while protecting our Gardensphere
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/upest or
Integrated pest management local waterways. Tacoma (253) 761-7936
http://pep.wsu.edu/hortsense
When planted with the right types of www.gardensphere.biz
Noxious weed control http://piercecountyweedboard.wsu.edu plants, rain gardens also attract birds,
butterflies and bees. Peninsula Gardens
Pesticide safety and regulations (Department of Agriculture) www.agr.wa.gov/pestfert/pesticides
Gig Harbor (253) 851-8115
Rain garden workshops
Hazardous chemical alternatives and safe disposal options www.peninsulagardens.com
www.ecy.wa.gov/toxicfreetips 6:30–8:30 p.m.
866-939-9991 or e-mail toxicfreetips@ecy.wa.gov
Choose from these dates:
Sunnycrest Nursery & Floral
Protecting our water quality www.ecy.wa.gov/washington_waters/index.html April 20, University Place
Lakebay (253) 884-3937
April 30, Edgewood
Water conservation, indoors and outdoor www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/ws/wtrcnsv.html
May 28, Puyallup Watson’s Greenhouse
Puyallup (253) 845-7359
Building healthy soil and erosion control www.buildingsoil.org
Workshops are free, and advance www.watsonsgreenhouse.com
Choosing the right plant for the right place (includes photos) www.GreatPlantPicks.org registration is required. For more in-
formation, contact the Pierce Stream Windmill Gardens
Native plant information http://gardening.wsu.edu/nwnative
Team at (253) 845-2973 or e-mail Sumner (253) 863-5843
streamteam@piercecountycd.org. www.windmillgarden.com
Composting “how-to” information, including bin designs www.piercecountywa.org/compost

WINTER STORM RESPONSE
Heavy rainfall produced two major
floods in early November and January.
The January flood, caused by most
areas receiving 3 to 6 inches of rain
in 2 ½ days, resulted in a Presidential
Declaration of disaster.
While some flooding did occur,
this was not considered a “100-
year storm” event which typically
gets 4 inches in a 24-hour period
or 12 inches in a 7-day period.
In between the flooding, the
county was hit hard by snowstorms.
Pierce County Public Works and
Utilities, along with Department of
Emergency Management and other
departments and agencies, enacted
their emergency plans and helped
people throughout the area.
Department leaders extend their
thanks to their crews and the many
volunteers who helped their neighbors
during the floods and snowstorm.
Following is a summary of Public
Works and Utilities’ storm response.
FLOOD
Levees, storm ponds helped
control flood
The Surface Water Management
Division was pleased to see that
the flood control system—levees,
urban storm ponds and other
drainage improvements—performed
well during the floods and protected
Pierce County citizens and
infrastructure.
However, 86 sites along the levees
were damaged. More than 21,700
lineal feet of levee had to be repaired,
at a cost of $7.3 million.
Fewer than 12 of the 450 storm
ponds were damaged. Crews worked
about 9,000 hours total to restore
flood protection to public infrastruc-
ture and communities.
Solid Waste Division focused
on debris
The county’s Solid Waste Divi-
sion worked with Murrey’s Disposal
Company to place debris collection
containers in neighborhoods with a
high concentration of debris. About
410 tons of flood debris was removed
through this process.
Where homes and damage were less
centralized, the Solid Waste Division
and Tacoma-Pierce County Health
Department staff responded in person
to 395 requests for debris-related
assistance. Teams issued 217 vouchers
allowing residents to dispose of flood-
damaged household goods for free.
RESIDENTS GET HELP WITH DEBRIS
Staff from the Pierce County De-
partment of Emergency Management
and the Solid Waste Division inspected
flood-damaged properties to
determine if residents qualified for
assistance. Approved sites received
help from volunteers and Pierce
County District Court Probation crews
to remove damaged property.
In addition, District Court Probation
work crews filled
more than
15,000 sand
bags.
SNOW
Safe roads in DECEMBER
snowstorm cost $1.5 million
County road crews, working in 12-
hour shifts, plowed more than 22,000
lane-miles after the snowstorms.
Teams also applied over 4,200 tons
of sand and 3,100 tons of salt.
Working to keep the roads safe and
passable cost nearly $1.5 million in
sand, salt, labor and equipment.
How can you be prepared?
• Keep your family’s emergency
response plan and evacuation
kits handy.
• Trim trees.
• After a storm, do not move debris
to the curb or street unless
advised to do so by the county.
• Do your part to prepare your
family, property and pets to with-
stand and respond to disaster.
Visit http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/
pc/abtus/ourorg/dem/pubed.htm
or www.piercecountywa.org/
solidwaste for helpful emergency
preparedness information.
For more information
Surface Water Management:
(253) 798-2725
www.piercecountywa.org/flood
Road Maintenance:
(253) 798-6000
www.piercecountywa.org/roadops or
www.piercecountywa.org/rfa
Debris management:
(253) 798-2179
www.piercecountywa.org/solidwaste
Spring 2009
Worm Classes
Who to Contact for
Join us to learn how you can set up your own worm compost
Garbage Collection
& Curbside Recycling Are We Recycling As Much As We Can?
bin. You can register for “instruction only” (no fee), or for $30
American Disposal Pierce County Refuse how are we doing keeping recycling out of the GARBAGE?
you will receive a pre-drilled, 14-gallon plastic worm bin with
(800) 529-9892 (253) 537-8687
lid, a pound of red worms, all class supplies and a certificate of To find out, a “waste characterization study” tabulates the composition of each waste stream.
www.murreysdisposal.com www.lemayinc.com
completion your friends will envy. will be conducted to help us evaluate the effec- The team conducting the audit includes the
Lakewood Refuse University Place Refuse/ tiveness of our collection, recycling and disposal Pierce County Solid Waste Division; Pierce County
Classes are offered monthly. Registration
(253) 588-1705 Westside Disposal programs. Recycling, Composting and Disposal, LLC (LRI,
deadline is two weeks before each class. www.lemayinc.com
(253) 564-3212 Over the next year, the county will coordinate Inc.); the garbage haulers and engineering consult-
Additional classes and locations may be added. www.uprefuse.com
Murrey’s/DM Disposal three seasonal reviews of garbage from different ing firm R.W. Beck.
Check the website for an updated schedule:
(253) 414-0345 geographic areas and sources. Results of the analy-
www.piercecountywa.org/compost or call Audit covers more than
www.murreysdisposal.com sis will help identify where we can expand recy-
(253) 798-2179 for dates, times and household waste
cling programs and focus education and outreach.
locations. Besides residential garbage (single, multi-family
The first waste sort is scheduled for May. Right
and self-hauled), the waste audit will collect data
now we are gathering information from county
about the commercial/industrial sector. Determin-
solid waste haulers and their disposal locations
ing the amount and type of waste received by an
regarding current routes, customer counts
For More Information: area will be useful for future decision
and disposal volumes. This data will
PIERCE COUNTY SOLID WASTE DIVISION.......... (253) 798-2179 PIERCE CO. PUBLIC WORKS & UTILITIES, ROAD MAINTENANCE making.
24-hour Info Line...............................................(253) 798-4115 Adopt-A-Road Information..............................(253) 798-6000 help determine transportation
Website............................. www.piercecountywa.org/solidwaste routes of solid waste in the Stay tuned for updates
PIERCE COUNTY RESPONDS. ............................(253) 798-4636
E-mail......................................... pcsolidwaste@co.pierce.wa.us county, and will form the basis Pierce County’s last waste audit
Website.................................... www.piercecountyresponds.org
for how samples of waste are was in 1995. We’re eager to see the
STATEWIDE RECYCLING INFORMATION.............1-800-RECYCLE E-mail.......................................... pcresponds@co.pierce.wa.us
randomly selected for sorting. results of our new audit to find out
TACOMA-PIERCE CO. HEALTH DEPT. (Pierce County Responds accepts reports of illegal dumping, junk
how our system has changed over
Household Hazardous Waste Info...................(800) 287-6429 vehicles or trash on private property & abandoned vehicles.) What will happen
the past 14 years. We will publish
during the audit?
updates in the Earth
Samples from incoming
Matters newslet-
loads of waste will be collected.
ter, and audit
Typically 200 to 300 pounds of a
results will
garbage truck load will become the
be posted on
audited sample.
our website
The sample is transferred to a specially
next year.
designed table to be physically sorted into
more than 60 categories comprised of
several key material types (paper, plastic,
glass, etc.) Each sample is hand-sorted piece
by piece and placed into bins. After the
entire sample is sorted, the bins are
weighed and recorded.
This process is
repeated more
than 400 times,
so we can ob-
tain statistically
representative
results from
the county’s
waste streams. Data
University Place, WA 98467-1078 collected for each sample is
9850 64th Street West
entered into a database, which
Solid Waste Division
Public Works and Utilities
Earth Matters is a publication of Pierce County Pierce County Executive: Pierce County Council: Roger Bush, Chair
Public Works and Utilities, Solid Waste Division. Pat McCarthy Shawn Bunney Tim Farrell Joyce McDonald
Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper and recyclable Barbara Gelman Terry Lee Dick Muri
through Pierce County’s curbside recycling program.

WINTER STORM RESPONSE
Heavy rainfall produced two major
floods in early November and January.
The January flood, caused by most
areas receiving 3 to 6 inches of rain
in 2 ½ days, resulted in a Presidential
Declaration of disaster.
While some flooding did occur,
this was not considered a “100-
year storm” event which typically
gets 4 inches in a 24-hour period
or 12 inches in a 7-day period.
In between the flooding, the
county was hit hard by snowstorms.
Pierce County Public Works and
Utilities, along with Department of
Emergency Management and other
departments and agencies, enacted
their emergency plans and helped
people throughout the area.
Department leaders extend their
thanks to their crews and the many
volunteers who helped their neighbors
during the floods and snowstorm.
Following is a summary of Public
Works and Utilities’ storm response.
FLOOD
Levees, storm ponds helped
control flood
The Surface Water Management
Division was pleased to see that
the flood control system—levees,
urban storm ponds and other
drainage improvements—performed
well during the floods and protected
Pierce County citizens and
infrastructure.
However, 86 sites along the levees
were damaged. More than 21,700
lineal feet of levee had to be repaired,
at a cost of $7.3 million.
Fewer than 12 of the 450 storm
ponds were damaged. Crews worked
about 9,000 hours total to restore
flood protection to public infrastruc-
ture and communities.
Solid Waste Division focused
on debris
The county’s Solid Waste Divi-
sion worked with Murrey’s Disposal
Company to place debris collection
containers in neighborhoods with a
high concentration of debris. About
410 tons of flood debris was removed
through this process.
Where homes and damage were less
centralized, the Solid Waste Division
and Tacoma-Pierce County Health
Department staff responded in person
to 395 requests for debris-related
assistance. Teams issued 217 vouchers
allowing residents to dispose of flood-
damaged household goods for free.
RESIDENTS GET HELP WITH DEBRIS
Staff from the Pierce County De-
partment of Emergency Management
and the Solid Waste Division inspected
flood-damaged properties to
determine if residents qualified for
assistance. Approved sites received
help from volunteers and Pierce
County District Court Probation crews
to remove damaged property.
In addition, District Court Probation
work crews filled
more than
15,000 sand
bags.
SNOW
Safe roads in DECEMBER
snowstorm cost $1.5 million
County road crews, working in 12-
hour shifts, plowed more than 22,000
lane-miles after the snowstorms.
Teams also applied over 4,200 tons
of sand and 3,100 tons of salt.
Working to keep the roads safe and
passable cost nearly $1.5 million in
sand, salt, labor and equipment.
How can you be prepared?
• Keep your family’s emergency
response plan and evacuation
kits handy.
• Trim trees.
• After a storm, do not move debris
to the curb or street unless
advised to do so by the county.
• Do your part to prepare your
family, property and pets to with-
stand and respond to disaster.
Visit http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/
pc/abtus/ourorg/dem/pubed.htm
or www.piercecountywa.org/
solidwaste for helpful emergency
preparedness information.
For more information
Surface Water Management:
(253) 798-2725
www.piercecountywa.org/flood
Road Maintenance:
(253) 798-6000
www.piercecountywa.org/roadops or
www.piercecountywa.org/rfa
Debris management:
(253) 798-2179
www.piercecountywa.org/solidwaste
Spring 2009
Worm Classes
Who to Contact for
Join us to learn how you can set up your own worm compost
Garbage Collection
& Curbside Recycling Are We Recycling As Much As We Can?
bin. You can register for “instruction only” (no fee), or for $30
American Disposal Pierce County Refuse how are we doing keeping recycling out of the GARBAGE?
you will receive a pre-drilled, 14-gallon plastic worm bin with
(800) 529-9892 (253) 537-8687
lid, a pound of red worms, all class supplies and a certificate of To find out, a “waste characterization study” tabulates the composition of each waste stream.
www.murreysdisposal.com www.lemayinc.com
completion your friends will envy. will be conducted to help us evaluate the effec- The team conducting the audit includes the
Lakewood Refuse University Place Refuse/ tiveness of our collection, recycling and disposal Pierce County Solid Waste Division; Pierce County
Classes are offered monthly. Registration
(253) 588-1705 Westside Disposal programs. Recycling, Composting and Disposal, LLC (LRI,
deadline is two weeks before each class. www.lemayinc.com
(253) 564-3212 Over the next year, the county will coordinate Inc.); the garbage haulers and engineering consult-
Additional classes and locations may be added. www.uprefuse.com
Murrey’s/DM Disposal three seasonal reviews of garbage from different ing firm R.W. Beck.
Check the website for an updated schedule:
(253) 414-0345 geographic areas and sources. Results of the analy-
www.piercecountywa.org/compost or call Audit covers more than
www.murreysdisposal.com sis will help identify where we can expand recy-
(253) 798-2179 for dates, times and household waste
cling programs and focus education and outreach.
locations. Besides residential garbage (single, multi-family
The first waste sort is scheduled for May. Right
and self-hauled), the waste audit will collect data
now we are gathering information from county
about the commercial/industrial sector. Determin-
solid waste haulers and their disposal locations
ing the amount and type of waste received by an
regarding current routes, customer counts
For More Information: area will be useful for future decision
and disposal volumes. This data will
PIERCE COUNTY SOLID WASTE DIVISION.......... (253) 798-2179 PIERCE CO. PUBLIC WORKS & UTILITIES, ROAD MAINTENANCE making.
24-hour Info Line...............................................(253) 798-4115 Adopt-A-Road Information..............................(253) 798-6000 help determine transportation
Website............................. www.piercecountywa.org/solidwaste routes of solid waste in the Stay tuned for updates
PIERCE COUNTY RESPONDS. ............................(253) 798-4636
E-mail......................................... pcsolidwaste@co.pierce.wa.us county, and will form the basis Pierce County’s last waste audit
Website.................................... www.piercecountyresponds.org
for how samples of waste are was in 1995. We’re eager to see the
STATEWIDE RECYCLING INFORMATION.............1-800-RECYCLE E-mail.......................................... pcresponds@co.pierce.wa.us
randomly selected for sorting. results of our new audit to find out
TACOMA-PIERCE CO. HEALTH DEPT. (Pierce County Responds accepts reports of illegal dumping, junk
how our system has changed over
Household Hazardous Waste Info...................(800) 287-6429 vehicles or trash on private property & abandoned vehicles.) What will happen
the past 14 years. We will publish
during the audit?
updates in the Earth
Samples from incoming
Matters newslet-
loads of waste will be collected.
ter, and audit
Typically 200 to 300 pounds of a
results will
garbage truck load will become the
be posted on
audited sample.
our website
The sample is transferred to a specially
next year.
designed table to be physically sorted into
more than 60 categories comprised of
several key material types (paper, plastic,
glass, etc.) Each sample is hand-sorted piece
by piece and placed into bins. After the
entire sample is sorted, the bins are
weighed and recorded.
This process is
repeated more
than 400 times,
so we can ob-
tain statistically
representative
results from
the county’s
waste streams. Data
University Place, WA 98467-1078 collected for each sample is
9850 64th Street West
entered into a database, which
Solid Waste Division
Public Works and Utilities
Earth Matters is a publication of Pierce County Pierce County Executive: Pierce County Council: Roger Bush, Chair
Public Works and Utilities, Solid Waste Division. Pat McCarthy Shawn Bunney Tim Farrell Joyce McDonald
Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper and recyclable Barbara Gelman Terry Lee Dick Muri
through Pierce County’s curbside recycling program.