Will trash collection run on schedule on Christmas Day in Bellingham, Whatcom County?

From stores to restaurants, much of the world shuts down for Christmas. But what about the public services that people rely on? From trash collection to mail delivery, here’s what you need to know if you live in Whatcom County.

Bellingham trash collection

Trash collection in Bellingham will run on schedule on Christmas, according to Sanitary Services Company, which handles the city’s trash pickup.

However, trash pickup could still be affected by the Wednesday, Dec. 25 holiday. SSC warns that some routes may run earlier in the day than they typically do. As a result, the company advises anyone with Wednesday trash pickup to make sure trash bins are in place for collection the night before.

If you don’t know which day your trash is collected, you can check SSC’s collection schedule.

Whatcom County trash collection

While SSC handles the majority of trash collection in the area, some of northern Whatcom County is serviced by Nooksack Valley Disposal & Recycling. The company will pick up on Christmas, although, like SSC, they are asking customers to put their bins out the night before.

Cando Recycling and Disposal in Point Roberts will be closed for Christmas with its usual Wednesday routes running on Tuesday, Dec. 24 instead. Areas that usually have pickup on Tuesday will be picked up on Monday, Dec. 23 instead.

Other service closures in Bellingham

Almost all Bellingham city services will be closed on both Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, according to the city’s website. Emergency services through the public works and parks departments, as well as police, fire and medical emergency services, will still be available.

Whatcom Transit Authority buses won’t run on Christmas Day, but will run on Dec. 24. Christmas is also a mail holiday, meaning the United States Postal Service won’t deliver on Dec. 25.

This story was originally published December 23, 2024 at 5:00 AM.