A proposed elimination of dumpsters in the U-District could make the neighborhood cleaner, although the alternative to dumpsters would mean daily garbage collections for residents and businesses.

The proposed changes focus on the belief that dumpsters attract unwanted attention from pests and vandals while making alleys and streets dirty when not dumpsters aren’t used properly.

“It’s a program started in Pioneer Square by a company called CleanScapes,” said Scott Soules, president of the University District Business Improvement Area. “They have become a big company over the last 10 years and they are now the garbage contractor for the city of Shoreline. Because the program was successful in Pioneer Square, we thought we would try and implement it up here.”

The frequency of daily garbage collections would vary depending on the amount of garbage a residence or business produces on a daily basis.

“We currently run three collections a day, but we route the trucks to accommodate the flow required,” said Chris Martin, president of CleanScapes.

Dumpsters will be completely eliminated and garbage will be disposed of in bags instead. The disposable bags are provided by CleanScapes, and the company has options to pick up regular garbage, recycling and food scraps.

Worries that some may abuse the service were taken into account by members of the University District Business Improvement Area.

“Some of the city likes to bootleg their stuff into other dumpsters or cut back on the collections they get, and if they don’t monitor them it can get out of control,” Soules said. “CleanScapes gives people the bags and come by twice a day to pick up the bags, and they know whose bags are whose so they won’t pick up some random bags. It’s a smarter, better, more efficient way to deal with this issue.”

The proposed changes could affect the whole U-District, since CleanScapes’ services range from municipal to commercial and to residential.

“This will clear up a lot of space, may allow for more parking, and is safer,” said Melissa Shaub, the UW director for Greek life.

The Greater University Chamber of Commerce has also been working with this issue and expressed their willingness to work with CleanScapes.

“We’re really excited about the cleanliness and health and safety issues related to this,” said Teresa Lord Hugel, executive director for the Chamber. “It provides more service with one organization than we have had with multiple organizations.”

Businesses and residences in the area whose dumpsters are in the alleys and on city property would have to switch to this new system. Owners of dumpsters on private property have the option to either sign up for the new collection service or to keep their dumpsters.

[Reach reporter Lia Pittman at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]