SSC provides a thankless, but critical, service to or community. While I understand the temptation to hate them because they are a single-source supplier to most of us, so the natural (knee-jerk) assumption is that they are cheating us somehow is very human, but completely unfair. Naturally, the only time any of us think about SSC is when they miss a pickup our we're paying their bill. For the most part, our ONLY intersection with the company revolves around paying for a service we don't think about very much and is, therefore invisible to us or complaining because "the garbage and recycling fairies" didn't show up and it forced us to think about them! The truth is they quietly (Okay, maybe the service they provideis inevitably a little noisy) do what they do (for the most part) without failure did that we never (or, arguably, seldom) have to think about them (or what they do)! They are, in fact, completely invisible to us until they make a mistake and then we whiner about them and how much money we pay them to do something we don't want to do for ourselves, but resent being forced to pay someone else to do! I usually pay my bill at the office in person which had afforded me an opportunity to observe how professional, understanding and customer-oriented the company is and how well they respond to any complaint. Truthfully, SSC is one of Bellingham's best run, efficient, responsive companies and were lucky to have them! read more

Four weeks ago I called to have my recycle bin taken away. Customer service told me to place it at the curb on the upcoming Friday. Friday came and went with no bin pick-up, so I called on Monday and was told they didn't make it and that I need to put my bin out again on Friday. The next week was another repeat of this. So this coming Monday, I will call again, but with a low expectation of getting any kind of service. Now I'll wait and see how long this incompetence continues. I miss the day when companies actually did what they promised to do. read more

Horrible business that scams people any chance they can get. Their customer service has improved, but their business practices are terrible. The FoodService Plus bins they're forcing on us in Whatcom County are unnecessarily large and exorbitantly expensive - $15 per pick up twice a month, and likely they haven't even had to do half of those pickups, so they're making they're doing zero work for. Which is illegal. They recently closed my account over a $9 balance, as well, and charged me a reactivation fee over twice that amount when I paid the $9 that I would have paid before if I thought any business on the face of the planet would deactivate my account, take my bin, and then charge me a fee over $9 measly dollars. I should have known not to give SSC the benefit of the doubt, because they CONSTANTLY charge for pickups they didn't do or your garbage bin lid being open 1/4 of an inch. This place is such a scam, and I am on the warpath now. I hope others do as I'm doing and contact the governor, consumer protection, Better Business Bureau, the city council, and Shawn O'Neil with solid waste management with the city. It's about time the people of Bellingham, who generally despise this company, actually stood up for ourselves, because obviously the city simply doesn't care. read more

Poor customer service. Requested pick up of recyclables once the road had cleared and nothing. Was told to wait until next week by a rude employee. Unacceptable read more

Beginning 2/1/25- the tax is increasing from 12.99% to a whopping 20.85%. What in the world! That tax increase is the same for everyone...if the route is the same and the cost of diesel is roughly the same...why is there a need for such a huge increase? The trash all goes to RDS...they charge $15 as a flat fee. Over two months that is $120. They are making roughly $50 on each house? Wow...that is a massive increase. read more

I read the other reviews, and I am very surprised. I have been using Sanitary Service Company since 2012, and my experience with them has been all very positive. Trash Removal Options They provide a number of options that are suitable for many types of households. They can pick up trash every week, every other week, or once a month. You can also add Food Plus at a fraction of the cost. With Food Plus, you can reduce the amount of garbage significantly because you can "food plus" not only food but also yard clippings and soiled paper like pizza boxes. More about Food Plus I used to bring my yard waste to a city operated facility on Lakeway. It was very expensive and I had to load dirty yard clippings in my car! With Food Plus, they come pick it up every other week, and it's not expensive. I only use Food Plus for spring, summer, and early fall when I have a lot of yard waste. When I'm done cleaning my yards in the fall, I call them and they come pick up the bin for the season. I call them in the spring and start a new season. Customer Service They are always friendly and professional. Once there was quite a bit of trash left in my bin after collection. So, I called them and they dispatched a truck on a later day and pick up the trash (of course, free of charge). Once I missed the truck, and I called them. They gave me two options: (i) sending back the truck the same day with a $12 fee and (ii) having it picked up when the truck comes back in the area for free of charge (although it's not my trash day). It's not that we have other choices in Bellingham, but I'm very happy that we have Sanitary Service Company servicing the area. ****************************** If you found something useful in my review, please hit "useful" so that I can improve my reviews. If you love food and traveling, follow me! Thank you and happy yelping! read more

I moved from Southern California to Bellingham a year ago: my SSC bill has gone up 15% in one year! The latest bill came with a 4% increase due to "decline in value of recycling commodities due to China Sword restrictions". Are you kidding me?!?!?! What other business gets to pass on a "decline in value of commodities" onto its customers...? If the City of Bellingham gives SSC a monopoly, then it has to regulate prices. As it is, SSC can rise prices as it pleases and we have no alternative. read more

Ironically, this trash service also has a garbage website. We can never make an online payment successfully. Continuously receive "credit card validation failed: addressvalidationfailed" error. Says your password is wrong when it's not. It's impossible for us to be documenting the incorrect password every. single. month. I refuse to trust them with a mailed check. God knows what late fees we'd incur. Trash company literally provides garbage-a$$ service. I would rate 0/5 if I could. read more

I've never had any issues with pickup, I set the can out after the truck went by a couple times and the driver will get it on his way out of the neighborhood instead of making me suffer with my mistake. Thank you for putting in the extra effort my wife and I appreciate it so much! read more

Would rate lower if I could. Where to start? Over the last year alone they have missed pickups and when called and asked why they haven't pick-up my trash. They apologize and say they will send someone out free of charge to get my trash. Kicker is they then charge you $35 for an additional pick-up. When I called back to complain they again apologize and say they will credit my account, surprise-surprise never happens. Would change if there was any alternative service. read more

The person who picks up our recycling is the Best! He always takes the extra time to stack our empty bins neatly behind our gate, even though it is extra steps for him. He also turns them upside down when its raining. I know these seem like small things, but it's those extra small steps that make for a great business! read more

I have been living in Bellingham for about 13 years now and have never had a problem with this company. On the rare occasion they missed a pickup they were back within 24 hours. Once half of my garbage was stuck when they picked up so I called and they came back the next day without a problem. Also if they are on the road when backing out of our driveway they will let you know when it is safe to proceed. I can't imagine better service! read more

I left a small cardboard box sitting next to the garbage bin this morning. The garbage man didn't pick it up. Apparently they wont bend down to pick up a cardboard box unless its broken down. All I can say is that it must be nice to be a monopoly that doesn't have to give a shit about customer service, and have no incentive to move even 6 extra inches for a customer. There is no competition, so month after month we have to pay these jerks, or haul our own trash to the dump. There must be a laziness exam for garbage men, because clearly they have all passed with flying colors. Too bad there is no option for no stars. read more

Amazed that anyone would write a negative review about these hard working garbage collection men! To call them lazy is pathetic at the very least. They bust their butts in all kinds of weather, day in and day out. I've had the pleasure of working for a company that contracts with them and witness their work ethic on a daily basis. I have nothing but respect for them. Spend a day in their shoes before you throw judgement their way. These guys hustle! read more

Check your payments to Sanitary Service. They only applied roughly half my check as payment. This will also be the third time we need to call about the same bill. They were rude during the second call. But both calls they failed to do what they told me they were going to do. The first request was to send a final bill and they didn't. The second request was to reduce my bill because we had not received service in a particular month because we had sold our house and we called ahead to let them know. read more

Terrible company, wish we had other options. They continually miss pickups and you have to wait until the following week for them to come out again. Every other company that services us doesn't stop because of weather. This includes UPS, FedEx, propane, USPS. read more

I called Sanitary service and Joanne was Exceptionally nice!!! Thank you for GREAT customer Service Joanne!!!!!!

While I appreciate the thankless work the drivers do, dealing with their office is incredibly frustrating. I am currently having issues getting my garbage picked up. "Carly" in their office has been pleasant, but speaking with "Vanessa" is the source of my frustration. She has been incredibly rude, condescending, and most recently simply hung up on me. If I had options to take my business elsewhere I would do so solely based on her poor attitude. read more

Long story short: SSC leaked hydraulic fuel up and down both sides of my street for at least three blocks (and presumably everywhere else it drove yesterday). A neighbor called it in earlier today, but SSC has done nothing. I called and was told that someone would come out tomorrow. Tomorrow? This is not responsive to the health of our environment. Shame on them. When I questioned why they are allowing toxic chemicals to drain into the water, I received a non-answer. Not satisfactory! read more

Communication needs to be better with drivers where to put dumpsters. Very poor training. Customer service has gone down hill the past 10 years. People just don't care anymore. read more

I have always been very happy with SSC and the services they provide. Anytime I've called with any questions or concerns they've always been very helpful and friendly, and I know it's easy to take a good thing for granted and when there are issues, then you see a negative review. Part of what prompted this review was yet again another nice thing - on Wednesday the 28th of August, recycling pick up was scheduled for my neck of Sudden Valley, and I was on the phone with my sister when I heard the truck coming, so I ran one of my bins up the drive, and the driver pulled up as I was walking back down the driveway, and kindly asked if I had any other bins, which I didn't have any other full ones, but it was just so nice to know he would've been happy to wait for me to bring more up; it was unexpected & very appreciated. Thanks for all you do! :) Adding a note to my original post - I'm not sure why it shows me in San Francisco; I'm from Bellingham, WA. read more

I think people only bother to rate this company on Yelp when they have had a problem. I'm not here to invalidate anyone's bad experience, just to say that SSC has picked up my garbage for over 30 years without fail, including on holidays and in terrible weather, and I have never had a problem with them. I also live on a steep hill! Really appreciate their dependable service. read more

I too would give this a minus 10 if possible, this company customer service is undeserving of any recognition. Since I've lived in Bellingham for the last 5 years I have had to call several times to complain particularity with recycling issues. We pay for a service that limits on how much one can recycle claiming it is too much for there drivers and trucks, so they put on limits per household. WHAT happen to Bellingham's compliment to the environment. Everything is going into the trash since I am being forced to choice what and how much I am allowed. read more

I've been a customer for years and they have always been very helpful and friendly if I had any questions or even when I failed to set out my garbage. read more