The City of Auburn’s contracted solid waste hauler, Waste Management, Inc., will assume collection and disposal of solid waste on June 1, 2011, in the southwestern area of Lea Hill in Auburn.

This area was annexed by a voter-approved initiative in 1999 and became effective in January 2000. The Lea Hill annexation area is the area of the Green River, east to 116th Avenue Southeast and north to Southeast 312th Street.

At the time the area was annexed, Allied Waste Services had an existing franchise to operate there. The law provides that existing franchises are in force for a period of at least seven years following annexation. The franchise period has expired and Allied Waste Services will discontinue service on May 31, 2011.

Residents in the area will now be billed by the City of Auburn for solid waste services effective June 1, 2011, and will now have recycle collection at no additional cost, no container rental fees, more frequent yard waste collection, and monthly billing.

For more information on solid waste services in Auburn, contact a customer service representative at 253-931-3038, email recycling@auburnwa.gov or visit www.auburnwa.gov/solidwaste.