Due to the region’s first white Christmas in years, you’re probably full of more than just holiday cheer — you’re also probably filled to capacity with garbage.

The winter storm caused travel delays and blocked roads, leaving residents with fuller trash bags just in time for the holidays.

However, with the more typical December rain washing away the snow, Waste Management trucks can now get through again and pick up all the extra garbage.

“It should all be back on regular schedule,” said Jeanette Brizendine, recycling project manager for the City of Federal Way. “There will be a delay though for New Year’s.”

During a holiday, waste pickup is delayed one day.

Waste Management began limited pickups on Dec. 27, but did not pick up in neighborhoods where roads were still unsafe due to the snow and ice.

Customers are allowed to set out twice the normal amount of garbage at no additional cost for their next regularly scheduled pickup. If the collection was missed two weeks in a row, then the customer may set out three times the regular amount on the next service day. A normal collection is 65 pounds of garbage.

Waste Management also has a few suggestions to anyone setting out extra garbage. This includes securely tying plastic bags labeled “garbage” next to the waste bin or putting garbage in a 32-gallon can labeled “garbage” next to the bin. Also, it is recommended that the bags either be placed in cardboard boxes or set out the morning of collection to avoid attracting animals.

Recyclables were not picked up at all during the winter storm, but collection is now back on schedule. Customers can put out twice the normal amount on their next scheduled pickup day. Extra bins can be used as can any large container, including totes and laundry baskets. Drivers have been instructed not to pick up any items that are not marked as garbage.

Although yard waste isn’t as common this time of year, if customers have extra yard waste, they can place it in poly-woven yard bags or in extra garbage cans marked “yard waste” for pickup. It is recommended that food scraps not be put in the extra bags and that yard waste be put out the morning of pickup to prevent animals from getting into the bags.

Christmas trees and lights

With the holiday season over, there is also the matter of Christmas trees and lights.

Federal Way, with help from a King County grant, is offering free tree pickup to all Federal Way residents — even those who don’t use Waste Management.

Between Jan. 5-9, residents can place their trees out on the curb for the regular neighborhood collection day. The trees must be clean with no flocking, ornaments or tinsel. If the trees are more than 6 feet tall, they must be cut in half.

Apartment property managers can contact either the city or Waste Management for their own collection days, which will be on Jan. 2 and 9. Fliers are available for residents.

Lights can also be recycled thanks to Federal Way resident Jessica Lam. Lam approached Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium about recycling lights and raising money for the zoo. The zoo agreed her idea was a good one, and the holiday lights recycling program is now part of Zoolights. The goal is to collect 10,000 strings of lights before early January.

Lights can be dropped off at designated bins at the zoo’s entrance as well as other Metro Parks, including Metro Parks headquarters building, Tacoma Nature Center and all Metro Parks Community and Neighborhood Resource Centers.

The lights will then be taken to the recycling center and the money raised from the sale will go into the zoo’s conservations fund.

To learn more, call Waste Management at (800) 592-9995 or visit www.wmnorthwest.com/federalway/index.html.