(Washington, DC)  The DC Department of Public Works announced today that it is suspending trash, recycling and bulk collections today due to the icy conditions.  All collections will be pushed back one day, so residents whose collection day is Wednesday, collections will be made Thursday, Thursday’s collections will be made Friday and Friday’s collections will be made Saturday.  Residents who already put their trash, recycling and bulk items out for collection today, may leave them in place for collection tomorrow.

The District Snow Team (District Department of Transportation and Department of Public Works) has been salting and plowing, where necessary, residential streets since yesterday, but continuing freezing temperatures and precipitation mean icy conditions.  “In our residential neighborhoods, the salt will be more effective once traffic increases and the salt is churned into the ice to break it up,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr.

“We urge everyone to travel with caution, whether walking or driving,” he added.

Property owners are asked to spread abrasives, eg, salt or non-clumping kitty litter, on the sidewalks around their property to help pedestrians keep their footing.

Additional information on the snow deployment plan may be found at www.ddot.dc.gov.

DDOT and DPW remind residents and commuters to:

• Clear sidewalks. 
• Help your elderly or disabled neighbors remove snow from steps and sidewalks.
• Clear catch basins and fire hydrants.
• Remember that driving on ice is significantly different than driving on snow.
• Use extreme caution and maintain safe speeds and distances from other vehicles.
• Remember even a 4-wheel drive SUV does not perform well in ice and additional safety measures should be followed.
• Be aware of road conditions, particularly black ice which can be deceptive in its appearance giving the driver a false sense of security on the road.
• Watch for slippery bridge decks, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridge decks will ice up sooner than the adjacent pavement.
• Remember to keep a safe distance from emergency and snow vehicles and please use caution when attempting to pass a snowplow. Give the drivers plenty of room to safely do their jobs.
• Clear all the snow and ice from your vehicle's windows and lights - even the hood and roof - before driving.
• Please do not put snow in the street. Put all cleared snow, from parked cars and sidewalks, in the "tree box," front yard, or between the curb and sidewalk.