SEATTLE The city's new Clean Alley program isn't working quite as planned. That's because rats are eating through new garbage bags that are meant to replace dumpsters.
It's been a year since Seattle got rid of dumpsters in downtown alleys and replaced them with plastic bags. The health department says the program has been a success, except for the rats.
This is a pretty temperate climate. We have rats all year round. I'm busy all year round, said Carol Coombs, the Seattle Health Department's rat lady. For 12 years, she has inspected Seattle alleys, looking for vermin.
In one Pioneer Square alley near First Avenue and Yesler Way, there are mounting rat complaints. The property owner will likely be fined.
This will be a $250 a day fine, said Coombs.
Coombs says any food waste in a bag is a bad idea. Now, the city wants to move away from plastic bags and put food waste in small garbage cans called toters. It will keep the rats at bay, and that's just fine with people who walk on Seattle streets.
The bags are picked up from alleys every 24 hours, but the health department says rats can knaw through a plastic bag within a day.
