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Natural gas pipeline rupture suspends Waste Management service in most of King, Snohomish counties

SEATTLE — Waste Management says a natural gas pipeline explosion in British Columbia means no garbage, recycling, or yard waste collection for most of King and Snohomish counties on Thursday.

Waste Management trucks run on natural gas, and the pipeline rupture near Prince George has interrupted the flow of natural gas for Puget Sound Energy.

It is not known how long garbage service will be interrupted.

Areas that will not have Waste Management service on Thursday include Algona, Auburn, Federal Way, Kirkland, Mill Creek, Redmond, Seattle, Snoqualmie, and the unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties.

Service has not been interrupted in or around Marysville-- including Arlington, Granite Falls or the unincorporated area -- Skagit County or Kitsap County because Waste Management uses different fuel suppliers for trucks in these areas.

Puget Sound Energy, which serves about a million people in Western Washington, uses the affected pipeline for natural gas to generate electricity, and it has had to cut usage by 15 percent.

The utility is requesting that customers conserve energy until another source is found.

Appliances that use the most energy in homes are water heaters and furnaces.

Other ripple effects include Pierce Transit bus routes being affected and Everett Community College turning off its heat.

You can find tips to save energy at this link and information about Waste Management service here.