Forget everything you’ve heard about holiday tipping. Here in the District, residents should apparently forgo tipping their garbage collectors in favor of writing a nice note to the boss. On the Tenley email list, Department of Public Works spokesperson Linda Grant writes:

We would prefer that you express your appreciation in writing to DPW Director Howland at either William.howland@dc.gov or the address below. Please include the truck number, your block, e.g., 1300 block of R Street, NW, and the names of the crew members, if you have them. On behalf of my co-workers, thank you for taking the time to recognize their hard work and happy holidays to you and yours.

William O. Howland, Jr.
Director
DC Department of Public Works
2000 14th Street, NW
6th Floor
Washington, DC 20009

Though Emily Post notes that tipping $10-30 is standard for garbage collectors, she concedes that one should first “check city regulations if it is a municipal service.”

Photo by Darrow Montgomery