Photo by His and Hers Parigi

With heat index values expected to hit 96 degrees today, the city will activate its heat emergency plan at 1 p.m. “While the most dangerous heat is expected Friday, it will be hot and humid today through Saturday. Heat index will be in the mid 90s to near 100 each afternoon,” according to an AlertDC message. The peak heat index (aka what it actually feels like) will be between 100 and 105 degrees.

To prepare for D.C.’s first wave of 90+ degree temperatures this summer, the city’s trash collectors are making their rounds a little earlier this week. Trash and recycling crews began their pickups at 6 a.m. this morning, an hour earlier than usual, to beat the heat. And they will continue to do so until Saturday to avoid health and environmental issues, according to the D.C. Department of Public Works.

You can put your trash cans and recycling bins in their designated public spaces beginning at 6 p.m. on the day before crews collect. And you have until 8 p.m. on collection day to remove the containers lest you be fined. The department adds that this routine will take place throughout the summer when temperatures are 90 degrees or higher and when the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments announces unhealthy air quality (also known as Code Orange and Code Red days).