SANITATION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is automated collection?
Residents are furnished with special weather-resistant garbage dumpsters that are placed in alleyways or on curbs in a location that allows sanitation trucks to gain access to the container. The sanitation truck is equipped with a lifting mechanism with an arm reach of eight feet. The arm will lift and empty the contents, and return the dumpster to its original position. An operator controls the operation from the driver's seat. Some customers may be provided a roll out container that the resident rolls to the area adjacent to the curb on the day of collection After collection, the resident rolls the cart back into his/her yard.
What about Yard Waste?
Yard waste must be placed inside the cart for collection. Yard waste is collected on your regular garbage days. Yard waste, such as leaves and grass clippings, mulch, small tree and shrub limbs, should be bagged prior to placing inside the garbage container. Non-bagged, loose grass and leaves stick to the inside of the cart, causing odor and preventing the full contents from being dumped.
What about holidays?
Garbage is not collected on official City holidays. Please set out your garbage on your next regular garbage day.
May I use my old garbage cans?
Residents with automated garbage service may not use garbage cans other than the City issued container. Only garbage inside the new cart will be collected. Our trucks can only pick up the City issued carts.
How do I use the rollout container?
Your regular household garbage must be placed in the container. You must place the rollout in the area adjacent to the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day. Please do not place any items outside the container as they cannot be picked up. You are encouraged to ensure that your trash fits into the cart.
What can I put in City garbage containers/rollouts?
Typical household waste. In the interest of container cleanliness, we encourage you to use plastic bags for wet garbage and to occasionally hose out rollout containers. Pet waste should be bagged in order to avoid odor.
Construction or other materials such as sheetrock, roofing material, lumber, fencing, concrete, brick, rocks, stone, or dirt will not be collected with garbage. Hot ashes, flammable or hazardous materials such as asbestos, oil, gas, antifreeze, solvents, brake fluid, transmission fluid, batteries, cleaning solvents, polishes, oven cleaner, pool chemicals, paint, paint thinner, paint stripper, spray paint, weed killer, pesticides, insecticides, sprays dusts or poisons will not be collected with garbage. Please bag pet waste. Do not place dead animals in garbage carts. Contact the City Animal Control Department at 432-264-2563 for proper disposal of dead animals. Do not place anything on top of garbage containers.
How do I know which rollout container is mine?
Carts are assigned to individual street addresses, not to individual customers. If a customer moves, the cart must remain at the assigned address. If you move and do not have a dumpster or rollout container, contact the Sanitation department at 432-264-2383.
Is a 96-gallon rollout container sufficient?
National surveys indicate that a 96 gallon container is adequate for an average household. We will be picking up trash at your household on a weekly basis.
Where should I place my cart and what about parking on collection days?
The cart must be placed at the street curb, away from mailboxes, low hanging branches, shrubbery or other obstacles. Corner houses should place cart on street address, not on side street. On collection days, we ask that you do not park your vehicle at the curb so that the truck can easily approach the cart.
What happens if I cannot roll the cart to the curb?
For those that are physically or medically unable to place the cart at the curbside, contact the City's Public Works Department at (432) 264-2501 for assistance.
Who repairs a damaged damaged dumpster or rollout cart or replaces a stolen rolloutcart?
What are the benefits of automated collection?
The automated system allows the City to collect garbage efficiently. Since the automated collection vehicle requires a crew of only one driver as compared to a crew of three persons, significant long-term financial savings in labor costs can be achieved. Manual collection is labor intensive, and puts workers at a high risk for injury. Since manual loading of garbage is eliminated with automation, job injuries are reduced, thereby decreasing claims and insurance premiums paid by the City. The City provides durable containers with a close-fitting lids, which are equivalent to three regular garbage cans. These animal-proof carts with a stay-on lids help reduce windblown litter and improves the neighborhood's appearance. Rollout carts are easy to roll to the designated pick up location.
