Garbage & Trash
Collection Schedule
Garbage Guidelines
- Place carts at the curb no later than 7 a.m. on your pickup day, but no earlier than 6 p.m. the evening prior to collection.
- Cart lids must be closed and garbage should be bagged to minimize litter during collection. All materials must fit in the cart to ensure collection.
- Keep all carts and bulk piles three feet away from anything that may block the collection truck (carts, mailboxes, utility poles, trees and fire hydrants).
- Make sure the handle faces your house and the lid openings face the street.
- On the same day, after service, all carts must be removed from the curb.
Tips for preventing bugs and odor
- Bag all your garbage: Keep waste wrapped tightly in bags, leaving no holes, before placing it in your black cart for collection. Heavy-duty trash bags act as a barrier between invading pests and garbage. During the summer, consider double bagging garbage.
- Secure garbage cart lid and use a cart liner: Make sure your lid is properly functioning and completely closed. Install a cart liner for added protection.
- Periodically rinse out the cart: Cleaning out your garbage cart with a hose is an effective way to discourage any infestations or visits from uninvited guests.
- Spray vinegar: Spray the inner and outer parts of the lid with a vinegar-water mixture. Vinegar is an effective method for warding off pests with its pungent smell. Make a mixture of one part vinegar and one part water to spray inside your trash carts. Other effective solutions include Terro Garbage Guard, apple cider vinegar or essential oils such as cinnamon, clove, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemongrass and rosemary.
- Use all-purpose cleaners: The household cleaner you use also is an effective insecticide. Mix one part of the cleaning solution with four parts of boiling water. Spray the all-purpose cleaner onto the opened, filled garbage bags before tightly securing them and placing them inside your garbage cart.
Garbage Questions
What can I put in the garbage cart?
All garbage must be bagged to keep the cart cleaner and more sanitary. Ensure all waste is placed in a tied trash bag before disposal.
Acceptable items for garbage carts:
- Dirty take-out containers
- Tissues, napkins, paper plates, and shredded paper
- Meat, dairy, and food waste
- Cat litter or animal waste
- Food wrappers
- Cigarette butts
- Diapers
- Packing peanuts
- Pizza boxes and other cardboard boxes that have been contaminated with grease or oil
- Single-use alkaline batteries
Items not allowed in garbage carts:
Avoid placing prohibited items in your garbage cart to ensure the safety and efficiency of waste collection services.
- Cardboard boxes: Must be dry, clean, and broken down before placing them in your green recycling cart. Contaminated cardboard, like greasy pizza boxes, cannot be recycled. First, remove any packing materials such as Styrofoam or packing peanuts. Then, flatten the box to save space and place it in the recycling cart.
- Liquids, paints, certain batteries, propane tanks, explosives, or corrosives: These items can cause property or equipment damage or injury to collection personnel.
- Do not mix garbage and yard waste.
- Special waste: Compact fluorescent light bulbs, electronics, and hazardous waste (e.g., paint, motor oil, pesticides, herbicides, and car batteries). No auto parts, boat parts, or empty gasoline cans. Learn more about household hazardous waste.