We all have everyday household chores. And we probably don’t find any particular joy in doing them.
And maybe we race through the to-do list without much thought:
- Cleaning the house
- Washing the dishes
- Taking the garbage out to the street for collection
Wait! So, about that. Let’s talk trash for a minute.
While life can’t get much more routine than rolling your garbage cart to the street on collection day, attention to detail is important.
That spacing is necessary to accommodate the automated arms on sanitation trucks that pick up your garbage cart and dispose of its contents before returning it to the curb.
What might be considered an obstruction? Carts should be placed a distance of five feet from recycling carts, mailboxes, utility poles, parked cars, flowerbeds or anything else that might impede the truck’s automated arm. Also be aware of aerial obstructions, such as low-hanging utility wires or TV cables.
Other details to keep in mind: Carts should not be more than two feet from the curb or the road and the arrows on the lid should be pointing toward the road. Carts should also be placed at the curb no later than 7 a.m. on your designated day of collection.
Remembering those seemingly small guidelines will make a significant difference for sanitation drivers.
Garbage collection is a big job. The City operates 25 daily sanitation routes, collecting garbage from more than 70,000 households. And residents play a critical role in ensuring their garbage carts are accessible.
Visit the Garbage & Recycling page on the City’s website if you have any questions.
But when it’s time to roll that garbage cart to the curb again, take a quick look and make sure it’s five feet from any obstruction.
