"HELPFUL HINTS"
Helpful Hints for 90 Gallon Roll-Out Containers:
Do Put your container out by 6:00 a.m. Our collection crews begin at 6:00 a.m. Leave your container at the curb until the truck services it. We apologize, but we can not give you the time of day the truck may come through your area. The times will always vary and you may be picked up earlier or later on your collection day.
Do Keep the container off the curb on non-collecting days. You will be protecting the container and beautifying the appearance of your neighborhood. Containers do blow around in high wind and heavy rains may cause them to float away.
Do Make sure coals from your fireplace or barbecue grill are cold. The containers will melt and burn when hot ashes are placed into the container. Please use extreme caution when disposing of hot coals.
Do Maintain the cleanliness of the container. This will help to eliminate odors and bugs.
Do Bag loose paper and trash. Loose paper and trash can easily blow in the wind and produce unwanted and unsightly litter in your neighborhood. "Bagged trash stops litter."
Do Place the container close to the curb or on the curb so our truck can reach it (within 4' is recommended). Please leave adequate spacing between your container and your neighbor's if your containers are placed in the same general location. Please have the handle face the house.
Do Leave grass on lawn using the "Don't Bag It" program. If you have to bag your grass clippings, place some of the bags in the container if possible. Do not over-stuff the container. Loose, wet grass jammed in and left overnight may become an obstacle to emptying your container. A FREE grass/leaves recycling center is located at 2209 Oak. For the hours of operation or additional information, please call 672-2209.
Do Call the Solid Waste Services Division at 676-6053 if your container requires repairs.
Don't Put tires, batteries, paint, or household/pool chemicals into the containers. We have an Environmental Recycle Center located at 2209 Oak for disposal of these items. Please call 672-2209 for additional information.
Don't Stuff or jam items into the container. A box stuffed in at the top or a piece of wood stuck in the container can keep the container from emptying.
Don't Put tree limbs into the container. Cut them up into 4' lengths and pile them on the curb away from the container. If you bring tree limbs to our tree limb-recycling center located at 2209 Oak, the limbs do not have to be cut up. Call 672-2209 for more recycling information. Please call 676-6053 for information on bulky item disposal for your neighborhood.
Don't Overload your container. Cement blocks, rocks, dirt, or other construction debris should not to be placed in the container. Construction debris removal is the responsibility of your contractor* or yourself to dispose of. A landfill is located just North of the city limits on FM 3034. Their phone number is 672-7613. This is not a City-owned landfill.
Don't Take your container when you move to another home or out of the city limits of Abilene. The container is the property of the City of Abilene.
Note* Hired construction workers, rug layers, roofers, etc. are classified as contractors. Professional tree trimmers and lawn mowers must follow the same procedures and policies as the residents. Please see the manual collection section for rules & policies.
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Helpful Hints for 300 gallon alley containers (Services up to 4 families)
Do Use the container that is on or closest to your property line whether it is on your side of the alley or across the ally.
Do Please be considerate of your neighbors. If four of you share a container, only ¼ of the container is for your home's household refuse.
Do Leave grass clippings on lawn using the "Don't Bag It" program, If you have to bag your excess grass, place your bagged grass behind your property line at least five feet away from the container. A container full of loose grass leaves no room for household refuse. A FREE grass drop-off center is located at 2209 Oak. Please call 672-2209 for additional information.
Do Place bulk items; (ie: carpet, furniture, mattresses, moving boxes, and/or appliances) behind your own property line at least five (5) feet away from the container.
Do Bag loose paper and trash. Please place all refuse into containers. Loose paper and trash can easily blow in the wind and produce unwanted and unsightly litter in your neighborhood. "Bagged trash stops litter."
Do Break down your cardboard boxes before placing them into the container or recycling them. Boxes take up excessive room and can become lodged inside the container. Also remember that the Environmental Recycling Center and the Neighborhood Drop Off sites will recycle the cardboard instead of the cardboard going into the landfill.
Do Make sure coals from your fireplace or barbecue grills are cold. The containers will melt and burn when hot ashes are placed into the container. Please use extreme caution when disposing of hot coals.
Do Please make sure if children are carrying out the trash, it goes INTO the container and not on the ground.
Don't Put tree limbs into the container. Cut them up into 4' lengths and place them on your property line and at least five (5) feet away from the container. If you bring tree limbs to our tree limb-recycling center located at 2209 Oak, the limbs do not have to be cut up. Call 672-2209 for more recycling information.
Don't Overload your container. Cement blocks, rocks, dirt, or other construction debris should not to be placed in the container. Construction debris removal is the responsibility of your contractor* or yourself to dispose of. A landfill is located just North of the city limits on FM 3034. Their phone number is 672-7613. This is not a City-owned landfill.
Don't Turn the container around to make it easier to fill. If it is not facing the alley, it will not empty properly.
Don't Put tires, batteries, paint, or household/pool chemicals into the containers. We have an Environmental Recycle Center located at 2209 Oak for disposal of these items. Please call 672-2209 for additional information.
Don't Allow hired grass cutters to use more than ¼ of your container. We recommend that these folks take the grass to the drop off center at 2209 Oak.
Note* Hired construction workers, tree trimmers, grass cutters, rug layers, roofers, etc. are classified as contractors. The residential alley container service cannot be used for their disposal use when contracted to work at your home.
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Helpful Hints for Commercial Customers
Concrete pads for metal containers are primarily used to support the front wheels of the heavy front loader trucks to eliminate deep rutting. Please call 676-6057 for specifications.
Enclosures to hide containers can be useful, but the enclosure must be 10' wide in order for our trucks to lift the container out of the enclosure. Please call 676-6057 for specifications.
Please use hooks and eyes on swinging gates to secure the gate to an open position prior to our arrival to empty the container. A locked gate will cause your container to not get emptied on schedule.
Please do not pile trash on top or in front of the metal container. Our trucks require easy access to your container to be emptied on schedule.
Please do not allow the container to be blocked by vehicles on the day of your refuse collection.
We can not empty containers that have long pieces of lumber sticking out of the top of the container.
Dumping liquids into containers is illegal (i.e., oil, grease, etc.)
Please brief your employees and post the times the Solid Waste Division services your business.
If your container needs repair such as a bent door arm or door, please call our customer service at 676-6054 and request container repair.
The Health Department requires that all raw and/or offensive garbage be bagged and tied before being placed into the container.
Bagging and tying paper products helps to eliminate littering before it is disposed of. "Bagged trash stops litter."
SCREENING - Refuse collection facilities and containers in non-residential zoning districts should be screened from view of neighboring properties and the general public. They should be visibly screened by a solid, opaque fence or wall no less than seven (7) feet in height. Screening may be accomplished by use of berms, shrubs, trees, bushes, or other similar means, provided the screening effect closely resembles that furnished by a wall or fence. If the facility or container is within l00 feet of a residential zoned district, screening is required.
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