FAQs

Think "everyday stuff."

If it's the kind of waste your family creates during a normal day around the house, it probably belongs in your garbage cart.

Some examples include:

•  Food scraps
•  Paper towels and tissues
•  Diapers
•  Plastic packaging and wrappers
•  Broken toys
•  Bagged pet waste
•  Broken dishes and cups (wrapped safely)

Not sure about an item? Give us a call! We'd much rather answer a quick question than have the wrong item end up in the truck.

Our drivers are early birds... like, really early birds.

Our trucks hit the road at 5:00 AM, and your pickup time may change from week to week. The easiest way to make sure you don't miss us? Have your carts at the curb by 5:00 AM—or even better, put them out the night before.

We can't promise an exact pickup time, but we can promise our drivers will be awake before most of us are!

There's a Trash "Can"... and there's a Trash "CAN'T."

This is definitely a Trash CAN'T.

Your recycling cart is reserved for recyclable materials only. Please keep trash, food waste, and yard waste out so your recyclables have the best chance of getting a second life.

Leaves belong on trees... or in your compost cart. Not in your trash!

Grass clippings and raked leaves can't go in your trash or recycling cart. In fact, Minnesota law prohibits mixing compostable materials with garbage.

Small sticks and garden clean-up material are okay in your trash cart, but please keep the grass and leaves out. If we find them in your cart, we won't be able to collect it until they're removed.

Need to get rid of yard waste? Give us a call about our compost service!

Plastic bags are great for groceries... not so great for recycling.

Please keep your recyclables loose in your cart or place any extra recycling in a cardboard box or your own reusable container. We gladly pick up extra recycling at no additional charge!

If your recycling cart is regularly overflowing, give us a call. We'd be happy to get you a larger cart or add a second one.

Good news! -  We never charge extra for extra recycling. We'd much rather see it recycled than thrown away.

Has your cart gone on an adventure?

Don't panic! On windy days, carts have been known to wander the neighborhood.

First, check around your property and see if one of your neighbors accidentally adopted it. If your cart is still missing, give our office a call and we'll help bring it home.

We'll help reunite you with your cart.

Even garbage carts have bad days.

If your cart is cracked, has a broken wheel, or just isn't rolling like it used to, give our office a call. We'll schedule a repair or replacement at no cost for normal wear and tear.

If your cart was damaged by fire, vandalized, lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair due to misuse, the homeowner may be responsible for the replacement cost.

If your cart smells like it lost a fight with a skunk...

It's probably just time for a good cleaning!

A regular rinse with the hose helps keep odors under control. If it needs extra help, pour a little diluted laundry detergent or Pine-Sol® inside, let it soak overnight, then rinse it clean.

Keeping your cart clean is part of regular maintenance, but if you'd prefer a new one, replacement carts are available for a fee.

Even garbage trucks need a holiday once in a while.

Our drivers work hard all year long, but we do observe the following holidays:

• New Year's Day
• Memorial Day
• 4th of July
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

If a holiday changes your collection day, we'll let you know through our Holiday Schedule.

(Our drivers appreciate a day off almost as much as everyone appreciates an empty garbage cart)

Please see the Holiday Schedule section on our web site.

Needles need a special place to call home.

Please do not put syringes or needles in your trash or recycling cart. These items can be dangerous for our drivers and anyone who handles the materials after pickup.

The safest option is to place them in an approved sharps container and dispose of them through a proper collection program.

Washington County residents can bring sharps to the county hazardous waste facility. If you live outside Washington County, contact your healthcare provider or the place where you received the supplies for disposal options.

A little extra care goes a long way in keeping our crews safe.

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Going on vacation? Your trash cart can take a little break too!

If you're going to be away for 2 weeks or more, we can place your service on a vacation hold.

Just give our office a call before your vacation begins so we can make the proper arrangements.

Need a temporary stop for another reason? No problem! Contact our office and we'll be happy to help.

Absolutely!

Life changes, and your garbage service can too. Whether you need more room or less, just give us a call and we'll help you find the cart size that's right for your household.

We promise we didn't forget you on purpose!

There are a few common reasons:

• Your cart wasn't out by 5:00 AM.
• The lid wouldn't close because it was overfilled.
• The cart was blocked by a vehicle or other obstacle.
• The wrong materials were in the cart.

If you're not sure why it was missed, just give us a call. We're happy to help figure it out!

Close... but not quite.

Place your cart at the curb with the wheels against the curb and the lid opening toward the street. Leave about 3 feet of space on all sides so our automated trucks have room to grab it.