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1. I am a homeowner who lives along a public road. How do I order my new containers for trash and recycling?

Unless you prefer small containers, you do not need to. Single family homes that currently get City-contracted solid waste removal will AUTOMATICALLY receive one 96-gallon container for recycling and one 64-gallon container for trash collection. If you would prefer using a 32-gallon container for trash (instead of a 64-gallon container for trash), you can use the Recycling and Trash Container Order Form to request it. Similarly, if your entire household is either over 65 years old or disabled, there is an option for to order a 64-gallon recycling container.

2. I am a homeowner who is 65 years old and I live along a public road. The 96-gallon containers are bigger than what I need for recycling. Can I get a smaller container to use for recycling?

If EVERYONE in your household (spouse, children, etc. ) is either 65 years old or disabled, you can request a 64-gallon container (instead of a 96-gallon container). Use the order form at the bottom of the Trash Collection Update web page to place your order.  

3. I understand that by default, most homeowners get one 64-gallon container for trash. Can I get two 32-gallon containers instead?

No, you cannot order two.  You can request one 32-gallon container, but keep in mind that means you have considerably less space for trash storage.    

4. I have a green, 18-gallon toter that I bought from the City. Can I use it for curbside pick up after April 1st?

No. The new automated  trucks are not designed to pick up the small toters like these.  

5. Can I leave cardboard boxes out for curbside collection as long as they are next to my recycling bin?

No.  The driver will not get out of the truck to collect cardboard boxes that are beside the containers. All recycling must fit inside its container so that the lid closes. You may need to cut boxes into smaller pieces so that it fits. Another option for residents and businesses , is to bring carboard boxes to the transfer station,  or to the corrugated carboard collection point at 257 Messer Street.

6. Since we are getting new containers, what should we do with our old ones?

In late April, after the new containers have been delivered, you will have opportunity to put signs ("TAKE CAN AS TRASH") on your unwanted containers and they will be disposed of. However, the old containers belong to you, so you might want to repurpose them. Here are a few possibilities:

• Use your unwanted trash container for storage. They work great to store garden tools: shovels, rakes, hoes, stakes, . . . . If it has a good lid, Trash containers work well to keep kindling dry too.
• Give them to a friend who lives in a in a private development or in another town. Trash and recycling containers can be costly. You could easily save your friend $100 or more.
• Make a rain barrel. See the You Tube video: "How to make a Rain Barrel out of a Garbage Can."
• Make an outdoor composter. A couple different approaches to outdoor composting can be seen on You Tube: "DIY Trash Can Compost Bin" and "Are Trash Can Composters Worth it?"
• Make a planter.
• Flip it up-side-down to use as a portable table.

7. How can I get rid of my old trash and recycling containers?

Residents who want to dispose of their old trash and recycling cans have

three options:

1. Bring them to the Transfer Station on free dump day on May 13th when you can dispose of them for free.
2.  During the week of April 24th, mark the containers with the words “Take can as trash” and the collection contractor will take the containers and dispose of them for you
3. Bring the containers to the Transfer Station at your convenience. You will pay a fee for disposing of the cans if you use this option.

8. What are backdown streets? Am I affected?

If your street is 

• very narrow, 
• a one-way street . . . or, 
• a dead end with little space to turn around in,

you may be on a "backdown street."

The solid waste containers on backdown streets are collected on just one side of the road. This is because the mechanism that grabs the container is mounted to the right side of the collection truck.

It is probably easiest to determine if you are affected by looking at the Solid Waste Collection Schedule Map.

However, for your convenience, we have listed the streets and road segments that are affected here:

Street	Proper Container Placement
Andrews Avenue	Even Numbered Side
Beacon Street East	Odd Numbered Side
Beacon Street West	Odd Numbered Side
Boynton Court	Even Numbered Side
Brigham Street	Even Numbered Side
Brittany Lane	Even Numbered Side
Bungalow Court	Even Numbered Side
Canal Street	Odd Numbered Side
Carver Street	Even Numbered Side
Cedar Street	Even Numbered Side
Cherry Street	Odd Numbered Side
Chestnut Street	Even Numbered Side
Clairmont Street	Odd Numbered Side
Clay Street	Even Numbered Side
Cleveland Place	Even Numbered Side
Cross Street	Even Numbered Side
Dennis Avenue	Even Numbered Side
Eastman Shore Road South	Even Numbered Side
Fairmont Street (from Elm St to Belvidere St)	Even Numbered Side
Fairview Street	Even Numbered Side
Girard Street (northern segment)	Odd Numbered Side
Girard Street (southern segment)	Even Numbered Side
Granite Street	Even Numbered Side
Grove Street	Odd Numbered Side
Hamilton Avenue	Even Numbered Side
Hawthorne Street	Even Numbered Side
Howard Street	Even Numbered Side
Hoyt Court	Even Numbered Side
Jackson Street	Even Numbered Side
Keasor Court	Even Numbered Side
Lakeview Avenue	Even Numbered Side
Main Street (from Court St to Church St)	Odd Numbered Side
Matthews Court	Even Numbered Side
Meadow Street	Even Numbered Side
Mitchell Place	Even Numbered Side
Opechee Street (from Messer St to Belknap St)	Odd Numbered Side
Orchard Street	Even Numbered Side
Parker Street	Odd Numbered Side
Paugus Avenue	Even Numbered Side
Paugus Park Road	Even Numbered Side
Pelchat Street	Even Numbered Side
Perkins Drive	Even Numbered Side
Pine Brook Lane	Even Numbered Side
Pitman Court	Even Numbered Side
Pleasant Street (north of Havenwood Dr)	Even Numbered Side
Pleasant Street (south of Salem St)	Even Numbered Side
Prescott Avenue	Even Numbered Side
Riverside Court	Odd Numbered Side
Sanborn Street	Even Numbered Side
School Street (east of Sheridan St)	Even Numbered Side
Shepard Street	Even Numbered Side
Sheridan Street (north of Mass Ave)	Even Numbered Side
St Catherine Street	Even Numbered Side
Stephen Street	Even Numbered Side
Taylor Street	Even Numbered Side
Truland Street	Even Numbered Side
Veterans Avenue	Even Numbered Side
Wentworth Avenue	Even Numbered Side
Whipple Avenue	Even Numbered Side
Winnicooash Street	Even Numbered Side

9. How should the new containers be left out on collection day?

Place your containers along the road at least 3 feet apart from each other, parked cars, trees, mailboxes and utility poles.  Avoid places where there are low hanging tree branches or power lines, etc.. The containers should be upright with the hinge of the lid oriented away from the street. Keep in mind that a mechanical arm is going to reach out and grab your container, so they should not be left out back to back. For more information, see the Curbside Placement Guide.