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Automated Refuse and Recycling Program
Implemented September 2, 2008

News! Watch a 3-Minute Video about Where to Place your Carts

EZ Go Refuse/Recycling Carts and New Collection Trucks Now in Use

The City of Stevens Point has delivered new EZ Go Refuse and Recycling Carts to city residents. Each Property Tax Parcel received one 65-gallon cart with a brown lid for refuse (garbage) and one 95-gallon cart with a green lid for recyclables.

You must use your new carts now that the program is implemented - do not put garbage or recyclables at the curb unless they are in your carts.

Property owners may purchase extra carts (additional fees may apply) at any time by contacting the Streets Department at 100 6th Avenue, 346-1537, or Engineering Department at 1515 Strongs Avenue, 346-1561. Property owners may take one or both of their carts to the City Streets Department, 100 6th Avenue (in Bukolt Park), and exchange them for different sizes (65 or 95 gallons) at any time.

Note: We are currently out of 95 gallon garbage carts (brown lids). More garbage carts are on order and should be here later in September. If you would like another 95 gallon garbage cart, you can put your name on our waiting list. We do have 95 gallon recycling carts in stock.

Print a Form to Purchase or Exchange Carts. 25 kB pdf File Requires Free Acrobat Reader.

The new automated collection program will allow the city to serve our growing community at a lower cost, and will provide better service to our customers while reducing the chance of worker injuries. However, it can only succeed with participation from our customers.

This is a citywide initiative focused on making city government more proactive and efficient, using innovation and technology to provide quality services to a growing community while controlling costs to taxpayers.

If you are disabled or have a handicap and cannot move your cart, please call the Streets Department at 346-1537 to apply for our "special assistance" waste collection service, or Print a Form to Apply for Assistance. kB pdf File Requires Acrobat or Free Acrobat Reader. You can fill out and save this form on your computer.

Residents who have any questions or would like more information regarding the new program should call the Streets Department at 346-1537 or the Engineering Department at 346-1561.

Top Ten Things Everyone Should Know about the Automated Program:

1) How often will my materials be collected?

Refuse will continue to be collected every week. Recycled items will be collected every other week on the same day as your refuse.

Look Up Your Collection Day by Street Name & Calendar pdf File Requires Free Acrobat Reader

2) Why is this change being made?

The new program will improve efficiency and reduce worker injuries. Also, the new trucks can collect more households per day than the old manual system. This means fewer trucks and employees assigned to the service which will save taxpayers money each year after the new system is fully implemented.

3) What do I do with my old refuse can(s)?

We encourage you to use your old refuse cans to make things such as rain barrels, compost bins, and pet waste digesters. They also make excellent storage containers for bird seed, dog food, lawn implements, or other items in your garage.

If you have plastic or metal refuse cans that you need to get rid of, please do NOT put them in your recycling cart. Please rinse them and bring them to the drop-off site for recycling. The site is located at 100 Sixth Avenue and is open year round on the following days and hours:

Tuesdays: 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

4) What are the things that will be different from previous pick-ups?

Recycling items that will NO longer be collected are:

1) Used motor oil will NOT be collected.
3) Lead-acid (vehicle) batteries will NOT be collected.

Because motor oil and batteries need to be handled with care, they will need to be brought to our drop-off center located at 100 Sixth Avenue. See drop-off hours above. If you are unable to bring them in, please contact the Streets Department at 346-1537.

New Recycling Instructions 136 kB pdf File Requires Free Acrobat Reader

5) What do I do with trash that doesn't fit in the cart?

The Streets Department will NOT collect regular refuse that does not fit in your brown refuse cart with the lid closed. If this problem occurs, you have several options:

1) Hold the material until the following week.
2) Ask a friend or neighbor if you can put your extra material in their cart.
3) Bring the extra material to our drop-off site at 100 Sixth Avenue.
4) Purchase an additional cart or exchange your 65-gallon cart for a larger 95-gallon cart. Call 346-1537.

BULK ITEMS: Items too large to fit into your brown lid refuse cart require a special pick-up tag. Pick-up tags can be purchased at the City Treasurer's Office located at 1515 Strongs Avenue. Call the Treasurer's Office at 346-1573 for more details.

6) What items will NOT be collected?

  • Yard waste, which includes: leaves, grass clippings, plant stalks, flowers, and twigs/sticks are NOT collected and are banned from the landfill. Yard waste is collected in the spring and in the fall. At other times, it must be taken directly to the drop-off site located at 100 Sixth Avenue.
  • Medical needles/syringes or other sharp items will NOT be collected. Many area pharmacies and clinics dispose of used medical needles for their patients. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if they have a program for proper disposal.
  • There is a maximum amount of building materials that will be collected at any given time and may be placed in your brown cart as long as it fits in the cart with the lid closed. Refer to item #5, above, for options.
  • Debris from major remodeling, construction projects or work done by contractors will NOT be collected. Removal of this material is the property owner's responsibility.
  • Household Hazardous Waste/Infectious Waste/Flammable Liquids/Chemicals will NOT be collected. These items include drain cleaners, paint remover, pesticides, gasoline, etc.
  • Paint and paint related products will NOT be collected. These items include liquid paint, varnish, stains, thinner stripper, etc. However, cans of dried paint and empty paint cans can be placed in your brown refuse cart.

7) Can I get an extra cart?

You can purchase an extra cart or exchange your cart for a different size (additional fees apply) by contacting the Streets Department at 346-1537.

Print a Form to Purchase or Exchange Carts. 25 kB pdf File Requires Acrobat or Free Acrobat Reader.

8) Where should I put my cart at the curb?

If you need personal help on where to place your carts, please contact the Streets Department at 346-1537.


9) What about putting my cart out in the winter?

  • The best placement is in or near your driveway.
  • It can also be placed on a cleared area of your terrace.
  • Do NOT place your carts on top of a snow banks.
  • Improperly placed carts will NOT be collected.
  • Remember to space your cart four (4) feet from obstacles.

10) Do my refuse or recyclable items need to be placed in plastic bags before being put into the appropriate cart?

No, you are not required to bag your garbage or recyclables before putting them into your carts, nor are you required to sort any of your recycled items. Put all recycled items in the cart with the green lid.

New Recycling Instructions 136 kB pdf File Requires Free Acrobat Reader

       

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