Garbage & Trash

To reduce the risk of injury and prevent exposure to the hazards of solid waste, the City has transitioned to automated garbage collection in some neighborhoods. New trucks feature a mechanical arm to empty the carts.

To keep our crews safe and prevent an interruption in service, please do the following:

• Bag all garbage and place all bags inside the cart; carts must not be overfilled. Don't put extra bags on the ground.
• Place cart on the curb with arrows pointing toward the street before 6 a.m. on collection day.
• Carts must be more than 3 feet from other carts, recycling bins, trash piles, parked cars, mailboxes, fences and fire hydrants.
• Carts may not be placed under low hanging utility lines or tree limbs.
• After cart is emptied, remove from the curb by 8 a.m. the next day.
• If you have any questions, call Tuscaloosa 311.

Trash

Collection information

• Typically, trash is collected on the same day as garbage and curbside recycling. During busy seasons, trash routes may run behind.
• Trash must be placed at curbside before the route start time to ensure collection. Routes begin at 6 a.m.
• When a City holiday interrupts the solid waste collection schedule, routes will resume the next scheduled work day.
• Trash service is only available to residential City garbage customers. Non-residential customers are not eligible for trash service.

Acceptable

• Bulky items (old furniture, unwanted toys, etc.)
• Limbs and brush
• Bagged leaves and grass clippings; pine straw
• Rocks, bricks and demolition waste generated by family units
• Appliances – collected separately from regular trash; will be recycled

Unacceptable

• Household garbage
• Hazardous waste (paint, light bulbs, batteries, chemicals, etc.)
• Recyclable materials
• Tires
• Loose glass (In order for crews to collect, glass must be broken into small pieces and placed inside a box that is taped shut)
• Any waste generated by a contractor, landscaper or tree cutter
• Recyclable electronics – must be dropped off at the Richard A. Curry Environmental Complex at 3440 Kauloosa Ave.

Placement and preparation

• All trash must be placed at the curb for collection. Trash may not be placed in the street.
• All leaves and small items must be bagged before placing at the curb for collection.
• Limbs must be cut to less than 8 feet in length and 8 inches in diameter.
• Trash must be more than 3 feet from inanimate objects (mailboxes, cars, fences, etc.).
• Trash may not be placed under utility lines.
• Refrigerators must be taped shut or have the doors removed.