Garbage and Recycling Cart Service

Fredville residential garbage and recycling collection uses rolling carts, serviced by Cardinal Waste Services. All 58,000 homes in the city have cart service: trash is picked up once a week and recycling every other week, on the day shown on What's my trash day?

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every home in Fredville have carts?

Yes. Every single-family home has cart service.

What is my collection day?

Your trash and recycling day depends on your neighborhood. Look it up on What's my trash day?

How often are carts collected?

Trash is picked up once a week. Recycling is picked up every other week, on the same day as your trash, in Week A or Week B. When a holiday falls on a weekday, pickups move one day later; see the holiday schedule.

How many carts does each home receive?

Two 95-gallon carts: one for garbage and one for recycling. If you do not want the recycling cart, Cardinal Waste Services can pick it up. Your residential rate stays the same whether or not you keep recycling service.

I don't want my recycling cart. What should I do?

Call Cardinal Waste Services to have it removed. The residential rate does not change if you opt out of recycling.

Can I get an extra cart, and does it cost more?

Yes. Additional garbage or recycling carts are available for a monthly fee per cart. Use the Garbage/Recycling Cart Request form. Once the city passes your request to Cardinal Waste Services, an extra 95-gallon cart is delivered within five business days. That timeline applies only to additional 95-gallon carts.

The cart is too large or heavy for me. Are there other options?

You can ask Cardinal Waste Services for a smaller 65-gallon cart in place of the 95-gallon one; allow five days for the exchange.

If you live by yourself and have a qualifying disability, you can apply for assisted garbage service at no extra charge. An application form is available from the Solid Waste Department.

Will my bill go up because of the carts?

The carts themselves do not raise your bill. However, the hauler's contract includes a scheduled increase of about 3.5 percent each October.

We have alley collection. Will that change?

No. Alley service stays as it is.

When can I put my cart out, and when must I bring it in?

Set carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day, and no earlier than 8 p.m. the night before. Bring them back in by 7 a.m. the day after pickup.

How do I get rid of furniture, appliances or other large items?

Bulky items and brush are picked up once a month on your regular trash day, up to 4 cubic yards per pickup. Your week is listed on What's my trash day?, and the limits are on the bulky waste page.

Will extra trash outside the cart be picked up?

No. Everything must fit inside the cart with the lid closed. If you need more room, call (555) 010-4485 to order a second cart, which adds $6.25 to your monthly bill.

My street is narrow and lined with parked cars. How will the truck reach my cart?

Residents will receive guides in English and Spanish showing where to set carts. Please leave clear space at the curb for your carts. Cardinal Waste Services will also run a truck designed for tight streets.

What should I do with my old 18-gallon recycling bin?

You may keep the bin. If you would rather get rid of it, set it out next to your carts on your collection day, and the hauler will take it away.

My neighbors got carts, but I didn't. Why?

Carts are delivered only to homes with an active garbage account. If you have a garbage-only account, call (555) 010-4485 to confirm it is set up; if no account exists, you will need to sign up. Account holders whose carts never showed up should phone (555) 010-6427 to reach the Solid Waste Department.

My cart is broken or lost a wheel. Who fixes it?

Cardinal Waste Services repairs damaged carts. Call (555) 010-6755 to schedule a repair.

What happens to the workers on the trucks?

We know residents care about this. Roughly 60 percent of the helpers who ride on the back of collection trucks are temporary workers. Many are still needed, because some routes still run with retrofitted trucks. As fully automated side-loading trucks are added over time, permanent employees will move into other positions where their experience is still put to good use.

Didn't residents vote against carts?

Cart service has never appeared on a ballot. An earlier community survey found residents almost evenly split on the question. Since then, the city's franchise hauler has been phasing out curbside bag collection, mostly to protect the crews who ride on the trucks. Dog bites, needle sticks, punishing summer heat and winter cold have made hand-loading bags more and more dangerous for these workers.

Did the city look at other haulers?

Yes. The city weighed its choices carefully. Cardinal Waste Services, the current hauler, has a strong record of reliable service and satisfied customers, so the city chose to keep working with it as collection shifts to a safer, cleaner system.

Setting Out Your Carts

  • Close the lid fully and turn the cart so the lid opens toward the street. Keep the area around the cart clear.
  • Leave at least 3 feet between your garbage cart, recycling cart and any bulky items.
  • Keep carts at least 3 feet from mailboxes, gas meters, fences, parked vehicles, low-hanging obstacles and anything else nearby.
  • Make sure there are at least 16 feet of open space above the carts, and keep them right at the edge of the curb or alley. Do not place them beneath trees or power lines.
  • Keep carts out of the way of sidewalks, drainage ditches, water and gas meters, the public right-of-way in the street or alley, and the sight triangle at any intersection.

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