Bulk Trash Pickup Frederick MD is a great way to get rid of things like old furniture, mattresses, and yard waste. However, there are many laws, guidelines, and rules that residents should be aware of before using this service.
Bulk trash pickup is a service provided by the city to help residents get rid of items that are too large for their regular garbage containers. However, if you want to take advantage of this opportunity, you must be aware of the laws, guidelines, and restrictions that apply. This is especially true if you’re concerned about making ethical choices for your waste disposal needs.
Under state law, the items that are accepted in bulk trash collection include household furniture, rugs, and carpeting (rolled or tied) in 4 ft. lengths, scrap metal, and wood that are securely tied in bundles of no more than four feet and are not larger than two feet in width or depth. Also included are mattresses, box springs, and ceramic fixtures. The aforementioned items will be picked up on a separate day from the regular weekly collection and are collected after household garbage is removed.
If you’re unsure what bulk items will be picked up or if there are other restrictions, check your zone’s collection schedule. Residents are responsible for policing their curbside areas and must make sure that the items placed out are eligible for bulk pickup. Residents may place out up to four bulk items per week on the second garbage collection day of each zone. It’s important to remember that refrigerators and freezers are not considered bulk items and must be disposed of separately. In addition, understated car tires are not included with bulk trash collections and must be brought to the Refuse and Recycling Office on pre-scheduled drop-off days for e-waste, textiles, and car tires, where a prepaid tire disposal fee will be collected.
The city is still recovering from staffing issues that resulted in missed bulk trash pickups earlier this year, and it’s taking time to clear the backlog of items. The latest bulk trash collection schedule for 2023 is available online here. It’s important to note that after a scheduled collection day, all items must be removed from the curb by the end of the day. Failure to do so will violate the city’s littering laws and result in a fine.
What Can I Put in Bulk Trash?
As with all rules and guidelines, there are some limitations to what can be placed in bulk trash. However, a great deal of your unwanted items can be recycled and not end up in landfills.
The most common bulk items collected include: furniture (all wood frames, including chairs and tables), appliances (except refrigerators), dishwashers made primarily of plastic components, mattresses (with box springs) and box springs, window frames and screens, metal scrap, hardwood flooring, vinyl composition tile, and sheet goods; rolled or tied carpeting in 4 ft. lengths; window air conditioners; plastic pool liners and soft plastic molded pools (must be cut to 4 ft. lengths); yard debris; two rimless tires (must be removed from rims); and large toys.
Residents should separate household and yard bulk trash piles. All other rules and limitations for bulk trash pickups remain the same. If you do not have a curbside collection, you can still drop off bulk trash. These can be found in the yellow pages under “rubbish and garbage removal.” You can also find private waste removal companies that collect bulk items for a fee.
What Can I Not Put in Bulk Trash?
While they can pick up a maximum of six bulk items during your regular trash and recycling collection day, there are some items that can’t be placed out for pickup. Those include items that are too big to fit in your blue garbage bin, such as furniture (like your mattress or box spring), appliances (refrigerators, microwaves, and stoves), boxes of miscellaneous trash, large toys, bundles of wood and brush, and carpet in 4-foot sections.
Moreover, you must make sure that your bulk items are placed away from garbage containers and other obstructions like trees, bushes, mailboxes, and utility poles. If you’re going to put out a tree or shrub limb, you must place an X of masking tape across it to prevent glass panes from shattering in the event of a storm.
If you have any questions about what can and cannot be picked up as bulk trash, the website has a detailed list of guidelines for residents to reference. You can also find a listing of the days for bulk waste collection in your neighborhood by visiting the city’s map here. Note, though, that these dates can change if there is an emergency. Also, if you have a lot of wood and brush that needs to be collected, you can call 311 to arrange a special bulk trash pickup. This service is free, but you must schedule it at least a week in advance.
How can I schedule bulk trash pickup?
If you have a lot of items that are too large to fit into your garbage cart or if the bulk trash collection date falls on a holiday, you may be able to schedule a special pickup. This option is free, but it does have some restrictions. It also requires you to physically bring your items to the curb ahead of time, which can be a hassle for some homeowners.
The city offers bulk pickup four times per year, once each in March, June, September, and December. To find out when the next bulk trash collection for your address is, check your neighborhood’s waste management calendar. You can also use the city’s new Waste Wizard, which provides information about garbage, recycling, and bulk trash pickup dates for any address.
Residents can bring in a maximum of six cubic yards of bulk trash each month. They can set it out for collection on the same day as their regular trash and recycling pickup, but it must be placed at the curb no earlier than 4 p.m. on the day before that scheduled collection and no later than 7 a.m. on the collection day. The pile must be neatly placed on the curb and not in the right-of-way or roadway, nor within ten feet of any fixed objects such as fire hydrants, utility poles, or mailboxes. It must also not block storm drains or the curb openings for water meters and electrical boxes.
Another way to get rid of bulk trash is by hiring a junk removal service. When looking for one, consider the services offered and customer reviews. Also, make sure the company is licensed and insured. Lastly, be sure to review the terms of the agreement before signing it. You don’t want to be surprised by hidden fees.
