Frequently Asked Questions

The new standard service will be once a week, curbside collection. Standard service allows for two cans and two bags weekly. 

The city is requiring the collection vendor to offer backdoor service as an add-on cost. The new contract has not been officially put in place. However, we anticipate it will cost around $24 a month to add this service. Finalized details will be released once the board has approved the contract. 

After July 1, 2024 only residents who sign up for the back door add-on service or who qualify for a medical exemption will get backdoor collection. All other homes will be collected curbside. 

The city has a medical exemption waiver for residents who cannot physically get their cans to the curb and do not live with an able-bodied person who can help. Residents will have to fill out the form along with their physician. Residents who qualify will get backdoor service at no cost. 

Medical Waiver Form for Backdoor Service

Forms are available online (link below) and at city hall. They must be completed by both the resident and their physician and submitted to City Hall.

Medical Waiver Form for Backdoor Service

The residential trash fees for standard collection are included in your annual property tax bill. There is no need to sign up. Everyone is automatically enrolled. 

Standard service includes two cans (up to 96-gallon in size) and two bags. Regardless of size, there can only be two cans at the curb. Bags outside of the cans in excess of two will not be collected. 

No. Residents can use their existing cans/carts. Curbside allows for two cans up to a 96-gallon size. There can only be two cans even if they are smaller than 96-gallon. 

The new contract includes 2 bulk items per week.  Bulk items are considered any single item that does not fit into a trash bag or can. This can include appliances, furniture and large boxes. Excess bagged trash is not considered bulk collection. 

Bulk items are defined as a single item that cannot fit into a trash bag or can. This can include appliances, furniture, and large boxes. Excess bagged trash or boxes filled with loose items are not considered bulk collection. There is a weight limit of 50lbs for bulk items except appliances. 

Residents are able to add on back door service to the base collection the city provides. This will cost approximately $24 a month and will be paid directly to Waste Pro. Residents will be able to start signing up for this service soon. Check the website for links to sign up. 

Yard waste placed in plastic trash bags at the curb or in cans will be collected with the weekly trash collection. However, please note curbside collection volume guidelines will still apply. Only two bags and two cans will be collected. 

The city will also continue to collect yard waste (paper leaf) bags and limbs as we have been. Yard bags should be put out by Monday for collection during the same week. There is no limit on the number yard bags collected at each residence. The city can not pick up yard waste in plastic bags. 

Yes! If you live in a home with alley access to your driveway, your curbside collection will be behind your home. Curbside collection should be on the driveway side at the curb. 

The trash will be picked up once per week on your assigned service day.

No, hazardous items are not allowed in containers. For example, oil-based paint is not allowed, but water-based paint if properly dried using an absorbent is allowed. If hazardous items are found during collection, the trash will not be collected.

Yes, trash at the backdoor must be bagged and in a container. No overflow bags are allowed at the curb.  All cans must have lids on them.

Excluded waste is all commercial and industrial refuse, construction debris except as what was defined previously, dead animals, institutional waste, hazardous waste, offal waste, stable matter, vegetable waste, and special waste.

Vegetable waste - excluded if resulted from the processing of plants for food by commercial establishments such as canneries. This does not include waste products resulting from the preparation and consumption of food in places such as cafeterias and restaurants.

Institutional waste - solid waste originating from education, health, and research facilities such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories, and other similar establishments

Special Waste - special waste is a form of excluded waste and is defined as non-hazardous, solid waste that is subject to additional government regulations or special handling requirements in the collection, transportation, processing, or disposal as a result of the characteristics of or processes which generate such waste.

No, the time for trash collection may vary on the scheduled service day. Things like weather, collection volumes, vehicle maintenance, etc could alter the time of day the drivers collect trash. All trash should be out for collection by 6:00 am on their schedule collection day. 

Hours of Operation

Collection of Residential Refuse can occur anytime between 6 am - 8 pm or dark whichever occurs first on each scheduled collection day.

Holidays (No Pickup)

During all holiday collection weeks, if your service day falls before the holiday you will be on schedule. If your service day falls on the holiday or after, your collection service will be one day behind. The following holidays are observed by Waste Pro: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day

No. Please remember that residential trash collection does not include the collection of move-outs or cleanout items placed curbside/roadside. Property owners are responsible for the appropriate disposal of these items. Residents may dispose of these items at the Resource Authority of Sumner County at 615-452-1114.

Waste Pro will collect water/latex based paints If the cans have dried out. Leave the lid popped open so that the trash collection crew can verify the contents are not liquid paint.' 

You can purchase drying agents for paint at local hardware stores, or use kitty litter or shredded paper to absorb and dry the paint. To dispose of wet paint or oil-based paint, please call the Sumner Co. Resource Authority at 615-452-1114 for an appointment for drop-off.

If there are no bed bugs, and if the mattresses stay dry, they will be collected from the curbside. These will count as two bulk items and will be the max for that week's collection. 

Trash collection crews cannot accept building and construction material (including lumber from pallets, fencing), glass doors or table tops, appliances with compressors still installed, motors or grills with fuel tanks still installed, mattresses or furniture with living pests (bed bugs), carpet not properly prepared, large or heavy items (basketball goals, trampolines, sectional sofas) that have not been broken down into components, manure, hazardous waste, automotive/vehicle parts (includes tires) or wet paint. This list is not comprehensive; please call Public Works at 615-822-1016 for specific item information.