Blog: Waste Not Blog

What's Your Solid Waste I.Q.? - Curbside Trash Pickup

1. Which of the following photos depicts a cart that will not be emptied due to overflow?

Curbside Cart Pickup Graphic

a. Lid slightly propped up – INCORRECT. According to the policy outlined in the City’s contract with Waste Connections, this cart should not be emptied. When lids are left partially open such as this example, there’s a possibility that contents will fall out onto the street as the truck’s automatic arm dumps the cart’s contents

b. Personal carts placed to the side – INCORRECT. These additional carts will not be collected. Under the new tax-saving agreement with Waste Connections, only one 95-gallon cart is collected from each single-family home. An extra blue and orange cart can be rented from Waste Connections for monthly fee (call 522-8161 for more info), or you may join the curbside recycling program for free by calling 311. While waiting for your cart to arrive, you can take your recyclables to any of the City’s five convenient recycling drop-off centers. www.knoxvilletn.gov/recyclingguide

c. Bag placed on top of cart lid – INCORRECT. This cart would not be emptied with an object resting on top of the container. Most carts are emptied with the use of an automated arm, which increases efficiency and saves tax dollars. Any trash left on top will spill on the ground when the carts are tipped.

d. All of the above – CORRECT ANSWER! In fact, each of these photos depicts a cart that will be left due to overflow issues. (See explanations above).

e. None of the above – INCORRECT.

f. B & C – INCORRECT.

2. True or false: When I move, I should take my City of Knoxville trash cart with me.

False – Each cart has a serial number that assigns it to a particular address. Like a curb or a street bench, the curbside cart is property of the City of Knoxville that happens to be assigned to a particular location.

3. By what time should your trash cart to be at the curb for pickup on day of collection?

a. No later than 10 p.m. the night before day of collection – INCORRECT. Though it is recommended to put out your trash the night before, you technically have more time than that to set out your trash!

b. No later than 6 a.m. on day of collection – INCORRECT. Though 6 a.m. would be great, you still have another hour!

c. No later than 7 a.m. on day of collection – CORRECT ANSWER! Trash must be set at the curb by 7 a.m. of your pickup day.

d. No later than 8 a.m. on day of collection – INCORRECT. You will likely miss your pickup time at some point as Waste Connections begins collecting at 7 a.m. and is not held to a set time of collection. Having it out by 7 a.m. ensures collection each week.

e. Before the trash truck usually comes by on day of collection – INCORRECT. This is a common misconception. You should always have your trash at the curb by 7 a.m. Even if you notice a routine time that your trash is collected weekly, that could change because of varying circumstances, such as a different drivers, rerouting, traffic, a truck breakdown, etc.

4. How many feet away from other objects (such as parked cars, mailboxes, and telephone poles) should you place your curbside trash cart?

a. Three feet away - CORRECT ANSWER! This gives crews just enough space to collect the trash cart without the arm of the truck damaging any property.

b. Ten feet away - INCORRECT.

c. One foot away - INCORRECT.

d. Distance isn’t really an issue. - INCORRECT.

5. Which of the following items can present a serious danger to your community if you were to throw it away in your curbside trash cart?

a. Household (alkaline) batteries – INCORRECT. Used alkaline batteries are not recyclable, but they are accepted in curbside trash carts.

b. Empty bleach bottle – INCORRECT. Though this is allowed in trash curbside carts, the preference is that it be placed in the recycling curbside cart!

c. Lithium battery – CORRECT ANSWER! This is a rising issue in all cities today. Lithium batteries have the potential to self-ignite and have caused many large fires worldwide. It might seem like this tiny battery would cause a minimal spark…However, if you consider everything else that is disposed of in our waste that can act as kindling (tires, large amounts of paper products, etc.), it can be quite dangerous. Multiply that by the waste from every household in the city, and you could wind up with one massive waste fire! So, be sure to properly dispose of your lithium batteries at the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 1033 Elm St.,free of charge.

d. All of the above - INCORRECT.

6. Which of the following items are accepted contents in your curbside trash cart?

a. Wet Paint - INCORRECT. Though latex paint is not a hazardous material when dry, wet latex paint can cause environmental hazards, especially if spilled and washed into our water system. It can also cause property damage. Latex paint that is completely dry and double-bagged can be placed in your trash bin. For tips on how to quickly dry your paint, please visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/hhw.

b. Renovation/Construction Materials - INCORRECT. Construction materials can potentially contain health and safety hazards and are not permitted.

c. Lithium Batteries - INCORRECT. Lithium batteries present a SERIOUS fire hazard and must be disposed through the Households Hazardous Waste Facility located at 1033 Elm St., free of charge.

d. Fluorescent Bulbs - INCORRECT. Fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, which can harm the environment. They must be properly disposed at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at 1033 Elm St., free of charge.

e. Uncontained Medical Needles/Sharps - INCORRECT. Uncontained medical needles, a.k.a. "sharps," present a health hazard to Waste Connections staff emptying trash carts (or anyone else who could happen upon them). hey can, however, be disposed in the curbside trash cart if they are contained in a closed, rigid plastic or other solid container.

f. Used motor oil - INCORRECT. Even if properly secured in a container, that container could experience damage and leak on its way to or at the landfill. When rains occur, this oil would wash into our water system and present environmental hazards. Bring your used oil to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at 1033 Elm St., free of charge.

g. None of the above - CORRECT ANSWER!

h. All of the above - INCORRECT.

i. A & D - INCORRECT.

Posted by tmcdonell On 13 November, 2018 at 2:35 PM