Our Top 5 Tips for Residential Curbside Pick-Up
- Prepare Your Totes for Pickup
When collection day approaches, roll your tote to the street and place it behind the curbline. Your tote should be easily accessible from the street and should not be blocked by parked vehicles or other obstacles.
To allow our collection vehicles to safely service your container, leave a minimum of 4 feet of clearance on both sides of the container from any structure, e.g. 4 ft away from your mailbox, driveway pillars, any trees, etc. Please leave approximately 3 feet between each container. This allows our ASL (Automated Side Loader) collection vehicle the space it needs to service your home effectively.
- Position Your Tote Correctly
Proper tote placement helps our crews service your tote safely and efficiently. When setting your tote at the curb, make sure the silver pickup bar is facing the street, and the wheels are facing your home. This positioning allows automated collection vehicles to properly lift and empty the container.
- Have Your Totes Ready
Never miss a collection date by placing your totes curbside the evening before your scheduled pickup day. Collection routes operate between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., so setting your containers out the night before ensures they are ready whenever your route arrives. No one likes jumping out to bed in the early morning to try and beat the truck to the curb!
- Keep All Materials Inside the Tote
All household waste and recyclable materials should be placed inside your designated tote. Materials left on the ground, next to the tote, or in separate containers cannot be collected by our collection vehicles.
If you have additional trash beyond what your service agreement includes—or if you need to dispose of a bulk item such as furniture, wood, appliances, etc.—please schedule a pickup through the MyIWS customer portal. All bulk pickups must be arranged in advance, and you can easily submit your request online through the portal.
Keeping materials contained also helps maintain cleaner neighborhoods and prevents litter from being scattered by wind, weather, or wildlife.
- Keep Your Community and Environment Safe – Know What Does NOT go in Your Curbside Tote
Not everything belongs in your garbage. Certain materials require special handling and disposal to help protect our employees, the environment, and the community.
Mercury-containing devices must not be placed in regular trash including non-digital thermostats and fluorescent light bulbs. It is illegal to throw any mercury containing devices or products in your household trash.
Disposing of single use lithium and rechargeable, lithium-ion batteries in your household trash is dangerous and illegal. Items that frequently have lithium-ion batteries include cellphones, tablets, laptops, e-readers, wireless earbuds/headphones, smartwatches, digital cameras, portable power banks, cordless or robotic vacuums, cordless power tools, game controllers, security cameras, electronic toothbrushes & shavers, e-cigarettes/vapes, e-bikes and scooters, remote controlled toys and drones.
Other hazardous household waste including motor oil, chemicals, paint, auto parts, tires, and electronic devices (TVs, monitors, old computers) cannot be disposed of in your regular curbside waste.
These items as well as other hazardous waste materials should be taken to designated recycling facilities, hazardous waste collection events, or approved disposal programs in your area. You can contact your town or municipality to learn more about hazardous and electronics disposal programs in your area.
Final Thoughts
Following these simple tips can help ensure a smooth and efficient pickup experience. And if you have questions, we’re here to help! Call, email or chat with us on our website.