Blog: Waste Not Blog

What's Your Solid Waste I.Q.? - Bulky Waste

What is your I.Q. on Solid Waste services?

1. When is bulky waste collected?

a. At the same time as weekly curbside pickup. INCORRECT.
If a Waste Connections driver is able to collect a bulky waste item at the time of trash collection, it is a bonus. It is only policy for the driver to note bulky waste for later pickup.

(b.) Up to two days after curbside trash is collected. CORRECT ANSWER!
Bulky waste items must be placed next to your trash cart by 7 a.m. of your scheduled curbside collection day. The driver will note the bulky waste item(s) and another truck and specialty crew will collect the item(s) within two days. (So, if your pickup day is on Monday, it should be collected by end of the day on Wednesday). If it is not collected within these two days, please call 311.

c. Within 5 business days of curbside trash being collected. INCORRECT.
It is not intended that your bulky waste item be left at the curb for more than two days. Please call 311 and report the item. There may be a reason your bulky waste item has not been collected.

d. After you call ahead to alert Solid Waste of bulky waste presence. INCORRECT.
While you may call ahead on a bulky waste item, it is not required. Waste Connections drivers will note the bulky waste item during your scheduled trash collection and a service request will be filed for your bulky waste item to be collected.

2. Which of these items CANNOT be collected as bulky waste?

a. Refrigerator - INCORRECT.
A refrigerator can be collected as a bulky waste item. However, Waste Connections can only remove it AFTER a technician has removed the appliance’s coolant and tagged it. Contact an appliance store for suggestions.

b. Couch – INCORRECT.
Couches are collected as bulky waste. Be aware that the cushions may be counted as one of the five-item limit for bulky waste collection.

(c.) Excess bag of trash – CORRECT ANSWER!
Excess bags of trash can be taken to a County convenience center free of charge (locations at www.knoxcounty.org). They can also be taken to the City’s Transfer Station at 1033 Elm St. There is a “Free for City Residents Day” on the first Saturday of every month (unless a holiday). Otherwise, there is a small fee to dispose at the Transfer Station. Or, to reduce your waste, call 311 and sign up for the City’s free curbside recycling program.

d. Rolls of carpet – INCORRECT.
Carpet is collected as long as it is six feet or less in length, rolled up, and tied.

3. What is the maximum number of bulky items that can be left out for collection each week?
a. 1 bulky item per week
b. 3 bulky items per week
(c.) 5 bulky items per week CORRECT ANSWER!
d. There isn’t a weekly limit for bulky items.

4. Which of these bulky items DO NOT need special treatment before collection will occur?

Which bulky item does NOT need special treatment prior to pickup?

Which bulky item does NOT need special treatment prior to pickup?

(a.) Mattress - CORRECT ANSWER! That being said, if a mattress is infected with bed bugs, Waste Connections will not collect it as a bulky item until it has been properly wrapped.

b. Refrigerator - INCORRECT. Refrigerators must have coolant drained and a tag must indicate this on the refrigerator before Waste Connections will collect it as a bulky item.

c. Air Conditioner - INCORRECT. Air conditioners must have coolant drained and a tag must indicate this on the refrigerator before Waste Connections will collect it as a bulky item.

d. Carpet - INCORRECT. In order to be collected as a bulky item, carpet must be placed next to your cart in six-foot rolls. It must also be securely tied before Waste Connections will collect it as a bulky item.

e. All need special treatment - INCORRECT. (Since a mattress does not normally require special treatment).

5. Where can you take metal items such as appliances, aluminum siding, copper tubing, aluminum cans, etc. to be paid back for the metal?

a. Solid Waste Management Facility - INCORRECT. While the City's Solid Waste Connections Facility will intake metals along with virtually any other household/construction waste, you will not receive payment for the metal.

(b.) PSC Metals - CORRECT ANSWER! There are three locations of PSC Metals in the East Tennessee region. They will buy back and recycle most scrap metals ranging from aluminum cans to metal appliances to automobiles. Click HERE for more info.

c. The City will send you a check if you leave it curbside. - INCORRECT. While the City's contractor, Waste Connections, will collect metals in your curbside cart or as bulky waste (large appliances only—not construction waste), you will not receive payment for it.

d. We don’t have that option in Knoxville. - INCORRECT. There are actually three sites in the East Tennessee region that buy and recycle metals.

6. When moving, where can you dispose of items that you don’t want to take with you?

a. I can leave it all at the curb when I leave. - INCORRECT. There is a five bulky item limit permitted per week.

b. Donation center - ONE OF THE CORRECT ANSWERS. Check out all of your donation options in Knoxville by visiting www.knoxvilletn.gov/recyclingguide.

c. Solid Waste Management Facility on Elm Street - ONE OF THE CORRECT ANSWERS. Be sure to visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/solidwaste (and especially don't forget "Free for City Residents Day")

d. All of the above

(e.) B and C - CORRECT ANSWER!

7. Which of these photos are acceptable placement for curbside bulky waste collection?

Which Bulky Waste placement photo is correct?

Which Bulky Waste placement photo is correct?

Description for those who cannot view the photo:

(A.) A lawn chair, vacuum, washing machine, and two mattresses neatly stacked together, positioned on curb approximately three feet from the curbside cart. – CORRECT ANSWER! This resident did everything right, from positioning at the curb and within proximity to the curbside cart, to organizing the items neatly together.

B. Two couches placed in a ditch by the street. One is upright and the other is upside down. – INCORRECT. This placement would actually be interpreted as illegal dumping. It’s not clearly at a specific residence. Also, these items are nowhere near curbside cart. It’s not placed at the curb. Plus, one of the items is upside down (a hazard for Waste Connections crews).

C. Rolled up carpet (not tied) placed on top of brush at the curb. – INCORRECT. As mentioned in the description, this rolled up carpet is not tied, which is a requirement for bulky waste. Furthermore, while brush and bulky waste are both collected through City of Knoxville Solid Waste services, they cannot be collected when placed in a pile together. Public Service crews collect brush separately with a boom truck, which would be inhibited in this case by the rolls of carpet. None of this waste would be collected until it was properly placed and the carpet rolls tied.

D. An upside down couch and a bed frame with wooden crates for a base and the mattress still on it. The items are placed next to the curbside cart. – INCORRECT. Though this one is REALLY close to getting picked up, there are several issues. The items are not placed closely enough to the curb. The couch is upside down, which is a hazard to the Waste Connections crews. Finally, the base of the bed is made of wooden crates, which are classified as construction materials and not collected at the curb.

E.Two couches, a kids play table and another item placed in a relatively neat row, located approximately twelve feet away from the curb. No curbside cart is in sight. – INCORRECT. SO close! If these items were placed more closely to the curb, they would be collected. Also, the bulky items are nowhere near a cart. Waste Connections is hesitant to collect any bulky items that are not in close proximity to the curbside cart because they may not be intended for disposal.

8. Who do you call when your bulky waste is not collected within two days of your trash service day?

a. You don’t have to call anyone – it will be picked up the next collection cycle. - INCORRECT. Your bulky items should not be left at the street for more than two days after your scheduled trash day. If it hasn't been collected, there is likely an issue. Please call 311.

b. Call the Mayor’s Office. - INCORRECT. While the staff in the Mayor's Office is happy to assist you, they will have to coordinate through the office of 311. It's best to call 311 directly.

c. Call Waste Connections. - INCORRECT. Though Waste Connections is the contracted waste collector hired by the City of Knoxville, it can cause confusion when they are called directly. It's best to call 311.

d. Call 311. - CORRECT ANSWER! The great thing about calling through 311 is that every phone call is logged. If your issue is not resolved within the amount of time planned through the contract, then it is flagged through the Solid Waste Office so that they can assist you. Always call 311 if your bulky item is not collected within two business days of your scheduled trash day!

Posted by tmcdonell On 14 September, 2018 at 4:10 PM