FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE Q When is garbage collected in my area? A See http://webgis.auburnalabama.org/coamap and click on "Garbage Pick Up Day" to view the collection route schedule or contact our office at 501-3080. Q I am new to Auburn. How do I activate my residential garbage collection services? A When activating your water account with the Auburn Water Works Board Office, you will be asked to complete a form that is used to establish your garbage service. NOTE: If you live in an area where City water services are not offered, please contact our office at 501-3080 for additional information. Q What is the fee for residential garbage collection and what services are included in the fee? A The curbside collection fee is $21.50 per month. The backdoor collection fee is $31.50 per month. The monthly fees include the once-per-week collection of household garbage, trash and recycling materials. NOTE: Backdoor collection is not offered to those living in majority duplex/townhouse areas and other locations as determined. NOTE: See "Trash" and "Recycling" FAQs for guidance on set-out requirements. Q What is the difference between backdoor and curbside garbage collection services? A Curbside collection requires the customer to roll their City-issued cart to the curb or roadside. Backdoor collection affords the customer the Opportunity to place the cart at the backdoor of the residence or other such location as deemed convenient by Environmental Services. All containers placed out for collection must be situated in such a fashion to provide unobstructed access by collection personnel. NOTE: Customers living in areas designated for curbside garbage collection service (areas annexed into the City after 1997 and those living in majority duplex/townhouse areas) are required to subscribe to curbside collection service. Q How do I obtain a City-issued garbage cart? Is there a charge? A Contact the Environmental Services Department at 501-3080 or visit us at 365-A North Donahue Drive for more information. There is no charge to the customer for the cart. Q What time should I place my City-issued cart out at the curb on my collection day? A All carts should be placed at curbside by 6 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Carts may be placed at the curb the night before your scheduled collection day, but must be pulled back to the rear of your residence upon collection of your garbage. Carts should not be placed out for collection on a day when no collection is scheduled. Q Where should I place my cart for collection? A Please place the cart at least 3 feet behind the sidewalk or curb and away from vehicles, telephone poles, wires, or other objects that may prevent clear access to the container. Q What types of material may I place in the garbage cart? A Only household garbage should be placed into the cart. No boxes, leaves, concrete, bricks, dirt, rocks, or other waste material should be placed into the cart. Q Is it a requirement to bag garbage before placing it in the cart? A Although not a requirement, it is suggested that customers bag garbage for sanitary reasons. Q What should I do if I have an excessive amount of garbage that will not fit into the cart? A No additional garbage cans or bags should be placed out for collection. by participating in the RecycleAuburn curbside recycling collection program, you may reduce the amount of garbage produced. In the event that you are producing an excessive amount of garbage on a regular basis, an extra container may be utilized for an additional fee. Q What if I am working all day and cannot pull the cart back to the rear of my residence? A As long as the cart is pulled back to your residence before the next day you should be okay. Q Who is responsible for the cart if it is stolen, damaged, or destroyed? A As a City of Auburn customer, the garbage cart is provided for your use at no charge. If the cart is stolen, Environmental Services will replace the cart at no expense to the customer. If the cart is damaged negligently or intentionally by the customer, he/she will be responsible for such repairs or replacement of the cart if it cannot be repaired. Q If I move to another residence within the City, do I take my City of Auburn issued garbage cart with me? A No. Garbage carts are tracked via the serial number depicted on the cart and are assigned by residence. We ask that you contact our office for additional information prior to moving. Q Where is the garbage disposed of? A Household garbage is transported to the Salem Waste Disposal Center, Inc. facility located in Salem, AL. This facility is permitted as a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfill by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and is certified to receive for deposit household garbage. COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS (CFLs) According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.E.P.A), compact light bulbs (CFLs) help preserve the environment by using less energy and reducing the amount of waste deposited in landfills. A CFL uses approximately 75 percent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb, saving up to $30 in energy costs over its lifetime and lasting as long as six to 10 standard bulbs. using energy-efficient products like CFLs is one way to curb our growing energy demands. With more consumers using CFLs, there is increased interest in how to properly dispose of burned out or broken bulbs. CFLs-and all other fluorescent bulbs-require trace amounts of mercury, a toxic metal, in order to work. The amount of mercury in a CFL is extremely small-about the size of the period at the end of this sentence-and does not pose a direct health risk to you or your family. The City of Auburn does not currently provide recycling services for expired CFLs and advises citizens to place their used or broken CFLs in a sealed plastic bag and put it with your regular household garbage to be transported to an approved municipal solid waste landfill for proper disposal. Alternatively, citizens may contact local retailers to see if they will recycle spent CFLs. See www.epa.gov/cfl/cflrecycling.html for additional information about CFL recycling and disposal. For additional information on cleaning up broken CFLs, businesses using CFLs and other relevant information see http://epa.gov/cfl. PHARMACEUTICALS Historically, the disposal of pharmaceuticals has primarily consisted of flushing such items into drains and toilets, which end up in wastewater treatment systems. secure disposal in a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill is permitted in Alabama, which is a better alternative than flushing them down the drain since MSW permitted landfills must adhere to strict guidelines in terms of protecting the environment, including ground water. Here are some simple steps for residents to follow for the proper disposal of pharmaceuticals: • Mix medicines (do NOT crush tablets or capsules) with an unpalatable Substance such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds: • Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag; and • Throw the container in your household garbage. For additional information on the disposal of pharmaceuticals see www.fda.gov.