Frequently Asked Questions RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE (continued) Dos and DON’Ts of Proper Sharps (Needles) Disposal The City of Auburn recommends residents use a heavy-duty plastic household container for the disposal of needles, which can then be placed in with your regular household garbage. NEVER PLACE LOOSE NEEDLES IN THE GARBAGE. Medical and other related facilities must dispose of needles in accordance with applicable regulatory guidelines. Note the following guidelines issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: DOs • DO immediately place used needles and other sharps in a sharps disposal container to reduce the risk of needle sticks, cuts or punctures from loose sharps. • DO use an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container, if possible. If an FDA cleared container is not available, some organizations and community guidelines recommend using a heavy-duty plastic household container as an alternative. • DO make sure that if a household container is used, it has the basic features of a good disposal container. • DO carry a portable sharps disposal container for travel. • DO follow your community guidelines for getting rid of your sharps disposal container. • DO keep all sharps and sharps disposal containers out of reach of children and pets. • DO seal sharps disposal containers when disposing of them, label them properly and check your community guidelines on how to properly dispose of them. • DO ask your medical or prescription insurer whether they cover sharps disposal containers. • DO ask the manufacturer of your drug products that are used with a needle or other sharps if they provide a sharps disposal container to patients at no charge. • DO report a problem associated with sharps and disposal containers. • DO ask your health care provider, veterinarian, local hospital or pharmacist o Where and how to get an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container, o If they can dispose of your used needles and other sharps, or o If they know of sharps disposal programs near you. DON’Ts • DON’T throw loose needles and other sharps into the trash. • DON’T flush needles and other sharps down the toilet. • DON’T put needles and other sharps in your recycling bin-they are not recyclable. • DON’T try to remove, bend, break, or recap needles used by another person. This can lead to accidental needle sticks, which may cause serious infections. • DON’T attempt to remove the needle without a needle clipper because the needle could fall, fly off, or get lost and injure someone. For additional information on the handling of sharps see http://www.fda.gov/. RESIDENTIAL TRASH (Bulky/Yard Debris) Q When is trash collected in my area? A Your trash is scheduled to be collected on the same day as your garbage. See www.auburnalabama.org/maps/Default.aspx?PageID=295 and click on the General Interactive or Public Service map to view the routing schedule or contact our office at 501-3080 to ascertain your scheduled collection day. Q What time should I place my yard waste out at the curb on my collection day? A Trash piles should be placed at the curb either the evening before your collection day or no later than 6 a.m. on your collection day. Q What types of material may I place out for trash collection? A Trash should be separated into two (2) distinct piles when possible: leaves, grass/clippings, limbs, or other woody debris, straw, etc. in one pile, and metal, old furniture, etc. and other debris in another pile. Please remove loose or unobstructed nails, screws that could injure collection personnel. Also, please do not place multiple piles out for collection. Q Where in my yard should I place my waste? A Place yard waste at least three (3) feet from the roadway, but not in the travel portion of the street/and or on sidewalks to prevent traffic and/or pedestrian hazards. Trash should be placed in front of your residence and not on medians, vacant or abandoned property, or another’s property. Additionally, “community piles” are prohibited. Q Should I bag my grass clippings and leaves for collection? A Customers are not required to bag grass clippings, nor leaves but it is suggested as the wind may scatter the debris and prevent the collection of your material. Q Are there limitations on the volume of trash , bulky waste, yard and tree trimmings that I am allowed to place out for collection on my scheduled collection day? A Each residence is limited to 5 cubic yards (6 feet x 6 feet x 4 feet) of material each week. Debris piles in excess of this limit may be assessed additional charges. Should the limited amount be exceeded, arrangements may be made with the department for collection at a charge of $50.00 per half trailer load or $100.00 for amounts exceeding one-half trailer load and an additional $100.00 per return trip. Also, please do not place multiple piles out for collection. Q Are there items that I am not permitted to place out for trash collection? A Yes. Prohibited items include household garbage, animal waste, concrete, dirt, roofing shingles, rocks, sawdust, tires, large tree stumps, hazardous materials such as antifreeze, insect sprays, herbicides, etc. Please save hazardous chemical items for our annual Hazardous Household Waste Disposal event which will be advertised via our website, newspaper, Open Line, radio, etc. Q Are there areas that I am not permitted to place my trash? A Yes. To prevent flooding and other water-drainage issues, trash should not be placed in/on roadway gutters, ditches, culverts, or other areas of the City’s storm drain system. Q Is it permitted to place materials out that were generated from a commercial clearing project? A No. Commercial building materials and woody debris generated from lot clearing projects should be removed by the company utilized. Q What if I have a dryer, hot water heater, refrigerator or microwave that is no longer operable, am I permitted to place it out for trash collection? A Yes. Customers requiring removal of appliances (white goods) may purchase tags at the City’s Revenue Office at City Hall. For washers, dryers, hot water heaters, or microwaves the cost is $5.00 per item, and for refrigerators, freezers, or air conditioners (Freon containing items) the cost is $28.00 per item. To purchase a white goods tag, please contact the Revenue Office at 501-7239 or visit in person at 144 Tichenor Avenue, Auburn, AL 36830. Q Where is the trash disposed of? A Currently, all trash is transported to the Sand Hill Recycling Center, Inc. located just outside of Auburn. This facility is permitted by the Alabama Department of Public Health to receive such material. The woody debris is ground into mulch and used in some instances during landscape construction projects and/or for landfill cover as permitted. White goods (appliances) are usually crushed and recycled after all freon has been removed according to regulations. All other trash material that is not recyclable (typically 40% or less of the total volume submitted by the City) is then transported to a permitted Construction and Demolition (C&D) facility or processed otherwise as allowed under Alabama environmental regulations.