The City of Lenoir is distributing new, roll-out garbage carts this week. The Sanitation Division plans to start automated garbage collection on the Monday route next week. The remaining routes will be phased in during the next two months.
The new carts are a warm gray and have the City of Lenoir seal impressed on the sides in white. There is also a link to the garbage collection page on the City website. The carts are bar coded so staff know which carts belong to which residences and businesses.
The place where contractors leave the cart is the general location of where the carts need to be on collection day. Residents should roll their new carts to their homes within 24 hours after being delivered.
Customers can go ahead and start using the new carts. Residents with a Monday route should use the new carts for next week’s garbage collection.
“We plan to start automated collection on Monday, May 11, next week,” Public Works Director Jared Wright said. “Then we’ll phase in the other routes over the next month or two.”
The Sanitation Division will do automated collection on the Monday route for a few weeks before moving to the other routes. The Monday route includes the Lower Creek Area north of Wilkesboro Boulevard and east of US 321, the East Harper and Woodsway neighborhood, and parts of Freedman community.
“We want to make sure we get each route worked out before we move on,” Wright said. “When we’re confident with one route, we’ll implement the next route. We’d like for customers to go ahead and start using the new cans even if we aren’t doing automated collection in their neighborhood yet.”
People who have one of the old, green garbage carts from the City can still use those carts for yard waste. They will not be charged an extra monthly fee for using the old green cart for yard waste, but the old, green carts cannot be used for garbage. Customers with other types of garbage cans should stop using them once they have the new carts.
Under the new sanitation ordinance, residents will get one 95-gallon, roll-out cart at no extra cost. Businesses will get two. Residents can rent up to two more carts, $5 each per month, and businesses can rent up to four more carts, also $5 each per month. City sanitation workers will only collect trash that’s bagged and placed in the new, gray City of Lenoir garbage cart. Residents can also still purchase the old green carts for yard waste.
Residents also will get one free bulk pickup per month. This free monthly bulk pickup is going to replace the bi-annual trash bash. If for some reason, residents have more trash than will fit in one cart, they can use their free monthly bulk pick up. If people are producing more garbage every week than can fit in the cart, they will need to rent a second cart. Or, they can request extra bulk pickups for an extra fee.
“We are counting on our customers to help us make this switch,” Wright said. “This move will help improve our sanitation service overall. I’m sure we’ll have some hiccups, but we’re going to do the best we can to make this a smooth transition.”
The City plans to use its website, social media, and CodeRED to alert residents about when automated collection will start in their neighborhood. The City’s social media links are online at www.cityoflenoir.com/newresidents. People can sign up for CodeRED at www.cityoflenoir.com/codered.
How to Properly Place Carts on Collection Day
STEP #1: CLOSE THE LID & ROLL TO CURBSIDE
Place all items in trash bags in the cart(s) and make sure the lid is completely closed. ROLL the cart to the edge of the curb.
STEP #2: MAKE SURE THE CART HANDLE IS FACING YOUR HOME.
PLACE the cart(s) at the edge of the curb with the wheels and handle facing your house and the lid opening facing the street.
STEP #3: CARTS MUST HAVE 5 FEET OF SPACE.
Make sure there is nothing in front of the cart. There MUST be 5 FEET of space on all sides of the cart(s). Do NOT place any trash on the lid or beside the cart. All garbage must be inside the cart with the lid completely closed.
How to Properly Place Garbage Carts (PDF)
