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Guidelines for Trash & Recycling Carts
How to Set Your Cart out for Collection
1. Park It
On your collection day, simply wheel your cart(s) to the curb or alley by 6 am, or as early as 4 pm the day before collection. The carts must be within 3 feet of the curb.
2. Point It
Place carts at the curb or along the alley with the wheels and handle facing your house (Make sure the cart lid is closed and opens towards the street). No material outside the cart will be collected.
3. Space It
The cart must be at least 5 feet from objects (including parked cars, fire hydrants, telephone poles, shrubs and low-hanging trees, other carts, mailboxes, etc.
Further Guidelines
Remove empty carts from the street within 24 hours.
Please note: A different truck is used to pick up recyclables. It may be several hours between the time your trash cart is emptied and the time your recycle cart is emptied.
Please don't overfill your container, turn your cart backwards, park in front of your cart, place items in the cart that may damage collection vehicles, or overload the container (capacity is 200 pounds). Items outside the cart will not be picked up.
Polycarts are intended for residential trash or recycling. Some examples of items not accepted in either cart are wood, concrete, rock/bricks, sheetrock, iron, appliances, toilets, sinks, and fireplace ashes. These items should be taken to the Transfer Station.
Recycling cart
Do not bag recyclables. All items should be loose. Exception: Shredded paper should be in a clear plastic bag, securely closed.
Cart Policies
Return Policy
Participation in Emporia's curbside recycling program is voluntary. We hope you recognize the importance of recycling and will accept your environmental and civic responsibility to participate. We request residents try curbside recycling for 90 days. If you still do not want your recycling cart after this time, you may call the Public Works Department at 340-6339 and the city will pick up your cart at no charge.
Exchange Policy
You have received a 95-gallon cart for recycling. Although this may seem very large, you will soon find that your recycling cart will fill more quickly than your trash cart. If you want to exchange the trash cart for a smaller size, you may call the Public Works Department at 340-6339 and the city will deliver your smaller trash cart when they become available in 2016.
Additional Carts
Residents can request an additional recycling cart by calling the Public Works Department at 340-6339.
Schedule
Contact the Public Works Department at 620-340-6339 to find out the day and location of your pickup.
Residential polycart collection of trash is once a week. Recycling collection will occur every other week, the same day as your designated trash day. Please see curbside recycling calendar.
- Week 1: West Emporia Recycling Pickup: Households from west side of West Street to west City Limits
- Week 2: East Emporia Recycling Pickup: Households from east side of West Street to east City Limits, and east of Rural from 12th to 18th Avenue
Scheduled collections may be altered from time to time due to bad weather, holidays, equipment failure or other causes. The days designated for trash and recycling pickup in your area may be obtained by calling 620-340-6339.
Holidays
The schedule for collection of trash and recycling may change due to a holiday. If a holiday falls on your trash pick-up day, the Sanitation Department will pick up trash the Wednesday of that week. These dates are indicated on the calendar (see calendar) Reminders for dates of collection on holiday weeks are publicized in the Emporia Gazette, The Shopper, and local radio stations.