Q: Why was my garbage missed?
A: Common reasons for your trash cart not being collected may include: Property not serviced by the City of Hartford-DPW only collects from 1-6 family buildings.
- You used a non-regulation trash container-DPW only allows City authorized carts.
- Container is broken, cannot be serviced and must be replaced by the homeowner.
- Unacceptable material in trash cart like recyclables, construction debris or it is too heavy.
- Carts set out after the truck went by your house. DPW requires you roll trash cart(s) the curb after 4 pm the night before the day of collection or before 7 am the day of collection.
Q: Why was my recycling cart missed?
A: Common reasons for your recycling not being collected may include:
- Contaminated or unacceptable material is in the recycling cart. Route drivers will regularly inspect the recycling [blue] carts to ensure that the recyclables are not contaminated with other trash. Dirty diapers, litter, construction debris are contaminants. Others examples are detailed under acceptable recyclable items.
- Carts set out after the truck went by. DPW requires you roll trash cart(s) the curb after 4 pm the night before the day of collection or before 7 am the day of collection.
Q: Why was my bulky item(s) missed?
A: Common reasons for you bulky waste not collected may include:
- Unacceptable materials.
- Materials not properly presented.
- Too many bulky items placed on curb. Each property is limited to 5 bulky items on curb from the list detailed under acceptable bulky items
Q: What do you mean by “appointment-based” collection?
A: Instead of just putting “bulky waste” on the curb any week, you must first phone to make an appointment before DPW will collect those materials.
Q: So who do I call?
A: Call DPW Administrative Assistant at (860) 757- 9983 for an appointment or 311 for more information.
Q: When did this start?
A: The program started January 1, 2018.
Q: Can I still put out as much stuff as I want?
A: No. You may put out up to 5 items each collection. This part is not a new limit, but people have not been following this rule well.
Q: Can I do this every week?
A: No. You may get two (2) free collections each calendar year. Most residents will not generate more than 10 of these sorts of items in a year.
Q: What if I have more bulky items than 10 per year?
A: You may get a permit for additional collections for $75 each, or for $10, you may get a permit that allows you to take four (4) loads of material to the transfer station yourself. Call 890-757-9970 for more details.
Q: What kind of items are you calling “bulky waste”?
A: Bulky waste items are usually too large to fit in your trash cart like a stuffed chair or a mattress. Often they are items that can not burn, like a sink. We do not take hazardous or toxic waste like motor oil, asbestos, or lead paint chips. For a list of examples we do take, and help with other items, please see Sanitation Division tab.
Q: What about TVs?
A: You need an appointment for collection of TVs and electronics, but there is no charge if you take them to the transfer station with a free, green permit. CT passed a law that the manufacturers must pay to get these recycled.
Q: I have tires. Is that going to use up one of my two appointments?
A: No. For tires, you must get a blue permit for $10 and take it to the transfer station, hire a private hauler, or get a dumpster.
Q: I heard mattresses are free now, too. Will you collect them?
A: Yes. You may take them to the transfer station if you have a free, green transfer station permit, since manufacturers pay to get these recycled. We will also collect them with a bulky waste appointment. A mattress and box spring would count as 2 items toward the 5 items per appointment.
Q: How about carpet?
A: We don’t take it loose. We will take carpet outside your regular gray trash cart if it is cut to 3 foot lengths and rolled to 18 inch diameter. Limit of 2 bundles per week with your regular trash. It does not need an appointment. If you do not want to cut and bundle it, you must get a blue permit for $10 and take it to the transfer station, hire a private hauler, or get a dumpster.
Q: I’ve got a bunch of wood. Is that bulky waste?
A: We don’t take wood loose. We will take wood outside your regular gray trash cart if it is cut to 6 foot lengths and tied in 18 inch diameter bundles. Limit of 3 bundles per week with your regular trash. It does not need an appointment. If you do not want to cut and bundle it, you must get a $10 blue permit, take it to the transfer station, hire a private hauler, or get a dumpster.
Q: Are branches and sticks the same as wood?
A: You can treat them the same. Cut to 3 foot lengths and tie them in 18 inch diameter bundles. Limit of 2 bundles per week with your regular trash. It does not need an appointment. If you do not want to cut and bundle it, you must take it to the transfer station, chip it, hire a private hauler, or get a dumpster.
Q: What about a refrigerator?
A: Metal can be recycled by taking it to the recycling center. Because it has value, if you place it at the curb, local scrappers will collect it. You may also make an appointment for the City to remove it, but items are almost always taken before we get there. This includes bed frames, appliances, water heaters, etc. If you make an appointment and we come to the house, this will count as one appointment, even if there is nothing there when we arrive, since City resources have still been used.
Q: When will my stuff get picked up?
A: On your regular trash day, but by a different truck. We make 25 appointments per day on a first come, first serve basis, so please phone early for the soonest appointment.
Q: What if you already have 25 appointments for my collection day?
A: Then we will make you an appointment for the following week.
Q: When do I have to call for an appointment?
A: Please call between 7:30 AM and 2:30 PM Monday through Friday to speak to an Administrative Assistant or to the Dispatcher. If the Administrative Assistant or Dispatcher are busy, or you phone outside those hours, you may leave a message with your phone number and we will phone you back. You DO NOT HAVE AN APPOINTMENT until we have confirmed a date with you. If you do not leave a phone number, we cannot call you back, you do not have an appointment, and your items will not be collected.
Q: Can I make an appointment from the website?
A: Not at this time. We need to talk to you.
Q: When do I put my stuff out?
A: Items must be placed at the curb no earlier than 4 PM on the preceding day, and no later than 7 AM on the day of pick up.
Q: What do I do with my stuff before then?
A: Keep it in your house, shed, or back yard. Do not put it at the curb before 4 PM the day before your appointment or you will be subject to a warning, then fines.
Q: What if they don’t come?
A: If you had an appointment and put out the items that you phoned about on time, they should be there on the correct day. If there is an emergency such as a snow storm and we need to reschedule, we will use the phone number you gave us to call you back.
Q: I live in a multi-family house and somebody put stuff out that’s still sitting there. How can I get rid of it?
A: Please advise your landlord to educate other tenants about proper disposal.
Q: I called for an appointment for my things, but now there’s more stuff out there. Will you take it?
A: We will only take the items described to us when you made the appointment. Other items will be considered illegal dumping unless someone calls for an appointment for those items.
Q: What’s the phone number to report illegal dumping?
A: Phone the police at 860-757-4000 with a description of the incident and any information you have about any vehicle involved.
Q: What’s the phone number to report blight?
A: Call Hartford 311 by dialing 311 or (860) 757-9311
Q: How do I get a blue or green permit to use the transfer station?
A: Come to 50 Jennings Road, Monday through Friday from 8 A.M. to noon. Bring proof that you live in Hartford. Acceptable forms of ID includes a CT Driver’s License or a State of CT Non-Drivers ID. It must include the Hartford address for which the permit(s) are for.
A green pass is free and lets you bring recyclables. A blue sticker costs $10 and lets you bring 4 loads per year.