Division of Refuse and Recycling

Automated & Bulk Refuse Collection

Automated Curbside Refuse Collection

The Division of Refuse and Recycling provides weekly curbside collection of City owned wheeled carts and bulk trash to properties with one through four household units. Each household is assigned one 96-gallon wheeled cart, and cart serial numbers are recorded to the assigned address. The carts are City property and remain with the property. Additional carts are available under special circumstances providing the household is actively participating in the Mandatory Recycling program.

Special backyard refuse collection is provided to elderly, disabled, and handicap residents who are physically unable to move the cart to the curb and have no one to assist them. Contact the Division of Refuse and Recycling for more information about this service.

Set out time: Between 6:00 p.m. the night before collection and 6:30 a.m. on the collection day. Early and late set outs are violations of Ordinance 1777.01 and may result in collection fees charged to the property owner.

Automated Refuse Collection:

Four automated trucks collect about 90% of the City-provided wheeled carts. The efficiency of this collection depends upon carts placed out when, where, and how they should be, so we appreciate resident’s efforts to set their carts out right!

  • Use the refuse cart to contain all household garbage and trash. (Not dirt, concrete, yard waste, recyclables)
  • Fill the refuse cart before placing excess bags on curb. Limit overall weight of cart to 350-pounds.
  • Refuse carts must be accessible to automated collection. Nothing on top of, in front of, or leaning against refuse carts.
  • Face lid openings and serial numbers to the street.
  • Place refuse carts next to the street in the driveway apron, or at the corner of the driveway apron and tree lawn, where vehicles cannot legally park, and use both ends of tree lawn for multiple carts. *Cars cannot legally park closer than 3-foot from the edge of the driveway apron.
  • Remove emptied carts the same day as collection.
  • Store carts at rear of building until collection day.
  • Misuse and/or defacing of City-owned carts are prohibited.
Bulk and Excess Trash Collection

Three packer truck crews collect furniture, bulk trash, extra bags, and some carts on the regular collection day. Filling up the wheeled carts before placing extra bags on the tree lawn really helps save valuable time and labor, and reduces litter.

Examples of bulk and excess trash is large trash items that won’t fit in the refuse cart such as couches, chairs, tables, dressers, mattresses, bookcases, house doors, storm doors, storm windows (break the glass out; contain separately), carpet (taped or tied 4’ rolls), bicycles, basketball hoops (dismantled), televisions, extra bags and boxes, contained dirt, rocks, & sod, and bundled or contained construction debris emanating from work done by the resident or home owner. The City does not collect debris from work done by contractors.

Set out time: Between 6:00 p.m. the night before collection and 6:30 a.m. on the collection day. Early and late set outs are violations of Ordinance 1777.01 and may result in collection fees charged to the property owner.

Bulk Trash Preparation
  • Fill the City-provided wheeled cart first before using additional garbage cans or placing bags of garbage on the tree lawn.
  • Place excess trash bags, garbage cans, bulk items, and bundled debris on the tree lawn apart from the wheeled cart, yard waste and recyclables as these are separate collections.
  • Contain all loose excess debris in garbage cans, strong plastic bags (tie closed) or cardboard boxes, with nothing extending above the top of the container.
  • 32-gallon capacity limit for all bags, boxes, and garbage cans (structurally sound with sturdy handles).
  • 50-pound weight limit for all bags, boxes, garbage cans and bundles.
  • Cut carpet and padding into 4' widths, roll and tie or tape securely.
    * Break tackless wood strips and box separately.
  • Cut lumber to 4' lengths, tie securely into manageable bundles. Remove nails or hammer over.
  • Cut paneling, plywood, wood fencing, and other similar construction debris into 4' x 4' sections, and stack neatly.
  • Break drywall into pieces and contain in strong boxes, plastic bags (tie closed), or garbage cans.
  • Break concrete and bricks into pieces and contain in strong boxes or garbage cans.
  • Cut pipes to 4' lengths.
  • Contain dirt, rocks, and sod, as trash, in small boxes, garbage cans, or strong plastic bags.
Options to curbside collection:

Lakewood's Drop-Off Facility is available to Lakewood residents and businesses for the drop-off of refuse, recycling, construction debris, yard waste, and household hazardous waste.