Syracuse, N.Y. — Residents with extra trash that comes with Christmas and New Year’s celebrations have an option if their city of Syracuse-issued containers are too small.
Officials are instructing households with municipal garbage service to reserve a bulk setout pickup if they can’t fit all of their trash in the 96-gallon wheeled cans provided by the city. Under long-standing rules, residents get up to four bulk setouts per year, and the city has made a tweak to its policy that officials say will help around the holidays.
Bulk setouts in the past had been reserved for large items that don’t fit in a trash can, like furniture. They did not allow for extra day-to-day garbage. But the city is now allowing extra bagged garbage, up to a certain amount, to be collected as a bulk setout.
The change was made in response to concerns expressed by members of the Syracuse Common Council, who don’t want to see residents being fined during the holiday season if they put out a little extra trash. Under the city’s law, all trash must be put in bags inside the containers, with the lid closed. New container-related violations are subject to a $100 fine.
A properly reserved bulk setout pickup can avoid such violations. Residents must give the city at least two business days notice ahead of a planned bulk setout. They do this by calling the Cityline service at 315-448-CITY (2489).
There’s also a limit on bulk setouts of 2 cubic yards, which is about the size of a standard washer and dryer sitting next to each other.
Following testing at 6,800 residential properties, the city began distributing containers to 25,600 additional properties in early September with rule enforcement starting in November. The $2.6 million initiative requires residents to use the wheeled containers, which can be emptied into trucks with an automated lift. City officials say the program is making streets cleaner and is reducing injuries for sanitation workers.
City reporter Jeremy Boyer can be reached at jboyer@syracuse.com, (315) 657-5673, Twitter or Facebook.
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