FAQ
How do I set up service for garbage and trash?
If you are moving into a new home or a home that has been unoccupied for a while, please give the Street and Sanitation Department a call at 942-4028 and simply let us know that you have moved in. We will be happy to assist you in any way that will make your transition easier! We will begin service immediately.
What IS the difference between Garbage and Trash?
Garbage is food product or organic matter (such as baby diapers) that will putrefy and cause odor or pest problems. Some people refer to it as “Kitchen Garbage.”
Trash is anything other than food product. For example: Cardboard boxes, limbs or brush from your yard, grass clippings, leaves, Styrofoam peanuts (please bag, box or otherwise contain grass, leaves and foam peanuts) furniture (mattresses, sofas, chairs, etc.) stoves, dishwashers, hot water heaters, scrap wood, doors, door frames, windows (frames and/or glass,) empty paint cans.*
*This list is subject to change or modification at any time.
Do you supply garbage cans?
We do not supply cans to you. You must supply your own garbage can(S).
The Homewood Code of Ordinances reads as follows:
Sec. 13-21. Specifications for containers.
The `standard trash` and `standard garbage` containers and the `special garbage and rubbish containers` referred to in this article shall meet the following specifications:
(1) Standard trash container: Standard containers for the storage of trash shall have a capacity of from twenty (20) gallons to forty (40) gallons and the weight shall not exceed one hundred (100) pounds when filled and shall be equipped with at least two (2) carrying handles and tight-fitting cover.
(2) Standard garbage container: Standard containers for the storage of garbage shall be leak-proof and watertight, and shall have a capacity of not less than ten (10) gallons and not more than thirty (30) gallons and shall be equipped with an adequate carrying bail or at least two (2) carrying handles and a tight-fitting cover.
(Code 1970, § 19-2)
Sec. 13-23. Duties of originators of garbage; depositing rubbish, ashes, etc., in garbage containers; prohibited deposits.
(a) It shall be the duty of the person in charge or control of a dwelling, hotel, restaurant, delicatessen, store or other building, structure or place where food for human consumption is prepared or kept for sale, and every other place where garbage originates, to keep and maintain, at or on such premises, sufficient number of standard garbage containers…to receive the garbage originating upon such premises, and it shall be unlawful for any person to cause or permit the disposal of garbage originating upon such premises otherwise than by depositing the same in such garbage…The lids or covers of all garbage containers…shall be kept tightly fitted thereon at all times, other than when garbage is being deposited therein, and all garbage containers…shall be so kept and maintained as to prevent the access of flies therein and the soiling of the ground, floor or structure upon which they stand.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit or permit to be deposited in any garbage container provided and intended for garbage any ashes, cinders, gravel, rock, sand, earth, minerals or rubbish.
(Code 1970, §§ 16-27, 19-3)
What time do I need to have my garbage out?
Our garbage trucks start service around six o’clock in the morning. Please have your garbage out the night before, or before 6:00 A.M. on the morning of pick up.
Where do I put my garbage?
Here is another bonus for living in the City of Homewood! You don’t have to struggle to get your garbage can to the curb on garbage days. Homewood is one of the few municipalities that still offers back-door pick up service. Our workers come to your rear or side door (wherever it is convenient for you) and takes your garbage to the curb for you. Some folks have an alley where they can place their garbage and that is perfectly fine as well.
WHAT IF I HAVE A DOG IN A FENCE?
Sec. 13-32. Same--Persons with fenced yards harboring dogs.
It shall be the duty of any person with a fenced-in yard harboring a dog to place the garbage and trash containers outside the fenced yard for the collection of such garbage and trash by the city.
(Code 1970, § 19-8)
What if I don’t want a garbage worker at my backdoor at that time of the morning?
If you wish not to have backdoor garbage pick up, you will need to get your garbage can to the street yourself on the night before or the day of garbage pick up before 6:00 A.M. You will need to call the Street Department secretary at 942-4028 and leave instructions that you do not want back door service.
Where do I put my trash?
Unless you have small items such as grass clippings, leaves and foam peanuts, it is not necessary to bag or otherwise containerize your trash. Trash should be placed on the front edge of your curb (not in the gutter). Please be sure that you don’t pile your trash close to a mailbox, water meter, or near flower beds. Please don’t place your trash beneath utility lines. Often, it is necessary to use our large “Boom” truck, also known as the “Clam-Shell Loader.” This truck has a large swing-away arm and is employed in picking up large trash piles, large limbs, etc. Piles beneath utility lines cannot be removed because of the swing arm. Some people prefer to put their trash piles in the alley if they have such access and that is acceptable as well.
What if I have a really big pile of trash?
When you clean out your basement, trim trees, cut small trees, or throw out heavy items such as sofas, the City will usually pick these items up with the “Boom” truck which has a powerful crane arm to lift large, heavy items. This truck runs a regular route through each neighborhood once every three weeks to pick up large trash piles (usually we are able to pick them up sooner than this but we ask your patients and cooperation for the larger piles).
Why can’t I just push my loose leaves, limbs and trash into the gutter or storm drain?
Sec. 13-38. Placing leaves, rubbish, etc., in drain or gutter for collection.
It shall be unlawful for any owner or tenant of any dwelling to place any leaves, trash, rubbish, mud, earth, limbs and any other debris into a drain or gutter for the purpose of collection.
(Code 1970, § 19-21)
Is there anything I CAN’T put in the trash?*
Yes, there are certain things that this department simply cannot pick-up. These items are generally those that are forbidden to be dumped at the landfill. The following is a brief list * of what we cannot accept:
Paint in liquid form** (see instructions below)
Automobile tires
Refrigerators (we cannot accept anything with refrigerant in it)
Freezers
Air conditioners
Motor oil
Medical (such as needles or blood products)
Pesticides (liquid or powder)
ANY hazardous chemical
Contractor’s piles (see below)
**Paint Cans are SPECIAL!
Liquid paint is not accepted at the dump. It is considered an environmental hazard. Therefore, you must allow the paints to air dry by removing the lids and opening up the paint to solidify. For a quicker method, use inexpensive kitty litter to pour in the cans and allow it to absorb moisture and solidify the paint. This method will work for both latex and oil based paint. When the paint is hardened, put the can out with the once-a-week trash collection. Be sure to leave the lids off so that the workers can see that you have dried the paint.
*This list is subject to change or modification.
What is a `Contractor’s pile?`
When you hire anyone to do work to your home, such as siding, repairing, roofing, room addition, remodeling, etc., the person that you hire is responsible for the proper storage and disposal of waste materials, or any by-product of the work. We will not pick up any left over materials or any trash generated by a private contractor. Also, before you begin any repair or change to your home you should call Homewood Inspection Services at 942-2125, to see if you need a permit. We will not pick up any pile of trash created by a contractor or any repair that was performed without the necessary permits.
What if I have a tree cut down?
It may become necessary for you to have a tree taken down. The City of Homewood has a Tree Ordinance in place that requires certain criteria and a permit prior to cutting of a tree, contact Building Inspections 205-332-6800 for permits.
Once the permit is approved, the work must be completed by a professional tree service; the tree service you hire must haul away all limbs, trunks and associated debris caused by the removal. The City of Homewood is not responsible for the debris created by a contractor. However, our `boom` truck will pick up the debris from a small tree a resident cuts down, during its regular route through the city.
LEAF VACUUM AND FALL LEAF SCHEDULE
As autumn nears, a large concern for Homewood residents is how to dispose of leaves. If you bag your leaves they will be be removed each week with your regular trash pick-up. There is no limit to the number of bags you can put out. We will gladly take them all away. However, if you chose to rake your leaves, we ask that you rake them to the edge of your curb. DO NOT PUT LEAVES IN THE GUTTER. Please do not put them in a storm drain. If you do this they will flow down into the storm drain and clog the drain so that you street will flood during a heavy rain event. The leaf vacuum truck works each street once every six weeks. So, if you choose to rake your leaves to the curb, you will have to wait for the truck to come through your neighborhood. Weather, and the heaviness of leaf fall may cause the trucks to run behind schedule. For timely removal, bagging your leaves may be the most effective form of leaf removal.
Do you offer a recycling program?
When even one person recycles—we all win. That’s the way we like to think. We have contracted with BFI Company to perform all our recycling needs. You will see the BFI truck in your neighborhood once a week. There is no need for you to sort your recycling materials as it will be sorted once the truck dumps at the recycling center. The following items are the ONLY items at this time that BFI will accept:
Newspaper
Colored newspaper inserts
Junk mail
Magazines
Cardboard boxes (they must be broken down)
Milk Jugs
Soda bottles
Household can goods (must be empty)
Household Aluminum
Please call BFI Customer Service 923-1650 to order your recycling bin and ask any questions you might have. Please place the blue recycling bin away from your normal trash at the front edge of your curb on your scheduled day.
Who do I call if I have a problem with garbage or trash pick up?
Our office is open Monday – Friday, 7 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. You may call 205-942-4028 if you have any problems, concerns or questions. We have voice-mail if the secretary is away from her desk and your call will be returned if you leave a message. Any call for missed garbage after 2:00 P.M. will be handled the following business day.
Is there anyone else I need to call?
There may be other agencies in the city you would like to call. For your convenience, here is a quick list:
HOMEWOOD
Homewood Police 879-2101 (911 Emergency)
Homewood Fire Administration 322-6154 (911 Emergency)
Homewood City Hall: 877-8600
Homewood Mayor’s Office: 332-6103
Homewood Library: 322-6609
UTILITIES
Alabama Power 1-888-430-5787 (Report street light outage)
Alagasco 326-8200 (Option 4 for gas leaks)
Birmingham Water Works Board: 251-3261
Charter Cable Company 1-888-536-2223
Jefferson Co. Environmental 942-0681 (For sanitary sewer problems)
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Jefferson County Southern Satellite Office 916-2720 (For Tags, Titles, Licenses)
RECYCLING
ALLIED WASTE Company 923-1650 (Recycling)
RECYCLING
OUR RECYCLING SERVICES ARE PERFORMED BY ALLIED WASTE - FORMERLY BFI INC.
WHAT WE COLLECT:
NEWSPAPER
COLORED NEWSPAPER INSERTS
JUNK MAIL
MAGAZINES
CARDBOARD BOXES - IF BROKEN DOWN
PLASTIC #1 - MILK JUGS
PLASTIC #2 - SODA BOTTLES
HOUSEHOLD CAN GODS - EMPTY AND RINSED
ALUMINUM - CANS, FOIL ANY OTHER TYPE OF PURE ALUMINUM
WHAT WE NEVER COLLECT
GLASS
PHONE BOOKS
STYROFOAM
ALL COMPLAINTS AND QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR RECYCLING
923-1650 ALLIED WASTE
