May 19, 2003
City Offers Trash Help
Need some fliers for your next neighborhood meeting? Want to find out what your new garbage pickup day will be? The Department of Environmental Management has some new tools to help get the word out to neighbors about the city's new garbage, recycling, yard trimmings and big trash and brush pickups. Here's the latest from the city:

1. Garbage
Garbage cart deliveries have begun. Deliveries of brown garbage carts will continue through June. Once-a-week garbage pickup begins June 30. A flier in the cart lid tells you your new garbage day. Another tag on the handle tells how to use the cart. Please remind neighbors not to begin using the brown garbage cart until the week of June 30.

You may also go online to http://www.fortworthgov.org/DEM/pickups.htm and find out your new garbage pickup day. Just use the zooming tool to find your street on the map. When once-a-week garbage collection begins June 30, all weekly pickups-garbage, recycling and yard trimmings-will be on the same day in your neighborhood.

2. Bundle It Weekly
Bundling limbs and shrub trimmings weekly is a good way to get rid of sticks, shrub trimmings and small limbs from routine yard work. Here's how:· Cut limbs to no more than 4 feet long.

· Bundle and tie them with string or twine.
· Bundles limited to 18 inches in diameter and no more than 40 pounds each. (They're picked up by people-not machines!)
· Set bundles on the front curb weekly on your recycling day. Help spread the word by downloading this flier … http://www.fortworthgov.org/DEM/images/getridofitright_eng.pdf and handing it out to neighbors or at your next association meeting. By setting out bundles weekly, you can save your four yearly big trash pickups for the really big stuff.

3. Request Big Trash and Brush Pickup
Some citizens still don't realize they need to request a big trash and brush pickup. This is the new way to get rid of yard trimmings that are too large to bundle or trash that's too big for weekly pickup crews to handle. To request a pickup:

Call 817-392-EASY (3279)ORSend mail to: Trash@fortworthgov.org
Be prepared to give your water bill account number, address and a description of items you want picked up.

· Up to four pickups per household per year; no additional charge.
· Stack big trash separately from brush. (Brush will be turned into mulch.)
· Place items neatly at the front curb and in tight stacks for machine loading.
· Small, loose items must be bagged or boxed to prevent litter.
· Pile size: no larger than 10 cubic yards (about 8 feet by 6 feet by 6 feet)
· Don't place items under power lines or close to utility poles, water and gas meters, trees or parked cars, on roadways or sidewalks, near sprinkler heads, mailboxes or anything collection equipment might damage.

These CANNOT be picked up: appliances that contain coolant or gasoline, such as refrigerators, air conditioners and lawn mowers; automobile parts, tires and batteries; large rocks and concrete pieces; major construction, remodeling and demolition debris; poisons, explosives and other dangerous materials; commercial or business waste.

4. Drop It Off
Two free Drop-off Stations for recycling and big trash are open to homeowners and renters for disposal of recyclables, bagged garbage, brush, yard trimmings, tires (limit four), old furniture and minor remodeling debris. Bring a recent Fort Worth water bill and/or your driver's license. Hours are: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Drop-off Station locations are:

· 3224 Yuma Ave. (off Berry St.)
· 2500 Brennan Ave. (west of 35W)

You must unload your own materials; city workers will check identification and direct you to the proper containers. Drop-off Stations will not accept: appliances containing coolant or gasoline, computers and electronics, concrete and rock, explosives and ammunition, gasoline, oil, antifreeze, major construction and demolition debris, paint and thinners, business and hazardous waste.The city has two additional free drop-off sites for limited or special materials:

· Southside Service Center, 4100 Columbus Trail - for recycling only, including paper, cardboard, glass, plastic containers and metal food and drink containers
· Environmental Collection Center, 6400 Bridge St. - for leftover household chemicals such as paint, used motor oil, pesticides and cleansers as well as separate containers for tires (limit 4) and limited amounts of bulky materials. Call 817-871-5257 for hours of operation.

If you'd like to schedule a speaker for your neighborhood association or civic organization, please call Ellen Schmitz at 817-871-6301.