Trash: Did You Know This?

[Mrs. Robinson]

Well -- Friday is our normal trash day. You know -- regular trash but not recyclables.
I don't buy bags for trash; we use whatever is handy from shopping or anything else.

So we put out our trash in a sort of white semi-translucent bag. Late in the afternoon we noticed that our bag was the only bag that was not picked up.

Enlightenment hit us like a ton of bricks.
We weren't taught this in college, mind you . . .

White or clear bags are only to be used for recyclables -- period! You cannot use them for ordinary trash.
The trash men will not pick up this no-color bag, even when it is a trash only day (as opposed to trash and recyclables).
Ordinary trash is to be put in a different color bag, preferably black, but never clear or white!

If this has ever happened to you, now you know the rules.
Like I said, we never learned about this in college, but the trash men sure did.

[Cobh521]

We use clear trash bags for our recyclable trash. We use the white tall trash can bags for our normal trash. Have never had a problem. I believe we were told this or there was documentation somewhere explaining this.

[billethkid]

I suspect most villages are like ours with two pick ups per week. However, only one day for recycle material.

If you put it out the wrong day...it will not get picked up.

I forgot and put cardboard out the wrong day and it was there the end of the day. Having so much fun in TV I forgot what day it was/is.

[dbussone]

White bags are fine for regular trash. Clear or semi-translucent are for recyclables. (Black is also ok for regular trash.) Never had a problem. You must have cut that class in college. [emoji41]


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[golfing eagles]

Never used anything but white bags for regular trash and never have a problem. OP, have you used similar bags before and have they been rejected? If not, maybe it was a one time oversight.

[ColdNoMore]

Sanitation FAQ (https://www.districtgov.org/community/sanitationFaq.aspx)


How do I dispose of household waste, recyclables and yard waste?

- Household waste should be placed in standard dark, sealed 20-30 gallon trash bags. Each bag should weigh no more than forty (40) pounds.

- Recyclables should be placed in clear plastic bags.

-Yard waste should be bundled, tied and placed at the end of your driveway. Tree limbs and branches may not exceed four (4) feet in length. Lawn clippings and similar yard waste should be placed in biodegradable bags.

[Madelaine Amee]

Sanitation FAQ (https://www.districtgov.org/community/sanitationFaq.aspx)

Well, I guess our garbage men did not read the bit about only dark bags of a certain dimension for household trash because they pick up my trash in a Publix bag every time they come around.

By the way, we originally retired to a rural community in northern NH and had to go to the dump to get rid of our trash, so I really, really appreciate this great garbage pick up in TV!

[jeriteri]

Well they don't sell 13 gal dark bags so if we have to follow the dark bag rule we'll have to put our white bags in the dark bags. Is this to help the sale of dark bags? As far as I'm concerned on the garbage only day they should pick up anything we put out there. Once it's in the ground who cares what color it is. Just saying!!

[Chi-Town]

Was advised by neighbors to use black bags for regular trash to discourage the blackbirds and critters. Seems to work.

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[Carla B]

Yep. We learned about clear bags the hard way too, years ago, when my husband chased down the garbage truck after they didn't pick ours up. They explained that the garbage bags can be any color except clear and/or semi-transparent.

We also often put the garbage in the Publix bags or Beall's or TJ Maxx or whatever we have and tie them together; and there never is a problem with the pickup. My husband wants to hoard Publix bags because he read that Florida is considering banning plastic grocery bags. In that case, he'll be forced to BUY (bad word) garbage bags, which seems illogical to him in that it creates more plastic at the landfill.

[Taltarzac725]

Rarely have had any problems with whatever bags we put out.

[John_W]

Well they don't sell 13 gal dark bags so if we have to follow the dark bag rule we'll have to put our white bags in the dark bags. Is this to help the sale of dark bags? As far as I'm concerned on the garbage only day they should pick up anything we put out there. Once it's in the ground who cares what color it is. Just saying!!

Here in Tamarind Grove, which is near Seabreeze Rec Center, they take our 13 gallon white bags filled with trash every Monday and Thursday without fail. I buy them at Walmart, the generic brand, 44 bags for about $6.98. I have a full size 30 gallon can in the garage that I use black bags. Whenever I put it out on a Monday or Thursday, the trashman take our 30 gallon black bags, no problems. We recycle and use the clear 30 gallon Walmart generic bags that cost about 30 for $6.98, and they take them every Thursday.

[photo1902]

Well -- Friday is our normal trash day. You know -- regular trash but not recyclables.
I don't buy bags for trash; we use whatever is handy from shopping or anything else.

So we put out our trash in a sort of white semi-translucent bag. Late in the afternoon we noticed that our bag was the only bag that was not picked up.

Enlightenment hit us like a ton of bricks.
We weren't taught this in college, mind you . . .

White or clear bags are only to be used for recyclables -- period! You cannot use them for ordinary trash.
The trash men will not pick up this no-color bag, even when it is a trash only day (as opposed to trash and recyclables).
Ordinary trash is to be put in a different color bag, preferably black, but never clear or white!

If this has ever happened to you, now you know the rules.
Like I said, we never learned about this in college, but the trash men sure did.

Are you sure you had the bags out in time? Reason I ask is that our trash gets picked up as early as 6am on Friday's. Several times I've put it out later than that, and I missed the truck.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

We use a small trash bin or mini dumpster on wheels.

[MrGolf]

We use white for trash for the past year and never had an issue. There have been times when we added last minute tied Publix bags. They have taken them as well. While on the subject of trash, we have a neighbor who puts his garbage out around noon or one pm the day before its picked up. At first I thought he was going away. Now he does it weekly. The Community watch people drive by and turn a blind eye to it. A little annoying as birds get into it and tear bags open half the time.

[golfing eagles]

We use white for trash for the past year and never had an issue. There have been times when we added last minute tied Publix bags. They have taken them as well. While on the subject of trash, we have a neighbor who puts his garbage out around noon or one pm the day before its picked up. At first I thought he was going away. Now he does it weekly. The Community watch people drive by and turn a blind eye to it. A little annoying as birds get into it and tear bags open half the time.

I believe there is a rule about when you may put out trash. Community watch is not responsible for reporting this. If it bothers you enough, you can call community standards dept.

[Bogie Shooter]

I believe there is a rule about when you may put out trash. Community watch is not responsible for reporting this. If it bothers you enough, you can call community standards dept.

See post #6 with link.

[TheDude]

Just put everything in a 13 or 30 gallon black bag. Everything, waste, paper, dog poop, meat and veggie waste, everything. The total they recycle is zero and costs more in man power than it does in 'saving the earth'. Trust me: two days a week: Black bags with everything... no problems. If you do use white or clear bags and they see something they do not want to pick up, well, back to your garage. You ever watch them pickup the trash, they run, grab, toss. If it doesn't fit the bill, they pass it by and there is nothing you can do... so, black bag it.

[jancap27]

Pg. 30 of the Resident Guide (received during our orientation--when we received our resident ID's, etc.) explains all about discarding household garbage, recyclable materials and tree limbs & yard waste.

[Topspinmo]

In my are recycled item must be in clear bag, (so they can see what you recycling.) All other trash in any color except CLEAR. Yard waste tied in 3 foot bundles or in the brown paper sacks. My area recyclables only picked up on Monday's. maybe differ contractors have different rules cross the mason Dixon line????:wave:

[Mrs. Robinson]

Are you sure you had the bags out in time? Reason I ask is that our trash gets picked up as early as 6am on Friday's. Several times I've put it out later than that, and I missed the truck.

Yes -- Our bag was out the previous night.
What I find annoying is that this particular trash day was not a recycle day.

It shouldn't matter what color a trash bag is on a "trash only" day.
As a matter of fact, it shouldn't matter, period.
This service isn't free; we pay for it! :swear:

[Polar Bear]

Yes -- Our bag was out the previous night.
What I find annoying is that this particular trash day was not a recycle day.

It shouldn't matter what color a trash bag is on a "trash only" day.
As a matter of fact, it shouldn't matter, period.
This service isn't free; we pay for it! :swear:
The rules are clear and there is an obvious, valid reason for them.

[Mrs. Robinson]

The rules are clear and there is an obvious, valid reason for them.

A "valid" reason? Okay. I'll bite. What is the "valid" reason???

[Polar Bear]

A "valid" reason? Okay. I'll bite. What is the "valid" reason???
You don't know? Okay, I'll bite...

So recycle materials don't get picked up on the wrong day (by accident or not), and so recycle/non-recycle pick up staff can differentiate between the two. Duh.

Whether or not you buy into the whole recycling thing is irrelevant.

[unz111@gmail.com]

Well -- Friday is our normal trash day. You know -- regular trash but not recyclables.
I don't buy bags for trash; we use whatever is handy from shopping or anything else.

So we put out our trash in a sort of white semi-translucent bag. Late in the afternoon we noticed that our bag was the only bag that was not picked up.

Enlightenment hit us like a ton of bricks.
We weren't taught this in college, mind you . . .

White or clear bags are only to be used for recyclables -- period! You cannot use them for ordinary trash.
The trash men will not pick up this no-color bag, even when it is a trash only day (as opposed to trash and recyclables).
Ordinary trash is to be put in a different color bag, preferably black, but never clear or white!

If this has ever happened to you, now you know the rules.
Like I said, we never learned about this in college, but the trash men sure did.

The trash me have always taken white bags for trash. The recyclables are put in clear bags so that they can see that they are indeed picking up recycling materials and so the recycling truck will only pick up the clear bags

[cynjim]

We use clear trash bags for our recyclable trash. We use the white tall trash can bags for our normal trash. Have never had a problem. I believe we were told this or there was documentation somewhere explaining this.


I also just use clear bags for recycle and white bags if I have a lot of trash or some small publix bags tied together. Never have a problem, Appreciate the pick up twice a week...

[agilles]

The Sumter County FAQ contradicts their flyer that is attached to their website where you quoted: How do I dispose of household waste, recyclables and yard waste?

- Household waste should be placed in standard dark, sealed 20-30 gallon trash bags. Each bag should weigh no more than forty (40) pounds.

- Recyclables should be placed in clear plastic bags.

On the flyer attached with list of recyclables it says:
Household Garbage
Garbage should not be in cans, but instead put in white or
black plastic bags at the end of your driveway no earlier than
the night before your designated pickup day.
All garbage should be placed in sealed, standard 20-30 gallon
trash bags, each bag weighing no more than forty pounds.

So they should pick up with either white or black or change their information.

[genobambino]

Read the guidelines on www.districtgov.org......get the right info from the horse's mouth

[dhbtoo]

As with several who have replied, I use some variation of clear for recycle and white for garbage with no problem. It's as what I was instructed to do. The only issue I ever have is if I don't have my garbage out by 6 am it may not get picked up.

[RichardWalker]

Everyone on my street uses white bags for trash, not clear and they are picked up every time

[dewilson58]

Too much Trash Talk..............they are going to close this thread.

:pray:

[Nucky]

Too much Trash Talk..............they are going to close this thread.

:pray:

You're a funny guy!

Sanitation Engineers are very nice people. They do have stress in their life but not too much stress on the job. They undoubtedly remember :$: The Christmas Tip :$:. Not that anyone has to but if you do slip them a Yard or a Half a Yard they will pick up anything you put to the curb in your yard no matter the color of the bag. It's human nature! Good Luck next week. :pepper2: How about a nice cold bottle of water to the guys loading the trucks in this heat day after day after day.

[graciegirl]

You're a funny guy!

Sanitation Engineers are very nice people. They do have stress in their life but not too much stress on the job. They undoubtedly remember :$: The Christmas Tip :$:. Not that anyone has to but if you do slip them a Yard or a Half a Yard they will pick up anything you put to the curb in your yard no matter the color of the bag. It's human nature! Good Luck next week. :pepper2: How about a nice cold bottle of water to the guys loading the trucks in this heat day after day after day.

I agree. They deserve, and have, my respect.

[justjim]

OP, according to post #6 you did not follow proper protocol (type of trash bags) and therefore your trash was not removed. It seems as simple as that. Perhaps you were not aware of using certain trash bags.

[DonH57]

Too much Trash Talk..............they are going to close this thread.

:pray:

Funny !

[Mrs. Robinson]

OP, according to post #6 you did not follow proper protocol (type of trash bags) and therefore your trash was not removed. It seems as simple as that. Perhaps you were not aware of using certain trash bags.

As the OP of this thread, if you read what I wrote, you would know that I know what the "rules" are.

However, I refuse to purchase trash bags when we are already paying for trash removal.

I've never lived anywhere where residents were laden down with these kind of rules.
I happen to find it unnecessary that we have trash "rules" imposed upon us when it could be made very simple!

In addition, the trash bags we are required to use only adds to what contaminates and doesn't decompose in landfills.

I guess residents just don't care because I've never heard anyone squawk about it.

[bonrich]

Amazing! 36 posts about what color trash/recycle bags to use. 'nuff said.