City of Richmond
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Solid Waste FAQs Page
Helpful Tips About Your Garbage Pickup Service: We offer twice a week curbside residential solid waste (automation) collection. Carts should be curbside by 7 a.m., with 3 feet of space between any other objects such as cars, mailboxes, fences, etc. The collection arm on the automated truck requires space to make the collection safely. Please keep the containers away from obstacles that may interfere with the collection. Placement of your poly cart in the correct position is critical to servicing your residence as this collection is done by automation. GFL is not responsible for moving the carts from blocked areas during the collection process.
Please do not overfill your poly cart, the lids should close completely. Overfilled poly carts can cause spillage during the collection process and litter your property and neighborhood streets. Overfilled poly carts will not be serviced. Please do not put garbage bags on top of the cart. Your cart should be loose enough to come out when tipped during servicing. Tightly compacted bags or trash inside the cart may not come out when serviced. GFL is not responsible for garbage that spills during the collection process.
How do I report at missed service? Please contact GFL at 281-368-8397 or notify the City at 281-342-0559.
Who do I contact about setting up new trash service? Please contact the City of Richmond at 281-342-5456.
I have more garbage than can fit in the cart. Can I get an additional cart or use my own? Are you recycling? Recycling materials will give you more room in your garbage cart. Additional garbage carts are available for an additional monthly fee and can be requested by contacting GFL at 281-368-8397. Residents are to use GFL issued garbage carts; personal trash cans are not allowed for trash collection.
My poly cart is damaged or missing. How can I get a replacement cart? Please contact GFL at 281-368-8397 and notify them of the damaged or missing cart. The cart will be repaired or replaced if it is stolen or damaged beyond repair.
What items are not accepted in the trash? GFL will not pick up automobile parts, tree stumps and logs heavier than 50 pounds and greater than 4 feet in length, dirt, construction debris, concrete, bricks, rocks, roofing materials, metal poles, trampoline frames, highly volatile, toxic or hazardous chemicals, lead batteries, motor oil, tires, gasoline, paint or fence pickets with nails.
Items like construction debris; you may dispose of the material at a local landfill for a fee.
When is heavy trash/appliance pickup? GFL will properly collect and dispose of up to 5 cubic yards or less per collection day, per account, such as washing machines, dryers and hot water heaters once a week on Wednesdays. Large items and appliances are picked up at the curbside. Some large or unusually heavy items are not collected at the curbside. Please call the GFL at 281-368-8397 if you have a question about a particular item. Bulky waste does not include construction refuse, demolition refuse, or hazardous or electronic wastes. Most likely, appliance stores will take the old appliances with the purchase of new ones.
Any appliance containing refrigerant/freon must be certified and tagged by a professional to be free of refrigerants. Our solid waste carrier will not remove the item without the certificate tag. If the item is a refrigerator/freezer, the doors must be removed before placing them out for collection. This is a safety measure to ensure that children do not get trapped inside.
These items can be taken to the Fort Bend County Recycling Center for a fee.
Please call the Fort Bend Recycling Center at 281-633-7581 for hours of operation and information regarding acceptable materials or their website for accepted material and Fees. (Link provided below)
Please Consider Recycling!
GFL provides once-a-week curbside/street recycling and provides each home with one free recycling cart. The collection program is included as part of your solid waste residential collection services. Please maintain 3 feet of space around all sides of the poly cart. Additional recycling carts are available for an additional monthly fee and can be requested by contacting GFL at 281-368-8397.
Acceptable Items in the Cart:
- Mixed Paper: Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, office paper, school paper, junk mail, envelopes, and paperback books.
- Cardboard, Paperboard and Paper Bags: Breakdown boxes for disposal.
- Aluminum, Steel and Tin: Aluminum cans, foil, food trays, steel and tin cans.
- Plastics #1 - #5 and #7: Within each chasing arrows triangle, there is a number which ranges from one to seven. The purpose of the number is to identify the type of plastic used for the product, and not all plastics are recyclable or even reusable. (#6 is not accepted. This is styrofoam.)
- Glass Bottles and Jars: Glass bottles and jars (all colors) can be recycled in your blue recycle cart. All other types of glass, including broken glass, drinking glasses, ceramics, etc. should be put in your garbage cart.
- Cartons: Milk, juice, broth, soup and other food and beverage cartons.
Unacceptable items include plastic grocery bags, styrofoam, plastic wrap, aerosol cans of any type or scrap metal.
Note: Some of the trucks used to collect recyclables look similar to regular trash trucks.
Please be assured that the recyclables are sorted after collection and then delivered to the appropriate recycling site.
How do I dispose of Household Hazardous Waste? Please dispose of your old latex paint, motor oil, transmission oil, power steering fluid, batteries and antifreeze without harming the environment. Fort Bend County's Recycling Center is located at 1200 Blume Road in Rosenberg. A valid driver's license or other proof of residency in Fort Bend County is required. Please call the Recycle Center at 281-633-7581 for hours of operation and information regarding acceptable materials or their website for accepted material and Fees. (Link provided below)
How can I properly dispose of paint? Wet paint cannot be collected at the curbside. Dry paint will be collected if the lid is left off the can. To dry your leftover paint, mix cat litter or other absorbent with the wet paint and allow to dry until solid. Never pour paint or anything else down the storm drain. To properly dispose of wet paint, take your leftover paint to Fort Bend County's Recycling Center.
Please call the Fort Bend County's Recycling Center at 281-633-7581 for hours of operation and information regarding acceptable materials or their website for accepted material and Fees. (Link provided below)
How do I properly dispose of tree limbs and brush? Grass clippings, leaves, tree trimmings, branches or other general yard waste are collected every Wednesday. This includes 8 or less, bags/bundles weighing less than 50 pounds. Brush/Limbs no larger than 3 inches in diameter and bundled 4-foot lengths. No large timbers or fence pickets with nails. Please do not use the provided solid waste or recycling poly cart for disposal of green waste.
If you have any questions regarding your service, please call: GFL at 281-368-8397 or wcacshouston@gflenv.com or the City of Richmond Public Works Department at 281-342-0559.