Waterloo Residents: Double Check Your Garbage Lids This Holiday Season

For many people, this is one of the most exciting times of the year. We are in the primetime of the holiday season. Thanksgiving has come and gone and now we're preparing for Christmas or whatever other holiday you celebrate in December. Plus we're gearing up for the new year! Hopefully, you're able to gather with your friends and family members to enjoy the holiday spirit together.

You know what also comes with the hustle and bustle of the holidays? Garbage, and lots of it.

If you're buying gifts for your loved ones or making large meals to share, you're going to have some extra garbage that you'll eventually need to throw away. You'll want to avoid overloading your garbage bins this holiday season if you want to avoid a mess in your driveway or home for all of your guests.

If your garbage bin looks like this one, your trash might hang around your house longer than you'd like.

Closed Lids

The City of Waterloo Public Works Sanitation Department reminded people yesterday (December 4) that you are not following the city ordinance if your garbage lid isn't shut. If your bins look like the ones in these photos, they will not be dumped as open lids allow for rain/snow melt, raccoons, birds, etc, to spread trash.

When a lid is closed it will help prevent trash from spilling into the street or roadside when it is time for the trash to be picked up.

While this reminder does come from the City of Waterloo Public Works Facebook page, it is a pretty common city ordinance throughout the state of Iowa. You might be able to get away with a lid that isn't fully shut in your city but it's most likely you'll need to have a closed lid for your garbage to be removed.

What To Do if You Have Extra Garbage

If you notice an increase in garbage this time of the year, you may have some options, once again depending on where you live. The City of Waterloo Public Works Sanitation Department gave these additional options to those who are worried about having an overloaded garbage bin

• Increase your service level - Larger garbage cart or using multiple carts
• Red Tag Stickers - $1.00 stickers that allow you to put one extra garbage bag on top of a closed garbage lid. It must face the street so the driver can see it and it will be taken with your regular trash. You can do this as many times as needed.
• Bring extra garbage to the landfill - If you have extra garbage and would like to remove it yourself, you can bring your extra trash to the "small loads area" and dispose of the garbage yourself.

If you do find yourself in a situation where your garbage was skipped, you can contact the Sanitation Department and discuss options for removal and make arrangements for pickup.

A friendly reminder that once again, this was a post regarding the city of Waterloo. You'll want to check other solutions that may need to be taken, depending on the city you live in.