Responsibilities for Alleys and Trash Collection

Alleys

Property owners areresponsible for keeping their half of their alleys free of litter, weeds andovergrown trees, as well as in safe and sanitary conditions. The city isresponsible for lighting in the alleys and easements, but this work iscontracted out to Ameren UE for maintenance and replacement of bulbs. To reportany alley or easement light out, call Ameren UE at 342-1000.

If you are a witness to illegal dumping in analley, on a street or sidewalk, in a vacant lot or in someone's yard, call 911and give the license number and description of the vehicle used. If theinformation you provide to the police results in the conviction of the suspect,you may be eligible for a $100 reward. If the dumping has alreadyoccurred, also call the Citizens' Service Bureau at 622-4800 so aninvestigation may be conducted by the City's Trash Task Force.

Refuse Containers

The City of St. Louis provides trash dumpsters andyard waste dumpsters in the alley. Household trash is collected twice a week oneither Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday, depending on where you live.Yard Waste is emptied one day during the week. These dumpsters are not intendedfor use by commercial enterprise. Each dumpster is shared by severalhouseholds, but if your particular dumpster is filled you may use another.However, only the residents who live on the same block are permitted to use thedumpster in that alley.

Here are several reminders about the use and careof city dumpsters:

1. Place only yard waste, such as grass clippings,small limbs and leaves, in green yard waste dumpsters. These are identified with "yard waste only" stickers. Do not place large limbs inthe container that protrude through the opening. Protruding limbs prohibit thecontainer from being emptied.

2. Place only household trash in regular trashdumpsters. These are identified with "no yard waste" stickers.

3. Dumpsters are not supposed to be moved.

4. Dumpsters are not to be filled beyond their capacity.

5. Dumpsters are not for bulk trash such as stoves,furniture and appliances, or any item over three (3) feet long.

6. Dumpsters are not for flammable liquids orhazardous materials or tires.

7. Dumpster lids should be kept closed. Anyprotruding items that prohibit the lids from closing may not be placed in thecontainer.

8. Bulk items should not be set against thedumpster or within three (3) feet of the dumpster.

The dumpsters are city property and are notprovided for public use. All users of the dumpsters are expected to keep thearea around the dumpsters clean and sanitary. Any violations of these rulescould result in your container not being emptied as scheduled.

The City of St. Louis has a regular monthlycollection of bulk items. Place no more than three (3) items behind your ownproperty by 6:00 a.m. on Monday of the week scheduled for collection in yourarea. Place small or loose items in a container or bundle. Refrigeratordoors must be removed; other large items need not be dismantled. Call 622-4800 for further information on which week bulk items are collected in your area.Items will be collected one day during your designated week.

City Refuse TransferStations

The City of St. Louis no longer operates a publiclandfill. Instead, City residents may bring their bulky items, household trashand yard waste to either of two (2) City transfer stations, which are operatedunder a contract with a private hauler.

City Refuse Division trucks collect over 200,000 tons of residential trash and bulky items annually. The trash is taken toeither of the two sites by City trucks and then transferred to trucks operatedby the contractor, who then hauls the trash to a private landfill. Thus, thename "transfer station".

Citizens must provide proof of residency bydisplaying either a current driver's license with a City address, or paidproperty tax receipt prior to being granted permission to dump. Only onepick-up truckload per month may be deposited at the transfer stations, andloads from any business or private hauler will not be accepted.

The transfer stations are located at 4100 S. First Street and 201 N. Humboldt Avenue. Their hours are Monday - Friday from 9:00a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Recycling

The Refuse Division provides 26 recycling centersto serve you throughout the City of St. Louis. Many of our firehouses andlibraries citywide are drop-off sites for cans, plastic, glass and newspaper.The Refuse Division also offers educational programs to schools, camps andyouth groups in the City, and they can also help you set up a paper-recyclingprogram.

For more information on the recycling sites or theRefuse Division's educational programs, call their Recycling Manager at 353-8877.

The City's largest recycling drop-off site is the Operation Brightside recycling center located at 1660 S. Kingshighway. Their hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Saturday. For more information about the recycling center, or any other Operation Brightsideprogram, call the Brightside office at 781-4556.

(Courtesy of City of St. Louis)