When You Have Too Much Trash...

This entry is from 2008.  Please be aware that some prices and information may have changed.

If all your trash won't fit into your trash can, there is a solution. I've written about this before, but it seems like there are still people who don't know about the Official Blue Snellville Trash Bags!

If all your trash won't fit in your trash can, don't try to do an elaborate, precipitously balanced display of bags on top of your trash can. Most of the time, the sanitation guys will not take those bags, no matter how beautifully balanced they may be.

The city says:

"To insure that any extra trash will be picked up,
you will need to purchase City Snellville extra trash bags.
The bags are available at Publix and Kroger on
Scenic Hwy, City Hall and the Public Works office.
Place your extra trash inside the blue bags alongside
your cart on your regularly scheduled pick up day. "

The blue trash bags do cost - it is $27 for a box of 20 bags... each bag holds 32 gallons. They are huge bags, and if you use them, stuff them to the max, but they can't weigh more than 50 pounds each for pickup.

I kind of think of it like postage for my trash, but really it's just paying more if you need to dump more - I like the idea of only those who need a service are paying for it.

It keeps everyone from being charged or taxed additionally, when they may not produce much waste. So, I think it's pretty fair. Our family produces a lot of trash. I try to fill the recycle bin all I can. Using your recycle bin is one way to reduce the waste that's filling up your trash can. We have a great recycling center here in Snellville and I should try to use it more, too.

If you have cardboard boxes you would like to recycle, they must be taken to the Snellville Recycling Center, located right behind the Elizabeth William's Library Branch on Lenora Church Road. Boxes and cardboard are not picked up curbside for recycling. If you want to get rid of cardboard boxes from your curb, then you will need to put them in your trash bin or put them in the blue prepaid Snellville trash bags...but keep in mind, they won't be recycled if you do that.

You can recycle as many items as you want to though - and if it won't all fit in your recycling bin, you can put them in a bag clearly marked RECYCLING on set the bag on top of the recycling bin.

If you have yard waste, did you know the City can send a wood chipper out to your house? The charge for city crews to come out and operate the wood chipper is $35.00 for up to 1 hour. If you need this additional service or have questions, contact the sanitation department at 770-985-3527.