Houston County Sanitation Department Household Garbage & Trash Collection Policy
HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE & TRASH COLLECTION POLICY
Approved October 2022
I. DEFINITIONS
DEFINITION OF GARBAGE: Garbage is defined as all debris accumulated within the household that needs disposal. Garbage does not include household furnishings, carpet, construction debris, remodeling debris, appliances, batteries, tires, or propane tanks.
DEFINITION OF TRASH: Trash is defined as large cardboard boxes, toys, household furnishings, and appliances that are produced by the homeowner, not a contractor.
DEFINITION OF LIMB/YARD DEBRIS: Limb/yard debris includes trees, tree limbs, shrubbery, grass trimmings, leaves, and pine straw produced by the homeowner, not a contractor.
DEFINITION OF CONSTRUCTION AND REMODELING DEBRIS: Includes wood, metal, sheetrock, drywall, insulation, cabinetry, tile, light fixtures, doors, windows, etc., produced by the homeowner, not a contractor.
Please see Section VIII for procedures and charges for Trash and Limb/Yard Debris pickup.
The County will not pick up batteries, tires, or propane tanks. Disposal of these items is the responsibility of the resident.
II. CONTAINERS
All Garbage must be bagged in heavy‑duty plastic bags and placed loosely in assigned Houston County Garbage Containers. The County is not responsible for spillage due to animals or improper placement. Bags not placed in assigned containers and unauthorized containers will not be picked up.
1. Contents
A. Containers shall contain only Garbage. B. Garbage must be bagged to avoid wind‑blown litter. C. Needles must be placed in a bottle or plastic container before disposal. D. No hot ashes, liquids, paints, tires, animal carcasses, hazardous waste, or auto parts. E. Animal waste must be double‑bagged.
2. Capacities
A. Garbage must be placed loosely in the container, not compacted. B. The lid must be closed with nothing on top. C. Total weight must not exceed 250 pounds.
III. FEES
Under Ala. Code §§22‑27‑1 et seq., every person, household, business, or property owner is liable for the monthly garbage fee.
1. Monthly Fee
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Garbage pickup fee: $20.00 per month
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Late fee: $5.00 per month if not paid by due date
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60 days delinquent → notice issued
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90 days delinquent → garbage can picked up
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Pickup & re‑delivery fee: $50.00
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Nonpayment may result in civil or criminal action
2. Replacement Cost of Garbage Containers
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Resident‑caused damage or failure to remove container → $150.00 replacement fee
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Normal‑use damage → County repairs or replaces
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Lost/stolen containers → must notify Sanitation Department
3. Additional Garbage Containers
Residents may request extra containers:
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$125.00 NON‑REFUNDABLE one‑time rental fee per extra container
Containers are assigned to an address, not a person. Do NOT take containers when moving.
IV. LOCATION
Containers must be placed on the county right‑of‑way within 3 feet of the road on scheduled pickup day. Containers placed incorrectly or out of reach will not be serviced.
If a non‑county‑maintained road is unsafe or may cause damage, an alternate pickup location will be assigned.
V. TIME
Containers must be placed on the right‑of‑way by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled day. Garbage is collected once per week. If not out by 6:00 a.m., it will not be picked up until the next week.
VI. EMPTY CONTAINERS
Residents must remove empty containers by close of business the following day.
If not removed:
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Day 1: Warning tag
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Day 2+: Considered abandoned → may be removed
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Retrieval fee: $50.00 (pickup & re‑delivery)
VII. HOLIDAYS
The Sanitation Department observes 12 holidays per year. Some are “off holidays” (no pickup), others are “working holidays” (normal schedule).
Holiday schedules are mailed annually and posted at: www.houstoncountyal.gov → Departments → Sanitation Pickup → Holiday Pickup Schedule
Houston County Holidays include:
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New Year’s Day
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Robert E. Lee Birthday
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President’s Day
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Confederate Memorial Day
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Memorial Day
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Jefferson Davis Birthday
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Independence Day
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Labor Day
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Columbus Day
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Veterans Day
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Thanksgiving Day
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Christmas Day
VIII. TRASH, CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS, AND LIMB/YARD DEBRIS PICKUP
Eligible trash and construction debris will be picked up unless excessive. Excessive amounts → charge applies.
Limb/Yard Debris Requirements:
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Max length: 5 ft
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Must be separated from other materials
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All amounts incur a charge
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Contractor‑produced debris or debris placed by machinery → minimum $300.00 charge
To schedule pickup: Call 334‑793‑5442 Ext 2 (Mon–Thu, 6:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.)
A supervisor will assess debris and provide a quote.
Charges for Trash (larger than 10 ft × 10 ft)
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Minimum Charge: $50.00
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Half Truck Load: $75.00
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Full Truck Load: $150.00
Charges for ANY Yard Debris
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Minimum Charge: $50.00
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Half Truck Load: $75.00
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Full Truck Load: $150.00
Contractor debris: Minimum $300.00
All charges must be paid in full before pickup.
Residents have 7 business days to pay after assessment. Failure to pay → debris moved back onto resident’s property.
Placement Guidelines
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Do not place Trash in the street.
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Do not block gutters, ditches, or drainage systems.
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Do not place Trash around hydrants, signs, poles, meters, fences, etc.
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Do not place Trash under low wires, tree limbs, or near mailboxes.
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County will not pick up tree stumps or land‑clearing debris.
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County will not pick up batteries, tires, or propane tanks.
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Burning on right‑of‑way is prohibited; burn debris will not be collected.