Phoenix residents, say goodbye to the old days of waiting for the city to decide when your bulk trash gets picked up. Starting September 30, the City of Phoenix is shifting to a new appointment-based system for bulk trash collection. Phoenix folk will now have the power to schedule pickups online at their convenience, according to ABC15.
The switch means that the mysterious, sometimes cumbersome wait for neighborhood-specific quarterly pick-up dates is now a thing of the past. The city's new program not only promises residents more control over when their trash is carted away, but it also pledges to reduce the time unsightly piles of junk linger curbside. "It will also allow drivers to create more efficient routes based on pickup requests," the city officials pointed out. But remember, while you can schedule up to four pickups annually, blackouts on certain holidays will still apply.
Citing chronic issues with overflowing trash piles and delayed bulk collections that the city struggled with in the past, these changes are an attempt to address past inefficiencies. Back in 2022, ABC15 reported on the bulk trash problems that engulfed parts of Phoenix for several months, with the city acknowledging staffing woes at the time. This forthcoming approach aims to build more calculated, practical routes, essentially tossing the old system where drivers blindly scoured streets on the hunt for piles of trash.
For those itching to get a jump on the pristine, clutter-free streetscape promised by the new system, the 12News website details the program's benefits: "Customers have the convenience of scheduling a pickup based on their projects, yard work, clean-ups, or storms." Yet make no mistake, some things don't change. The rules on what can and cannot be thrown out are still in full effect, so check the guidelines before you heave that old couch or pile of branches to the curb.
