🗑️ How to Properly Place Your Garbage Curbside:

As simple as it seems, there is a right and a wrong way to place your garbage cans at the street for your residential waste pick up. Many of our trucks are now called ASL (Automated Side Loaders) trucks. These trucks allow for our crews to remain safely in the cab of the truck instead of walking behind the truck and manually grabbing and dumping your cans. Driver controlled arms extend to grab the garbage or recycling can, lift the cart into the air and dump into the trash receptacle, before placing the cart back on the ground. In order to do this, it is necessary for cans to be properly placed at the curb. 

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Face the Handles Toward Your Home
  • The lid opening should face the street, and the cart handles should face your house.
  • This allows the mechanical arm to securely grab and lift the bin.

Give It Some Space - Place your cart at least 3 feet away from:
  • Other Carts
  • Mailboxes
  • Cars
  • Trees
  • Utility Poles

    Keep It at the Curb, Not in the Street
    • The cart should be placed on the edge of your curb or driveway, not in the roadway.
    • Avoid placing it behind parked vehicles or objects that block visibility or access.

    Don’t Overfill the Cart
    • Keep the lid completely closed. Overfilled carts can spill during pickup or damage the truck’s equipment.
    • Overflowing or improperly filled carts may not be collected.
    • Need an extra cart? Add one to your service plan by visiting your customer portal or contacting your local office. 

    Set It Out on Time
    • Make sure your cart is at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day, or the night before.
    • Collection times may vary due to weather, routes, or equipment.

    📏 What Does 3 Feet Look Like?

    We get it—not everyone walks around with a measuring tape! If you’re unsure how far 3 feet is, think of these everyday items:

    • A yardstick (literally three feet)
    • A baseball bat
    • A guitar
    • The depth of most kitchen countertops
    • The height of a 3- to 4-year-old child
    • A folded beach umbrella

    Use one of these as a guide to help space your cart correctly from other objects on collection day.

    🚛 Why Proper Cart Placement Matters

    Our ASL trucks are designed to be fast, safe, and efficient—but only when carts are placed correctly. Here’s why your help matters:

    • Avoid Missed Pickups: Improperly placed carts may be skipped to keep routes on schedule.
    • Protect Property: The mechanical arm can accidentally hit obstacles if there’s not enough clearance.
    • Improve Safety: With less need for drivers to exit the truck, ASL service keeps both our crews and your neighborhood safer.
    • Speed Up Service: Well-placed carts help us complete your route quickly and get to everyone on time.

    💡 Friendly Reminders

    Unsure of your pickup schedule? Check your service day here in your Customer Portal.

    By following these simple cart placement guidelines, you’re helping us deliver the clean, reliable service you expect from Capital Waste Services.

    Thank you for doing your part to keep our communities clean, safe, and running smoothly!