Carlsbad Trash Cart Violators Will be Noted

Under city laws, trash carts may be put out on the street between 6 p.m. the day before collection and 6 a.m. the day of collection. They must be removed no later than midnight the day of collection. 

The city recently switched to a new automated trash collection service, which included swapping out residents’ old trash and green waste cans with more than 100,000 new, wheeled carts that can be lifted by hydraulic arms on specially designed trash trucks. “Residents have done a great job making the switch to the new trash service,” said Craig Schmollinger, management analyst for the city’s Utilities Department. “The goal of this effort is to give a friendly reminder to residents about the need to take their carts in after trash day.” 

According to Schmollinger, some residents have left their carts out because they want a different size, and a few just don’t want to use the new system.  

“We want to keep our neighborhoods safe and clean,” says Schmollinger. “When solid waste carts are left out all week, they interfere with street parking and street sweepers.” 

Residents who would like to help this effort can print out a letter from the city website, carlsbadca.gov/trash, and deliver it to neighbors who leave their carts out.  

According to Schmollinger, the city has the ability to impose fines and even remove trash carts from residences that don’t comply with the rules; however city staff are hopeful that the friendly reminders will do the trick.

Residents may change the number and size of their carts by calling Waste Management at 866-WM-RECYCLE.  

–City of Carlsbad