Carmel makes temporary changes to trash, recycling services

To ensure the health and safety of the Carmel community, the following temporary changes will be made to residential trash and recycling collection. These changes took place on Friday, March 27 and will be in effect until April 20, and may be extended if warranted.

While basic trash and recyclables pick up will continue, the City of Carmel Utilities and Republic Services have temporarily suspended bulk item and bulky landscape waste pick up. However, landscape waste that fits into trash bags or the trash cart will still be accepted.

Trash and recyclables collection will continue through their respective carts. Trash is to be bagged and recyclables kept loose. Since the Governor’s stay-at-home order was implemented, trash and recycling volumes have increased by more than 25 percent causing routes to go slower than normal.

The basic service in Carmel also includes 20 extra bags of landscape waste per week during the months of April and May and Oct. 15 through Dec. 15. That aspect of the service will continue but may be subject to change.

Because of the additional volume on routes, extra bags of landscape waste may be picked up by a truck other than your regular trash truck. There also might be a delay in service for bagged landscape waste. Residents are requested to put bagged landscape waste in their trash cart whenever possible.

Republic Services is taking every precaution necessary to limit the exposure to the virus for all of their employees. Bulk item pick up requires two staff members to travel together and work as a team to remove objects. This close proximity is not recommended by health experts.

For questions regarding trash service please contact Republic Services at (317) 917-7300. Detailed recycling questions can be answered at recyclingsimplified.com. Questions about residential trash billing can be directed to (317) 571-2442.