Bulk and Brush Program Changes Explanation

Bulk and Brush Program Changes Under Consideration

The City of Dallas is considering ways to improve bulk and brush service delivery and at the same time, turn your bush and yard waste into mulch.

To do this, it would mean changes in the way you put these items at the curb.

Below is the latest proposal which was developed to meet the majority of resident’s needs:

• Brush and yard waste (such as leaves and small limbs) would be picked up monthly, like they are now, but yard waste would need to be placed in “kraft” paper yard bags or compostable bags.
• Bulk items, the big stuff you throw away like appliances, old furniture, and vacuum cleaners, would only be picked up once a quarter, rather than every month.  A bulk limit of 10 cubic yards has been recommended (about the size of 6 full sized refrigerators or sixty-five 32-gallon bags).
• Bulk would be picked up once quarterly during your regularly scheduled brush/yard waste collection week, but it needs to be separated from brush/yard waste for collection.

There are two primary goals for the proposed changes.

• The first goal is to keep your yard waste separate from your trash so it can be diverted from the landfill.  Brush and clean yard waste can be composted or turned into mulch for beneficial reuse.
• The second goal is to increase neighborhood cleanliness and decrease the amount of time bulk and brush waste sits at the curb for collection.  A continuing increase in annual tonnage collected has significantly impacted the Sanitation Department’s ability to collect bulk and brush timely.

Prior to 2014, annual tonnage was typically less than 155,000 tons.  Bulk/brush collections in the past 3 years have resulted in over 175,000 tons annually, with no additional staffing.

Compared to other major Texas cities like Austin, Fort Worth, and San Antonio who collect around 500 – 650 pounds per household per year, Dallas collects almost 1,500 pounds of bulk and brush waste per household annually.

The latest program review also includes a revamped on-demand cost-plus pick-up system to make that process easier and more convenient for residents to use.  If you have an out of cycle collection need, you may contact the city and simply schedule a collection for a volume based fee.

The Department of Sanitation Services has previously briefed other proposals such as alternating monthly collection (one month bulk and one month brush/yard waste) and a proposal for brush and yard waste collected monthly, and bulk items collected on demand.

More details related to proposed changes and previously briefed information can be found in links below.

(www.dallaszerowaste.com)   These changes are recommendations only and they will be briefed to the full City Council on June 6th.   A timeline for implementation of program changes, if approved, has not to be determined.  
 
Bulk and Brush Collection Program Update: http://dallascityhall.com/government/Council%20Meeting%20Documents/qolac_3_bulk-and-brush-collectionchanges-update_combined_051418.pdf

Bulk and Brush Collection Field Survey Results: http://dallascityhall.com/government/Council%20Meeting%20Documents/qolac_2_bulk-and-brush-programupdate_combined_022618.pdf 
 
Bulk and Brush Collection Study Review: http://dallascityhall.com/government/Council%20Meeting%20Documents/qol_5_sanitation-services-bulk-andbrush-program-update_combined_111416.pdf