garbage pick up

momo4 · 07-06-2009, 11:17:37 AM

I read in Womans Day mag that you could take your own trash to the dump saving yourself this bill. This had never crossed my mind to do, but I would save about 180.00 per year.

Has anyone else done this or thought about it?

luvmy3boys · 07-06-2009, 11:21:52 AM

I wouldn't do this as trash is stinky and full of diapers! Don't want to put it in the car. But if you have a pick up truck (and no diapers :)) it might work out. My trash is only $10 a month.

ineedcoupons2 · 07-06-2009, 11:38:10 AM

Been thinking about this also. I pay $16 a month, for a once weekly pick-up. Half the time the dumpster isn't full. I do have a toddler, but she is potty trained, so no worries about stinky pull-ups, and we put most of the food items in the garbage disposable. I read an article that if I sort my trash (newspaper, plastic, glass) they wont be calculated in the weight of my trash. So my next step is to call the city dump & see how much they charge per pound, then factor in the distance & time to get there.

anaj06 · 07-06-2009, 11:42:15 AM

How much would it cost you in gas to drive to the dump a couple of times a month? Also, is it worth your time? I know around here on Saturday mornings (which is when I can go) there are huge lines...

Lucky1307 · 07-06-2009, 01:08:03 PM

I don't have a problem with trash pick-up because we recycle most items and burn what is left. We did have to make to runs to the dump(after cleaning out BF's mothers sheds) and I refuse to go back. First off our dump is not car friendly, there was little and then no rock and plenty of debris to put nice little holes in tires. Second the smell was over powering. It is hot here and the extra rain makes it worse. Finally call and check on prices. There is a $15 dumping fee in addition to the weight of the trash. And they have some hidden fees like $10 if there is no tarp over the trash.

momo4 · 07-06-2009, 01:34:48 PM

I just called the local landfill, and the cost would be 6.00 minimum to drop off our trash. That plus the mileage/gas and possibly picking up a nail in my tire makes it seem kind of silly to bother with. Oh well scratch that idea for me.

TheWoman · 07-06-2009, 02:32:34 PM

Our landfill charges a minimum of $13 no matter how small the load. While our trash pickup is expensive we wouldn't save any money even if we only took the trash every 2 weeks once you factor in gas. Anyway, it is really nice that the raw fish bones that I just threw in the trash will be picked up in a couple of days and I don't have to deal with them.

annielaurie_us · 07-06-2009, 03:02:27 PM

It will cost me money seeing that I am paying it on my town water bill so I would be paying twice as much

sadlady12 · 07-06-2009, 03:28:28 PM

My experiences:

I used to live where there was no garbage pick-up and so we had no choice but to haul it to the dump. If you plan to go only once every 2 weeks or twice a month, that means having to keep 2 weeks worth of trash stored somewhere at your house, safe from animals and rain and whatever else you run into where you live. If the rain gets to it, the bags will get water in them and are Heavy, not to mention, can easily tear and rip apart. Having a pick-up truck has always been essential to us, for many other reasons, so that made things easier but still left such a nasty mess when we had to haul the trash off, that it always required a washing, either at a car wash or at home, either way, costs money. After sitting anywhere for 2 weeks, trash gets really bad smelling and leaks are inevitable. If you go more often than that, you then spend as much in gas and fees(if applicable) to haul it away yourself.

Now we have moved and we have trash pick-up twice a week!! I only pay 15 a month for service that is added to my water bill anyway regardless if there is trash in the can or not. It's so worth it to me that I would just have to cut expenses somewhere else because, I would pay up to 50 a month for trash service!! I sooooo appreciate not having to deal with trash!!!