• Trash service includes weekly collection with a cart. If you have additional bags of trash or large items that don't fit in your cart, see the sections called "Extra Bags" or "Oversized Trash" for instructions.
• Residential trash service is for normal household trash and does not include construction and/or remodeling debris.
• Be sure to follow waste acceptance guidelines carefully.
• Please bag all your trash, even if you are putting it in your cart. This helps ensure we can contain the trash when it’s being dumped.
• Double bag loose waste like kitty litter, animal waste, sawdust, ashes, insulation and packing peanuts.
• Place long items like broom handles, curtain rods, etc. on the ground beside the trash.
• Please limit weight of the trash in your cart to 200 pounds or less and limit your trash bags to 30 gallons or less and 30 pounds or less.

Every Granger customer has a collection day, not a collection time. We will always communicate with you ahead of time if we need to change your collection day for any reason. However, due to various factors, we can’t guarantee that your trash will be picked up at the same time every week. The best way to ensure it is collected is to put it out by 7 a.m. on your collection day.

For more information on why you have a collection day, not a collection time, read our blog post.

Bag tags are used by residents 60 and older for pay-as-you-throw trash collection without a cart. One bag tag must also be placed on each extra bag (more than the three additional allowed each week) put out by any resident with cart service.

Bag tags can be purchased from the City of Ithaca or Ric's Food Center for $2 each. You can also purchase them from our website here.

You may place up to three additional bags of trash outside your cart each week. However, you must place a bag tag on each additional bag you want collected.

Collection of one bulk item (mattresses, stoves, refrigerators) per month is included in service. However, you must contact us in advance by completing the bulk request form or calling 1-888-947-2643.

We pick up bulk items in Ithaca on Fridays. Please contact us by noon on Wednesday for collection that Friday.

• Be sure your cart and bags are not obstructed or buried by snow.
• Keep your cart out of the street to avoid any plow truck casualties.
• Make sure your cart can be closed all the way so snow and rain can't get in. This will help keep the contents from freezing. Whenever trash is frozen to the container, we may have trouble emptying all of it.
• Remember that uncontrollable weather situations, such as steep grades that are icy or snowy, dirt roads that become very icy, lack of turnaround space due to areas not plowed, very low wind chill factor, reduced visibility due to blizzard conditions or freezing rain or closed or unplowed roads with deep snow, may affect our ability to service your account.

Occasionally, your trash won’t get picked up on your collection day. There may be a good reason for the delay, such as not being out when the truck was at your house or a holiday or weather delay, but it could be a mistake on our part.

In most cases, we won’t be able to return to your house that week, but we’ll be happy to pick up any extras on your next collection day. If you’re not sure why your collection was missed or can’t wait until the next collection, please contact us.

For more information, read our blog post.