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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- It has been almost two months since the City of Ottumwa switched over to an automated trash collection system. There have been some problems, but nothing major. Officials with the city and Bridge City Sanitation are asking customers to follow a few guidelines when putting their trash-cart on the curb.

“We prefer that the trash can be as close to the curb as we can possibly get it. We want a distance of approximately three feet between any obstacles, whether it is a light pole, mailbox or recycling container,” said Jason Blunt of Bridge City Sanitation.

Blunt also wants customers to know that they need to place their containers out on the curb the night before.

One of the bigger problems that garbage truck drivers are encountering is that garbage is not being put in garbage bags; rather, customers are just throwing their waste into the trash-cart.

“It’s really important with this new program for everyone to bag their trash before they put it in the can,” said Jody Gates, Director of the Ottumwa Health Department.

Gates says by doing so, you are preventing the garbage from being scattered around the neighborhood.

“When the wind catches items that are not bagged, like paper or plastic, they just sail all around your neighborhood. So, do yourself and your neighbors a favor and bag your trash before you put it in your trash-cart,” said Gates.

Another problem that garbage truck drivers are experiencing is the accessibility to the trash-carts.

“Accessibility seems to be one of the biggest obstacles we are having right now. Parked cars is the most obvious one. If a homeowner or neighbor would not park in-front of the trash-cart, it would make our job a lot easier and accessible,” said Blunt.

Some of these helpful hints would go a long way in making trash collecting in Ottumwa easier for both the customer and Bridge City Sanitation.

If you have any questions, please contact the Ottumwa Health Department at 641-683-0650 or Bridge City Sanitation at 641-682-8118