Tulsa's trash service changes this week

TULSA - Starting Monday, Tulsa moves to a three-month interim trash and recycling service.

Along with the interim service, there are major changes all city residents need to be aware of.

Earlier this year, the TARE board decided to change who collects Tulsa's trash, awarding a new company,  known as NeWSolutions, with a 10-year contract.

The company hadn't planned on starting its service until October, but the old trash hauler's contract with the city expired June 30 and the TARE board was unable to reach an agreement with the company to extend the contract through September.

As a result, NeWSolutions is beginning its service three months early.

The interim service runs July 2 through Sept. 30.

Residents will notice several changes to their trash service, the biggest being when it is collected.

"The majority of our customers will receive a change in frequency of collection services, meaning moving from twice-a-week service to once-a-week service," said Liz Hunt, a city spokeswoman.

Residents can also expect their trash to be collected on a different day, with the exception of northwest Tulsa, which already has a once-a-week pickup.

                           View a map of new collection days

Until NeWSolutions begins its full service Oct. 1, residents can put out an unlimited amount of trash, but it must be bagged.

New carts begin arriving later this month and can be used immediately.

Curbside recycling has been temporarily suspended.

"When customers start receiving their new refuse and recycling carts, starting July 16, all customers may begin using those carts and begin recycling immediately," said Hunt.

Until then, residents are encouraged to take their recyclables to one of the city's five M.e.t (Metropolitan Environmental Trust) recycling depots.

Because collection is now once-a-week, monthly service rates will decrease during the interim period.

There are a lot of changes and city officials are asking for patience.

"We recognize that this is a change for customers and we are going to do our best to make this transition as easy as possible for the customer," said Hunt.

Trash will be collected on the Fourth of July.

FIND YOUR TRASH COLLECTION DAY

For more information about the interim trash and recycling service, including a map showing which days trash in your neighborhood will be collected, visit the City of Tulsa's web site.