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1. What goes in my garbage cart?

General
household waste generated (i.e. waste from kitchens and bathrooms).

2. What cannot go in my garbage cart?

Items
that should be set out for trash (i.e. construction or yard waste), unprepared
residential medical waste (i.e. unprotected needles), bodily wastes,
unprotected broken items that could harm crew workers (i.e. mirrors or glass),
or hazardous wastes (i.e. fuels, liquid paints, fertilizers, etc.). No rocks or
dirt should be place in your garbage cart.

3. How do I prepare my garbage for collection?

All bags should be contained inside the cart. Any lose debris or garbage that is stacked on/around containers will not be picked up. Overfilling the containers or packing the containers too tightly, might prevent the garbage from falling out of the containers when the automated grabber arm is emptying the cart. The Solid Waste Division can only service city-owned containers. Prior to placing garbage into the carts, residents are encouraged to bag their garbage to aid in preventing of items from become airborne during the dumping operations. Bagging garbage will help keep lose items from littering our neighborhoods. All Styrofoam Peanuts are to be bagged or placed in a box with the lid taped shut.

Small amounts of yard waste such as grass clippings and leaves may be placed in your garbage carts.

4. When do I put my cart at the curb?

Carts should be at the curb before 5:00 a.m. on your regular collection day to ensure collection.

5. Where should I place my cart for collection?

Carts
are to be at the curb side with four (4) feet of clearance from all stationary objects
to allow the automated grabber arm of the garbage truck to pick-up the
container. Avoid placing the garbage cart under lines/wires or tree
limbs/branches. Stationary objects include but are not limited to: mailboxes,
vehicles, telephone lines/utility wires, tree limbs/branches. Containers are to
be within two (2) feet of the roadway for collection with the containers’ lid
openings facing the street side and the containers’ handles turned away from
the street. Avoid blocking containers with vehicles on service days.

6. Do I have to remove my cart from the curb by a certain time?

Yes.
Carts must be removed from the city right-of-way after collection. 

7. How do I get a city regulated cart?

Once the owner or tenant has established solid waste services through our City’s Utilities Billing and Customer Service Department at (850) 872-3166, you then may notify The Solid Waste Division to deliver you a garbage cart if one is not already at the residence.

8. What if my cart breaks or is broken?

Carts are repaired or replaced at no charge if the damage was due to normal wear and tear. The owner of the property/tenant must call the Solid Waste Division at (850) 872-3172 and request for garbage cart service.

9. What if my cart is lost, missing or stolen?

Please call the Solid Waste Division at (850) 872-3172.

10. Can I take my cart with me when I move?

No,
the garbage carts are the property of the City of Panama City and must remain
at the address to which it was delivered.