City of Franklin - Solid Waste FAQs

1) Why is the City deciding now to enforce Title 17 (Refuse and Trash Disposal chapter) of the Municipal Code?
Economic factors, including rising fuel costs, landfill disposal expenses and equipment maintenance costs all contribute to the decision that it is time to enforce our solid waste code that was implemented 2003. For our Solid Waste Department to continue performing collection services as we have in the past is extremely costly, time consuming and inefficient.

2) Why do grass clippings and yard waste have to be in biodegradable paper bags?
Yard waste includes leaves, shrub trimmings, small tree limbs and grass clippings. Title 17 requires these waste items be placed in biodegradable paper bags of not more than 33-gallon capacity. These bags may be purchased at local retailers throughout our City. Yard waste placed in biodegradable paper bags becomes a non-contaminated, recyclable product. Plastic bags contaminate yard waste, as plastic does not decompose. When customers use biodegradable paper bags, we can mix the collected product with brush to create a base for our City Streets Department compost operations.

Biodegradable paper bags containing grass clippings and other yard waste does not need to be placed inside the roll-out container.

3) Why does everything in a rollout container need to be bagged?
Litter prevention is the main reason every thing in the container needs to be bagged. Often when residents see debris blowing around in neighborhoods, the culprit is paper and lightweight trash products not contained in a bag before they are placed in the rollout can as household waste. Empty, lightweight plastic bags need to be contained in a larger bag or filled with approved household refuse, prior to being placed in the rollout container, to further help with litter prevention.

4) What should we do if one rollout container will not hold all of our weekly household garbage?
Residents who, on a weekly basis, cannot close the lid on their City-issued rollout container need to purchase an additional can. The cost of a second rollout can is $75.00 with an added $3.00 per month for weekly service. The City Solid Waste Department will not service any private-owned cans.

5) What items can I NOT place in the rollout container and still have them collected after June 1, 2008?

Brush and limbs, cut by the homeowner, will be collected if the length of branches is no longer than six (6) feet. Trunks or limbs of trees measuring six (6) inches or more in diameter must be cut into pieces no longer than two (2) feet;
Cardboard boxes, broken down and laid flat at curbside, at least two (2) feet from the rollout container;
Yard waste and grass clippings placed in biodegradable paper bags at least two (2) feet from the rollout container;
“White goods” including stoves, refrigerators, freezers and window air conditioners, not installed by a commercial establishment (Williamson County Solid Waste Department collects these items from us to dispose of as recyclables);
Bulky items, including furniture, small appliances (microwaves, televisions), lawnmowers (with the fluids drained) and mattresses

6) What items are prohibited from collection service? Where can these materials be taken for disposal?
Prohibited from placement in rollout containers are:

Flammable substances, including hot ashes;
human or animal waste not contained in sealed bags;
Paint, motor oil, and other liquids;
Tires, batteries and other automotive parts;
Hazardous wastes include any substances that may constitute a hazard to health or may cause property damage by reason of being explosive, flammable, poisonous, corrosive, radioactive, infectious or otherwise harmful to people or equipment; Household hazardous wastes include substances used in small quantities for household projects;

Keep Williamson Beautiful coordinates two (2) annual Household Hazardous Waste Day events, usually scheduled in May and October. For further information, please contact the Keep Williamson Beautiful office at (615) 790-5848 or www.keepwilliamsonbeautiful.org.

The Williamson County Landfill, 5750 Pinewood Road, accepts tires, anti-freeze, motor oil, paint and automotive batteries year round. Contact the landfill office at (615) 790-0742.

Computers and computer components may be recycled year round, for a $7.00 fee, at Clean Earth Recycling, located at 420 Century Court. You may contact Clean Earth Recycling at (615) 595-0095 for details.

7) I use insulin injections to control my diabetes, where or how can I dispose of needles or other medical waste?
The City Solid Waste department does not collect medical waste or any items placed for collection in red bags (the universal symbol for medical waste). Medical and infectious waste is unacceptable for collection in all circumstances. People with medical conditions, such as diabetes, who require at-home injections should coordinate with their physician’s office or local hospital for disposal requirements and options.

8) When and how should I place my rollout can and debris for curbside service?
Your rollout container, yard waste, brush, and other refuse and debris should be placed at the curb no later than 7:00 AM on your scheduled service day. Rollout containers should not be curbside prior to 7:00 PM the day before scheduled collection service. The deadline for removing your empty rollout container from curbside is 7:00 PM, the evening of collection day. The opening lid of your rollout container should face the street.

When parked cars block access to the items placed at the curb, our trucks will not be able to service that location. Please be sure to NOT block access of the items to be collected, including the rollout container. Public sidewalks, streets and drainage ditches are not acceptable locations for leaving rollout containers and refuse for collection.

9) What can we do with debris left from work completed by contractors? If homeowners complete household work themselves, what should they do with building materials?
All contractors are required to haul away their own debris. Debris may include, but is not limited to, tree limbs and yard clippings, re-modeling debris, glass windows or doors and broken appliances installed by someone other than the homeowner. Placing these items at curbside for collection by your City Solid Waste collector is prohibited. Homeowner’s not in compliance may receive citations from the City of Franklin Codes Enforcement Officers.

If the homeowner does the re-modeling job, cleans out the garage, or replaces landscaping, there are four options:

For clean-up and re-modeling you may request an 8-cubic yard container, or dumpster, be delivered to your home. Dumpster service is available weekly for a fee of $75.00 per service. Please call the President of your Homeowner’s Association to approve your plan, prior to calling the Solid Waste office to schedule delivery. To discontinue service, call the Solid Waste office to request dumpster pick-up and discontinuance of service.
Debris can be delivered to our City of Franklin transfer station, located at 411 Century Court. Any waste brought to the station is weighed; customers are charged $29.50 per ton. The minimum fee for disposal is $10.00. Checks are the only form of payment accepted.
Homeowners can call our office and schedule a truck for collection of materials left from contracted work. Charge for this service is $100.00 per load.
The Williamson County Landfill and county-operated convenience centers accept debris from special projects. You may contact the landfill at 615.790.0742 for specific locations, operating hours and further details.

SOLID WASTE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS