Answers to common questions
Below is a list of questions we answer frequently. If your question is not addressed here, you can call us at (800) 234-6881 or use our contact form to send us your question via email. A customer care representative will contact you promptly.
- What is your holiday schedule?
- We observe New Years Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. For the City of Indianapolis, we also observe Martin Luther King Day. Download our calendar (
720Kb) for easy reference to our holiday observance schedule. - What happens when my service day falls on a holiday?
- As a general rule, holidays push our pickup schedules back one day. For example, if a holiday falls on a Monday, Monday's routes will be run on Tuesday, Tuesday's routes on Wednesday, and so forth through Saturday.
- What time does the trash have to be out at the curb?
- All refuse must be placed at the curb by 6:00 am on your collection day.
- Is my recycling material collected on the same day as the trash?
- Yes.
- How many toters (carts) are we allowed to have?
- Each resident on an automated route receives one toter for no additional charge with the service. If you would like additional toters we will provide up to 3 for a nominal fee per month.
- Does the trash inside the cart have to bagged?
- Yes. All trash must be bagged and placed inside the toter (if applicable) or your own personal trash cans. If you do not use trash cans please make sure your bagged trash is securely prepared.
- Do you take large items and when?
- When you call our office 24 hours in advance of your pickup day, we take heavy items on your normal trash pickup day (sometimes with a different vehicle). There is a nominal fee for the special pickup based on the type of item. Prices begin at $25.00.
- What if we have extra bags?
- Please call our office 24 hours in advance to advise us of the extra trash. There will be a charge of 50 cents per bag. If you are in the city of Greenwood you can go to the sanitation department to purchase stickers.
- What do you accept for curbside recycling?
- Acceptable
- Aluminum and metal cans (labels do not have to be removed)
- All plastic that is marked with the #1 or #2 in the recycling symbol (please flatten 2 liter and gallon milk jugs)
- Bundled or tied newspaper
- Magazines
- Glass
- Milk Cartons
- Building Materials or scrap metal
- Waxed paper or cardboard
- Window glass, light bulbs or ceramics
- Plastics other than products coded #1 or #2
- Cans - rinse clean
- Newspapers - place in paper bag or bundle
- Flatten plastic milk and soda pop bottles to save space in your container.
- Why are you automating some recycling routes?
- The main reason, in our mind, is our employees. Waste and Recycling is one of the top five most dangerous jobs in America today. Because of the physical nature of our business, hopping in and out of a truck all day, bending, twisting and lifting, our drivers suffer injuries all of the time. By going to an automated system, we are investing in and extending the working life of our employees. That is also good news for you. By not having to continually replace your driver with someone not as familiar with your stop, you will see and increased consistency and better all around service.
- How will I know if my recycling service will be changing?
- Don't worry; Republic will notify you by mail of any service changes. We will also attach a flyer to your new recycle cart upon arrival, reminding you of the change along with a recycling schedule calendar.
- When you automated recycling you changed our service level from weekly to every other week (EOW), shouldn't my price be reduced?
- One would initially think that is the case, however it isn't. Keep in mind the main reason we changed to automation was to extend the working life of our employees and provide you with a consistent product (Refer to "Why are you automating some recycling routes"). In doing so, we incur increased costs through the form of larger, more expensive, recycle carts and specialized trucks that cost over $225,000 each. When the smaller 18 gallon bins were in use, we asked you, the customer, to sort your recyclables in the bin before we picked them up. Now with our new system, you no longer have to spend your time sorting items. Just mix them all together. Although this is much more convenient for you, it actually increases our costs. Republic now must spend additional time sorting and processing the recyclable materials at our material recovery facility.
- In my neighborhood you have gone to every other week (EOW) automated recycling. I am afraid I will not be able to recycle as much as before.
- Studies have proven that if you have a bigger container, people recycle more. In the past, our curbside bins would hold only 18 gallons of recyclables. Our new containers not only hold over 3 times more (65 gal), they are much easier to take to the curb. By recycling, we are helping to conserve energy, save our natural resources and reduce waste going into landfills. In this case, more is better.
- What should I do if I forget my automated recycle pick up day since it goes every other week?
- Our automated recycling pick up schedule is based on odd or even weeks of the month. Please open up our calendar ( 720Kb) to view the schedule. If you do not remember if your pick up week was odd or even, please e-mail us by clicking on the Customer Care tab at the top of this page or call our customer service department at 317-917-7300 ext. 0 for assistance.
- When will you pick up my bagged leaves?
- Republic will pick up leaves starting November 5th running thru November 30th for individual subscription accounts. If you are in a City/Town where you pay for your trash service through you taxes, please contact your City/Town for leaf removal instructions.
- Do my leaves need to be in my cart (automated routes)?
- If you can fit your leaves into your cart, we would prefer that. However, you are allowed 10 additional bags of leaves only, outside of your cart. You will be charged $.50 per bag for any bags over the weekly 10 bag limit.
- Will you pick up my leaves on the same day as my trash?
- In most cases yes. If you are within the 10 bag limit everything will be picked up on the same day as your trash. If you are over the limit, please email (click on the Customer Care tab at the top of the page) or call us at 800-234-6881 ext. 0 to arrange pick up. You will be charged $.50 per bag for any bags over the weekly 10 bag limit.
From before dawn until the job is done, our workers are on the road to serve you.