Refuse Collection

The City of Red Wing provides regular refuse collection services on a one time per week schedule. All Red Wing residents pay for this service.

The refuse collection program allows individuals to help control refuse disposal costs. The monthly charge for once weekly pickup service is noted in the Fee Schedule. This amount covers the cost for disposal of ONE 48 gallon city issued automated cart.

Automated Collection Procedures

On September 18, 2006 the City of Red Wing began citywide Automated Collection of residential solid waste. This method of collection is intended to streamline efficiencies for residential solid waste collection. Thanks to the cooperation of Red Wing residents the City has been able to provide improved service to our residents.

• Carts must be placed in a curbside (or previously agreed upon location) by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
• Lids on the carts should be closed. If the lid does not close and refuse falls out of the cart when the driver attempts to empty the cart you will be charged for extra refuse.
• Carts must be placed with the lid opening facing the street.
• All refuse must be bagged and tied to prevent refuse from littering the streets.
• Cart must be placed at least four feet from any obstruction: parked cars, utility poles, mailboxes, recycling bins, or snowbanks. Do not place recycling bins and extra garbage in front of or directly next to your automated cart.
• If your residence has more than one automated cart, you will need to place the carts four feet apart.
• Yard waste, construction/demolition debris and hazardous waste should not be disposed of in your regular garbage.

If your residential garbage pickup is in an alleyway, you will still need to follow these requirements. The ONLY exception will be the placement location of your automated cart.

Improperly placed carts, overfilled carts, and inaccessible carts may not be emptied or you will be charged a service fee if the driver has to get out of the truck. If your cart is not out on time, you will be charged a call back charge for the truck to return and empty your cart.

It should be noted that city crews DO NOT PICK UP FURNITURE, APPLIANCES OR MATTRESSES

Crews operating the Automated Collection trucks have reported recurring problems they encounter. To ensure residents receive the best service possible, we have identified a list problems they have encountered and provide possible solutions to assist residents with automated collection. Click on the following link for a list of these problems/solutions.

Automated Collection Problems/Solutions

Missed Garbage

Customers who have had their weekly collection missed (meaning it was put out by 6 a.m. and placed in the proper location on your collection day and not picked up by the crew) must notify the Public Works Department at 651.385.3674 or the Solid Waste Division at 651.385.3658 by 4:00 p.m. on their regularly scheduled collection day or by 8:00 a.m. on the following work day to have the container picked up that week.

If your refuse was "missed" because it was not put out on time, not put on your collection day, or not put out in the proper location you will be charged a fee for the crew to return and empty your container either the same day or the following day.

Failure to notify the department will cause the dwelling to forfeit the one can weekly service for that week.

Extra Refuse/Extra Volume

1. Extra volume will be picked up by automated truck any time. However, if the operator gets out of the truck it is a standard charge with the additional amount of refuse not to equal more than another cart. (If residents have extra volume exceeding one additional cart they must call into Public Works and request pick up of extra volume. They will be billed a service charge plus an additional charge for each cart picked up.)
2. If a residence continually generates extra volume (two extra volume pick ups within one billing cycle) they will be required to pay for the monthly service on an additional cart(s). This is an additional amount equal to your monthly refuse collection charge.
3. The City has eliminated the availability and use of extra volume tags.

To request an additional automated refuse cart, please contact the Solid Waste Division at 651.385.3658 or the Public Works Building at 651.385.3674.

For additional Rate and fee information, please click the link below.

2012 Fee Schedule - Solid Waste Division

Sharps Disposal

The City of Red Wing’s policy for Sharps (Needles) disposal is for residents to place needles in a puncture resistant container with a lid or top that can be secured. This container should be either heavy plastic or steel and capped. Once capped the container should have tape wrapped around the container lid or top to ensure a tight seal and then label the outside of the container clearly to indicate the container’s contents includes “Sharps”. This container should be placed in a waste container and NOT be placed in or with recyclables set out at the curb or placed in recycling receptacles within the City or County system to ensure these hazardous materials are DISPOSED of properly.