News Release - City Resumes Bulk Refuse Collection Effective Monday, May 18 as part of Community Reopening

City of Rochester

News Release

(Thursday, May 7, 2020) – Effective Monday, May 18, the City of Rochester’s Department of Environmental Services will resume bulk refuse collection as part of the initial reopening of our community. Bulk Refuse collection was initially paused to preserve the City’s ability to continue normal refuse and recycling pickup and protect employee and public health during the COVID-19 crisis. Fortunately, as time has progressed, the City has not seen the level of illness initially feared among its DES employees and is able to reinstate this important service. Normal refuse and recycling collection will continue on its normal schedule.

“I want to thank our residents for their patience and assistance during this difficult time and I’m thrilled to announce that we will restart bulk refuse pickup on Monday, May 18,” said DES Commissioner Norman Jones. “It may take a week or two for us to catch up with all of the material people have stored. However, we will be working diligently to do so.”

Bulk items include furniture, tree branches and other large items that don’t fit within the usual refuse toters. Garbage bags and other smaller items that can fit into residents' refuse toters must be placed within them to ensure pickup. If there is an emergency need for bulk refuse pickup before May 18, residents should call 311.

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News Media: For more information, contact the Communications Bureau at 428-7135.