Oak Ridge Today

Fall leaf pickup starts Monday

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The annual citywide leaf pickup program will begin Monday, November 22. The program is starting a week earlier in order to “pick up the influx of leaves that have recently fallen,” a press release said.

The pickup is coordinated by Waste Connections of Tennessee. Collection efforts will follow the proposed schedule as closely as possible, the press release said.

“Please note that the proposed schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably from the actual schedule due to weather conditions, resident participation, and the amount of leaves needed to be picked up,” the release said.

The following guidelines will help make the leaf pickup process easier for Waste Connections crews and home owners, the press release said:

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City explains need for space between garbage, recycling bins at curb

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The City of Oak Ridge has explained the need for space between garbage and recycling bins at the curb under a new contract with Waste Connections, the trash collector.

New blue 95-gallon garbage cans have been dropped off at Oak Ridge homes. The city and Waste Connections have asked residents to place the carts at least five feet away from other objects such as mailboxes and cars, avoid placing them under trees and power lines, and keep garbage and recycling containers at least three feet apart.

In a short video posted by the city, the garbage cans are shown being picked up by a hydraulic arm and dumped into a Waste Connections truck.

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New garbage bins dropped off at homes

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New garbage bins are being dropped off at Oak Ridge homes. The deliveries began Monday, June 21. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

New garbage bins are being dropped off at Oak Ridge homes. The deliveries began Monday, June 21.

The blue bins should be used for your household garbage and brought to the curb on your scheduled pickup date starting in July, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

The new, 95-gallon trash bins will eliminate the need for residents to purchase multiple 32-gallon bins to accommodate household waste, the press release said.

Many residents already participate in the recycle program and have previously been provided a brown cart that is taken to the curb. This service has not changed, but if you do not already own a brown recycle cart, one will be provided to you upon request, the press release said.

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Garbage has to be brought to curb starting July 1

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The Waste Connections Convenience Center is pictured on Warehouse Road in east Oak Ridge on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 6:30 p.m.

With limited exceptions, garbage cans in Oak Ridge will have to be brought to the curb for the weekly pickup starting July 1, and there will be a $1.20 monthly fee increase for the waste disposal service.

The city’s previous 25-year contract is expiring, and the new contract will start July 1.

Unlike many cities, Oak Ridge has had a “backdoor pickup” garbage service for years, but that is ending. With that back door service, garbage would be picked up away from the curb—at a back door, for example.

Under the new contract, people with qualifying disabilities will still be eligible for backdoor garbage and recycling services. (More information is included below.)

As part of the contract change to curbside pickup, new large 95-gallon trash bins will be provided at no cost, a press release said.

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Waste Connections accepting large items, brush this month

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Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge

The Waste Connections Convenience Center on Warehouse Road had temporarily stopped accepting bulk items and brush and yard waste due to COVID-19.

But the center is accepting these items again this month.

The convenience center was scheduled to start accepting bulk items and metal on Monday, May 4. It is scheduled to begin accepting brush and yard waste on Monday, May 18.

A bulk item is something that doesn’t fit in your garbage can. Examples include furniture, appliances, electronics, wood waste, and tires.

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City’s leaf pickup program under way

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The City of Oak Ridge’s leaf pickup program for 2019 began on Monday, November 25. It is coordinated by Waste Connections of Tennessee. Collection efforts will follow the proposed schedule as closely as possible, a press release said.

“Please note that the proposed schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably from the actual schedule due to weather, resident participation, and the amount of leaves collected,” the press release said.

The following guidelines will help make the leaf pickup process easier for Waste Connections crews and homeowners, the press release said:

[Read more…]

Roads slippery, snow-covered; schools, Key Springs closed

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Streets in Oak Ridge, including main roads, were snow-covered and slippery Tuesday evening, Jan. 16, 2018, and schools announced they would be closed again on Wednesday. Above, the Oak Ridge Police Department responds to a crash on South Illinois Avenue near Centrifuge Way on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo courtesy ORPD/City of Oak Ridge)

Streets in Oak Ridge, including main roads, were snow-covered and slippery Tuesday evening, Jan. 16, 2018, and schools announced they would be closed again on Wednesday. Above, the Oak Ridge Police Department responds to a crash on South Illinois Avenue near Centrifuge Way on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo courtesy ORPD/City of Oak Ridge)

 

Streets in Oak Ridge, including main roads, were snow-covered and slippery Tuesday evening, and schools announced they would be closed again on Wednesday. Key Springs Road—a steep, curvy road that goes down Black Oak Ridge from north Oak Ridge to Marlow—was closed.

The Oak Ridge Police Department advised residents to stay home if they don’t have to be on the roads tonight.

“All roads are snow-covered,” the ORPD said Tuesday evening. “(Oak Ridge) Public Works crews are working to clear and treat roads.”

Even heavily traveled main roads such as Illinois Avenue and Oak Ridge Turnpike were snow-covered and slippery Tuesday evening. Side streets were as well.

The snow, which had started at about 1 p.m. Tuesday, continued past 7 p.m. The forecast had called for a few inches. [Read more…]

Convenience Center in Oak Ridge will be closed New Year’s Day

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Waste Connections of Tennessee will close the Convenience Center located at 400 Warehouse Road in Oak Ridge all day Sunday, January 1, 2017 (New Year’s Day).

There will be no change to the weekly residential refuse and recycling pick-up schedule, a press release said.

For more information, you can contact Waste Connections of Tennessee at (865) 482-3656 or visit the company’s website at wasteconnectionsTN.com.

Job Fair at Oak Ridge Library on Sept. 1

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There will be a Job Fair at the Oak Ridge Public Library on September 1. There is an immediate hiring need for car detailers, general laborers, and skilled carpenters, a press release said.

The Job Fair will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, September 1. It will be hosted by Aqilah Rashid, recruiting coordinator for Trueblue/Labor Ready in Knoxville, the press release said. Trueblue is currently partnered with Waste Connections, Covenant Health, Hertz, and the current construction on the Oak Ridge Mall. [Read more…]

Council agenda: Preschool report, Waste Connections contract extension

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Elm Grove Park Oct. 21, 2015

Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge has been proposed as a site for a new preschool, and it’s considered the best potential location. The Oak Ridge City Council will consider accepting a report recommending that site during a 7 p.m. meeting on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Other items on the Oak Ridge City Council agenda tonight include possible acceptance of a report that recommends building a new preschool at Elm Grove Park and a five-year contract extension for Waste Connections of Tennessee, the city’s garbage and recyclables contractor.

As previously reported, tonight’s meeting (Monday, January 11) will also include a report on city manager evaluations, with possible discussion of a one-year contract extension and 2 percent pay raise, and a brief update on Main Street Oak Ridge, the $80 million project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The preschool report was presented to Oak Ridge City Council and Oak Ridge Board of Education in October. It came from the Joint City/Schools Preschool Planning Committee, which determined whether to remodel the 70-year-old Preschool building on New York Avenue, lease and renovate a building, or build a new one. [Read more…]

Waste Connections announces new holiday schedule for 2016

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Waste Connections Incorporated has announced significant changes to its holiday pick-up schedule of garbage and recyclables within the City of Oak Ridge, a press release said.

Effective January 1, 2016, the only holidays that Waste Connections will be closed and not servicing the residents of Oak Ridge will be on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If one of these holidays falls on a weekend, then there will be no service day change. If the holiday falls during the week, then refuse and recyclables will be picked up one day later. [Read more…]

Garbage truck overturns in Oliver Springs

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Oliver Springs Waste Connections Truck

Photo by Kenneth Morgan

 

Note: This story was updated at 5 p.m.

A Waste Connections truck overturned on Tri County Boulevard at Windrock Road at about 6:30 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Oliver Springs Police Chief Kenneth Morgan said the driver, Timothy Goodale, was taken to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge with minor injuries.

Approximately 35 to 40 gallons of diesel fuel leaked onto the ground from the loaded truck, with some flowing into Indian Creek, Morgan said. Cleanup was provided by Waste Connections and performed by Hepco.

The Oliver Springs Police Department responded to the crash, and the Oak Ridge Fire Department HazMat team was called to help the Oliver Springs Fire Department.

Here are photos by Morgan and fire photographer Tom Scott.

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