For detailed information on city codes and refuse collection requirements, please visit the City of Fairbanks Code of Ordinances.
General Guidelines for Residential Household Trash Collection
Ensuring effective waste management is essential for maintaining the cleanliness and safety of our community. The City of Fairbanks has established specific guidelines to help residents comply with garbage collection requirements. These guidelines aim to provide a safe and efficient service for all city residents. Below are detailed explanations of the compliance requirements:
| Animal Waste |
Garbage containing animal waste or kitty litter will not be collected. These materials should be disposed of separately in accordance with local health and safety guidelines. |
| Ash/Soot |
Ash and soot should be bagged and disposed of as cold ashes/soot into a plastic bag. (Sec. 66-24b and Sec. 66-42a) |
| Blocked/Not Accessible |
Garbage must be placed in a visible and accessible location, free from obstructions such as vehicles or snow berms. This ensures that the collection crew can easily retrieve the trash without complications. (Sec. 66-44 and Sec. 66-43c) |
| Bundle/Tie |
Wet cardboard containers will not be collected. Boxes must be folded flat and tied in bundles. Similarly, carpets and brush must be rolled, tied, and not exceed 4 feet in length. |
| Construction Debris |
Any debris resulting from construction must be removed by the contractor responsible for the project. Construction waste is not eligible for residential trash collection. (Sec 66-2b) |
| Frozen in Can |
Trash bags must be removable from the can. Bags frozen inside the can will not be collected. |
| Hazardous Materials |
Garbage bags containing hazardous materials such as petroleum products, cooking oil, paint, chemicals, or any toxic or flammable waste are prohibited. Special handling and pickup arrangements are required for items like ashes, soot, fluorescent bulbs, broken glass, and syringes/sharps. Residents should contact Public Works at 459-6770 for separate pickup services, which are provided free of charge. Disposal of hides or scraps from hunting, trapping, or fishing must follow the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) Landfill instructions. (Sec. 66-42) |
| Heavy/Overweight |
Each garbage bag must not exceed a weight limit of 40 pounds, though there is no limit to the number of bags put out. For items exceeding this weight limit, such as appliances or furniture, separate collection arrangements with Public Works are necessary, and additional fees may apply. (Sec. 66-24) |
| Late Garbage |
Trash must be placed at the curbside by 7:00 AM on the day of collection to ensure pickup. |
| Loose Garbage |
Garbage that has been disturbed or spread by animals should be covered with a tarp or blanket to prevent future issues. Residents must clean loose trash from bins and the surrounding area. All garbage should be placed in tied bags, wrapped, or bundled. (Sec. 66-42) |
| Maggots |
Trash bags containing rotten food or maggots will not be collected. This measure prevents the spread of foul odors and pests. (Sec. 66-43) |
| Needle Violations |
Syringes or sharps require special handling and pickup arrangements. Residents should contact Public Works at 459-6770 to schedule a separate pickup, free of charge. Additionally, Public Works can provide a replacement sharps container upon request. (Sec. 66-42b and Sec. 66-24b) |
| Not Curbside |
Garbage bags must be placed curbside or at the edge of the road, away from the property line and outside of fences. Garbage found in the ditch line must be relocated curbside or at the road’s edge. (Sec. 66-41b and Sec. 66-43c) |
|
Bin Maintenance / Specifications |
Trash bins must be properly constructed, well-maintained, and sanitary. They should be positioned to allow easy access for the collection crew. (Sec. 66-43 and Sec. 66-62c) |
|
Non-Compliance |
Repeated non-compliance with the city’s garbage collection requirements may result in additional charges on your billing statement. (Sec. 66-24b) |
|
Business Trash |
Only residential garbage is eligible for collection. Business or commercial waste, including materials from commercial activities or establishments, is strictly prohibited from curbside collection. Businesses are responsible for arranging their own waste disposal services in accordance with local regulations. (Sec. 66-2b and Sec. 66-21b) |
Sharps, Ash & Hazardous Waste Disposal Guidelines
We need your help to better protect our residents, environment, staff, and equipment. The City of Fairbanks is asking residents to separate three categories of waste from normal trash bags:
1. Sharps: OSHA uses “sharps” to refer to any object that can puncture or lacerate the skin, particularly when contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
2. Ashes: In solid-waste and refuse management, ash refers to the fine, powdery, non-combustible residue left after the burning or incineration of solid waste. It is the material that remains after all combustible components have been consumed.
3. Hazardous household waste: Hazardous household waste is any leftover household product that contains chemicals that can be dangerous to people, pets, or the environment if not stored or disposed of properly. Households often dispose of these items by scheduling a special collection service, not curbside garbage pickup, due to safety and environmental requirements. These items are typically toxic, corrosive, flammable, or reactive and cannot be thrown away with regular trash.
Residents who fail to separate sharps, ashes, and hazardous waste from normal trash will be charged additional fees on their garbage bill:
|
Sharps: $400 per violation |
Ashes: $100 per violation |
Hazardous waste: $100 per violation |
By working together, we can lower operating costs and protect the health and safety of our employees, residents, and community.
If you have sharps, ashes, or hazardous items for collection, please call ahead so trained staff can be dispatched. Otherwise, there may be a short delay while a special pickup is arranged.
(See City Code Section 66 – Solid Waste for more details.)
City Public Works employees have been accidentally poked by improperly discarded needles, requiring medical treatment and months of testing. To protect both our staff and community, residents must safely dispose of sharps using one of the following methods (effective August 2017):
-
Reuse empty household plastic containers (e.g., laundry detergent, bleach, or beverage bottles). Be sure containers are sealed securely and labeled “Sharps.”
-
Use a pre-printed “Sharps” label provided by Public Works to attach to household plastic containers.
-
Request a labeled, repurposed plastic container from Public Works.
When your container is nearly full, please call Public Works at (907) 459-6770 to schedule a pick-up. You may also place the labeled container next to your trash (not inside trash bags). To protect your privacy, sharps containers can be collected directly from your doorstep upon request. We appreciate your cooperation and assure you that your privacy will be respected.
Please place ashes in a separate trash bag labeled “Ashes” next to your regular trash. This helps prevent accidental truck fires — one of which occurred on College Road a few years ago, forcing crews to dump garbage in the street to extinguish the flames. The cleanup disrupted traffic and impacted work productivity. Your help prevents this from happening again.
To protect the environment, please separate hazardous materials such as: paint, solvents, cleaning chemicals, motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze, pesticides, and petroleum products. Place these items next to your regular trash (preferably in a cardboard box). Improper disposal can cause serious safety incidents — in June 2017, motor oil in a trash bag caused a hazardous materials spill on city streets, delaying collection and cleanup efforts.
Guidelines and Specifications for Refuse Bins
Many of our customers prefer to place their bagged refuse in a bin for weekly collection. Bins can be an effective deterrent to unleashed dogs and ravens, and if properly constructed and maintained, they are an asset to both the customer and the collector.
We understand that everyone’s needs are different in terms of capacity and aesthetics. Please use the following guidelines to construct a bin that fits your needs and allows us to provide clean and efficient refuse collection service.
Remember, if you choose to construct a bin, it is your responsibility to maintain the bin and the surrounding area in a sanitary manner, including snow removal to ensure access to the bin and the ability to open doors. Under City Code 66-43, bins and receptacles must be kept in good condition and properly maintained. Containers that are broken, unsanitary, inaccessible, or otherwise non-compliant may be subject to abatement by the City, and failure to correct violations may result in a $100 fine.
Bin Construction & Maintenance Guidelines
✅ DO:
- Elevate the bin to a height of 30” (inches) above ground level;
- Construct an adequate size bin. If you need more capacity, increase the length of your bin.
- Height: maximum 4’ (feet)
- Depth: maximum 3’ (feet)
- Length: to your capacity expectations
- Mount the doors to open horizontally onto the street.
- Make the doors large enough to remove a large bag of refuse.
- Make the doors full height so there are no lips or ledges to snag bags on.
- Provide a screened window in the doors for ventilation.
- If you install a latch on the doors, make sure the latch mechanism is easily workable (collection crews wear heavy gloves during extreme weather).
- Install handles on the doors that a worker can easily grasp while wearing heavy gloves.
- Slope the roof away from the street so that rain and snowmelt will run off the back side of the bin.
- Drill holes in the floor to let liquids escape. (This is handy when cleaning out your bin).
- Contact Public Works at 459-6770 before you place your bin to determine the best position for you and for us.
❌ DON'T:
- Allow any fasteners, nails, screws, screening, chicken wire etc. to be exposed where they will cut and tear your bags.
- Extend an overhang over the front of your bin.
- Exceed a depth of 3’ (feet).
- Allow loose trash or improperly tied bags to accumulate in and around your bin.