Our FAQs are grouped by the following categories; Garbage Recycling Household Hazardous Waste Landfill Tours Miscellaneous Garbage What's the difference between garbage and trash? Garbage is basically food waste, paper products or most things that come out of the kitchen or bathroom. Trash can be lots of things including grass clippings, twigs, hedge clippings; or it can be junk or rubbish - generally, it's anything that doesn't come out of your kitchen or bathroom. What happens to my garbage or trash when I put it on the curb? Huntsville Residents The Huntsville City Sanitation Dept. picks up your garbage AND your trash. Madison Residents Your garbage is collected by the Madison County Waste Control Dept.. Your trash is collected by the city of Madison. Madison County Residents The Madison County Waste Control Dept. picks up your garbage. Your trash is collected by your county commissioner's office. Once garbage trucks are loaded, the majority of them empty their trucks at the Huntsville Waste-to-Energy facility. One of the great advantages of this facility is that it reduces the volume of garbage by 90%. So, only 10% of the volume of garbage that we put on the curb is actually landfilled. By the time our garbage goes through the combustion process at the facility, it becomes ash, which is transported to the landfill for disposal. However, we go one step further before disposing of the ash. We remove the ferrous and non-ferrous metals from the ash and send them to be recycled. Another big advantage of the waste-to-energy facility is that the combustion process produces steam that Redstone Arsenal uses to heat its buildings and run some of its equipment. Also, the facility is equipped with state-of-the-art pollution control equipment, which monitors the round-the-clock combustion processes. Who do I call if my garbage is not picked up? The Solid Waste Disposal Authority is responsible for garbage disposal, not garbage collection. Please call the following offices for assistance regarding your garbage collection: City of Huntsville Residents Call the Huntsville City Sanitation Dept., 256-883-3964. For a holiday collection schedule go to the Public Works section of the City's website City of Madison Residents Call the Madison County Waste Control Dept., 256-532-1513. Or go to the Madison County website, scroll to the bottom of the County Departments page. Madison County Residents Call the Madison County Waste Control Dept., 256-532-1513. Or go to the Madison County website and scroll to the bottom of the County Departments page. How do I dispose of flammable, toxic, or poisonous items in my garage? On the first Saturday of each month, bring these items to the Handle with Care household hazardous waste facility, 4100 Leeman Ferry Rd (just south of the Leeman Ferry and Johnson Rd. intersection) from 8 a.m. till Noon. No charge. In the event of a holiday, collections are scheduled for the 2nd Saturday. If you can't make it on the first Saturday, please call 256-880-6054 for a weekday appointment. Special arrangements can be made for the handicapped and disabled by calling 256-880-6054. For a complete list of acceptable items, go to the Household Hazardous Waste Program page. Can I bring garbage to the waste-to-energy facility or the landfill myself - and what is the cost? Yes, both disposal facilities accept garbage from individuals and businesses. Disposal rates vary according to type of material and weight; so you may want to call ahead and get information, 256-880-6054. The Huntsville Landfill is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. The landfill is closed on weekends. The waste-to-energy facility is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. I've just done a major garage/storage building clean up and want to dispose of some "stuff" - do I take it to the waste-to-energy facility or the landfill? Waste-to-Energy Facility Landfill Small burnable items Furniture Household garbage Cabinets Paper products Construction and demolition debris Passenger tires Shingles Tree limbs, stumps, brush ("green" waste) Appliances Large tires (truck/heavy equipment tires) Items like paint/paint products, lawn and garden poisons, used motor oil, antifreeze, automotive fluids, cleaners, solvents, acids, batteries and fluorescent lights should be taken to the Handle With Care household hazardous waste facility, 4100 Leeman Ferry Road (just south of the Leeman Ferry and Johnson Road intersection), 8 a.m. - Noon on the 1st Saturday of each month. In the event of a holiday, collections are scheduled for the 2nd Saturday. If you can't make the monthly collection, please call 256-880-6054. For a complete list of acceptable items, go to the Household Hazardous Waste Program page. Recycling How do I get a blue recycling bin? Huntsville City residents: please call 256-830-BINS (2467). Madison County and all others who live outside Huntsville: please call 256-532-1513. Huntsville City Residents Please call 256-830-BINS (2467) Madison County and all others who live outside Huntsville Please call 256-532-1513 What can I put in my recycling bin? Newspapers and all inserts Glossy magazines Aluminum and steel cans #1 and #2 small-necked plastic bottles Household dry-cell batteries (put in plastic bag by the bin) Used motor oil (put in a clean, clear plastic container such as a soft drink bottle or one gallon milk jug) A complete list can be found on the Recycling page Where can I recycle glass? You may recycle glass food and beverage bottles by taking them to: Allied Waste 's Recyclery 1004 A Cleaner Way, Huntsville (behind the Animal Control Bldg. On Triana Blvd.). Click here for a. map. Permanent, specially marked bins are accessible 24 hours a day. For more information, call 256-830-2467. Household Hazardous Waste What is household hazardous waste? It is any product or material that can present an environmental hazard when used, stored, or disposed of improperly. Residents of Huntsville and Madison County can safely dispose of these items on the first Saturday of each month at the Handle With Care household hazardous waste facility, 4100 Leeman Ferry Road (just south of the Leeman Ferry and Johnson Road intersection) 8 a.m. - Noon. For questions, please call 256-880-6054. When is the household hazardous waste collection? 1st Saturday of each month, (2nd Saturday in event of a major holiday) 8 a.m. - Noon at the Handle With Care household hazardous waste facility, 4100 Leeman Ferry Rd. (just south of Johnson & Leeman Ferry Road intersection). In the event of a holiday, collections are held on the 2nd Saturday. If you can't make the regular collection day, please call 256-880-6054. For more information, go to the Household Hazardous Waste Program page. Huntsville Landfill What are the landfill hours? Rates? Address? Hours 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday The landfill is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Rates $26.50 per ton - Construction & Demolition Waste,                        Yard Waste and certain other waste. Some examples include: Sheet rock, wallboard, panels, lumber, wood pallets, roofing, wiring, and non-hazardous electrical scrap, pipe, building construction metals, insulation (excluding asbestos), brick, concrete, asphalt, stone, soil, trees, limbs, shrubbery and grass trimmings. $39.90 per ton - other Municipal Solid Waste Minimum charges are applicable in the above categories. The Authority reserves the right to assess all charges and to direct waste to appropriate disposal facilities. For further information, please call 256-880-6054. Address: The address is 4100 Leeman Ferry Road, just south of the Leeman Ferry and Johnson Road intersection. Tours If I want to tour the waste-to-energy facility or the landfill, who do I contact? For the Waste-to-energy facility contact Jason Rogers or call 256-882-1019 For the Landfill contact email SWDA or call 256-880-6054 What is included in these waste disposal facility tours? What type of groups can come on tours? Tour groups are comprised of everyone from elementary school students to senior citizens. Reservations can be made by calling the above. Typical tours include a discussion about the 3 R's (reduce, reuse, recycle), our community's waste handling practices, and a tour of the waste-to-energy facility and/or a driving tour of the landfill. Come see if you can find the Cheerios box you threw away - among the 2,000 tons of garbage at the waste-to-energy facility. Miscellaneous My employee lost a scale house ticket and we need to get a copy. Ticket copies are available by calling 256-880-6054. Cost per copy is $10. How can I open a business account? Business accounts are available. Click here for more information Who do area businesses call to get information about hazardous waste disposal? Please contact Dixie Bray or call 256-880-6054 for assistance. To Top of Page | Home