Automated Garbage Collection

On Monday, April 28, approximately 7,000 High Point residents will begin receiving information about the city’s new automated garbage collection system, which will be implemented for those 7,000 households beginning May 5.

With automated collection, a garbage truck, equipped with a lifting mechanism on the side, pulls up to the garbage container and empties the garbage into the truck. The operator never leaves the truck cab.

Initially, only garbage will be collected with automated vehicles, and the city expects to convert all garbage routes to automated collection within five years. As rear packer garbage trucks age out, they will be replaced with automated trucks.

Eventually, the city plans to collect all forms of solid waste (garbage, yard waste, and recyclables) with automated trucks.

The households included in the initial phase of automated collection are located throughout High Point and currently receive service on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Two out of ten daily routes will receive automated service on their regular collection day.

Automated collection is better than traditional methods because it is more efficient and less expensive. Automated trucks are operated by one city employee, rather than the three people required for the existing semi-automated system. As garbage collectors retire or leave for other jobs, their positions will not be filled, saving salary and benefits costs.

Also, there are fewer job-related injuries with automated collection, because employees don’t ride on rear platforms, exposed to bad weather, and because they do not lift heavy containers or walk in or near traffic.

The cost of a rear packer truck is $125,000, and the automated collection truck costs $200,000, with an expected useful life of about six years.

The automated truck is operated by a driver. The rear packer requires three—a driver and two sanitation workers. The two workers earn an average salary of $25,000, plus benefits, for a total cost per employee of $32,500 per year. So, the payback period for the more expensive automated truck would be slightly over one year (cost of truck: $75,000 more; salaries & benefits: $65,000 less).

The long-term labor savings, coupled with fewer job-related injuries to employees, makes automated collection less expensive.

One major change for residents who receive automated collection is that roll-out carts must be placed at least three feet from trees, mailboxes, parked cars, utility poles and lines or anything else that might interfere with the lifting mechanism.

Another change is that the cart handles must face the house.

Finally, loose bags of garbage cannot be collected, and residents MUST use city-issued 96-gallon roll-out garbage carts. Carts cost $57. They can be ordered and paid for online (www.high-point.net) or by phone (883-3111). The public services department will deliver the carts. Carts that do not meet city specifications are not strong enough to withstand automated collection.

If residents use a city-issued cart and bag their garbage properly, there should be no spillage on automated routes. However, if spillage does occur, the resident is responsible for cleaning it up.

High Point has the best tasting drinking water in the state of North Carolina

High Point water treatment plant operators ensure that the city produces the best tasting water in the state. They are: (from back row, left to right) Brock Sadler,Operator I; Ray Lawson, Operator III; Don Ross, Operator III; Stacy Farlow, Operator III; Steve Cannon, Operator II; and Mike Suggs, Operator III; (front row, left to right) Max Griffith. Operator III; Ned Briley,Operator II; Eric Wilson,Operator III; and Clayton Dabbs,Operators II. Not pictured: Jerry Harrelson,Chief Operator.

High Point has the best tasting drinking water in the state of North Carolina, according to a panel of judges who taste-tested it during the American Water Works Association & Water Environment Association-N. C. Section's 87th annual conference in Charlotte this week.

The six judges tasted blind samples of 17 entries from water systems across the state and ranked them independently. Smell and taste were the major criteria. Raleigh and Gastonia tied for second place in the taste test.

Water Plant Superintendent Wendell Pickett and Public Services Dept. Assistant Director Terry Houk accepted the award on behalf of the city.

Water Conservation Tips       Water Use Calculator

Guilford County Solid Waste Services Guide

A complete guide to solid waste services in Greensboro, High Point Guilford County and surrounding communities.

HIGH POINT RECYCLING

For information regarding recycling in High Point, please call the Customer Service Phone Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 336-883-3111, TDD 336-883-8517 or click the link to Recycling.

Street Resurfacing Projects

Click on this link, Resurface, to view the list of projects. If you need additional information, please contact a Customer Service Representative at 336-883-3111, TDD 336-883-8517.

The High Point Fire Department will begin their annual fire hydrant tests on September 18th. All City hydrants will be tested to ensure that they are operable and able to produce the required water pressure when needed. Please note that operating hydrants can sometimes cause a temporary discoloration of water in nearby homes. The discoloration is not harmful in any way and can be cleared up by running the water for a few minutes.

Please contact Captain Denita Lynch with the Fire Department at (336) 883-8551 or a Customer Service Representative at 336-883-3111, TDD 336-883-8517 should you have any questions. The following map links show the area where hydrant testing will take place:

Area  Three       Area Five       Area Six       Area Ten

Garbage Service Information

Your garbage and recyclables collection day is scheduled based upon the the location of your residence. You may click on this map link to view your location in relation the collection day. Please note that the collection schedule is subject to change during observed holidays. Refer back to the City of High Point website for updates. 

You may also view the collection schedule for information. If you need additional information, please call the Customer Service Phone Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 336-883-3111, TDD 336-883-8517.

Your garbage and recyclables collection day is scheduled based upon the the location of your residence. You may click on this map linkto view your location in relation the collection day. Please note that the collection schedule is subject to change during observed holidays. Refer back to the City of High Point website for updates. 

You may also view the collection schedule for information. If you need additional information, please call the Customer Service Phone Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 336-883-3111, TDD 336-883-8517.

For information regarding recycling in High Point, please call the Customer Service Phone Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 336-883-3111, TDD 336-883-8517 or click the link to Recycling.

You may also view the collection schedule for information. If you need additional information, please call the Customer Service Phone Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 336-883-3111, TDD 336-883-8517.

Most of us know grease as the byproduct of cooking. Grease is found in such things as:
• meat fats
• lard
• oil
• shortening
• butter or margarine
• dairy products

The results can be blockages in the sewer system that could cause:
• Raw sewage overflowing in your home;
• An expensive and unpleasant cleanup that often must be paid for by you, the homeowner;
• Raw sewage overflowing into parks, yards, and streets; and
• An increase in operation and maintenance costs for local sewer departments, which causes higher sewer bills for customers.

The easiest way to solve the grease problem and help prevent overflows of raw sewage is to keep this material out of the sewer system in the first place.

There are several ways to do this:
• Never pour grease down sink drains or into toilets.
• Scrape grease and food scraps from trays, plates, pots, pans, utensils, and grills and cooking surfaces into a can or the trash for disposal.
• Do not put grease down garbage disposals. Put baskets/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids, and empty the drain baskets/strainers into the trash for disposal.
• Speak with your friends and neighbors about the problem of grease in the sewer system and how to keep it out. Call your local sewer system authority if you have any questions.

For more information or to order a colorful brochure on this topic that includes "do" and "don't" photos, please visit the Water Environment Federation website through this link 'WEF Home Page'

Water Conservation Tips

		Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes down you not the drain.
Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
		Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. It's easy to fix, and you can save more than 600 gallons a month.
Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That's 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
		Place an empty tuna can on your lawn to catch and measure the water output of your sprinklers. For lawn watering advice, contact your local conservation office.
Turn off the water while you shave and you can save more than 100 gallons a week.
More water conservation tips