There are four types of dwelling units which are considered residential. They include:

• Single family dwellings, duplex dwellings, and mobile home dwellings
• Home occupation uses of the dwelling listed above
• Home-based and intermediate daycare uses of those houses listed under number one (above)
• Group homes

When it comes to trash collection, the Sterling City Code chapter 16 excludes the following as residential property: boardinghouses; rooming houses; hotels; motels; nursing homes; large daycare use buildings; churches; college, university and school dormitories. Determination of situations not defined in this section shall be made by the Public Works Board upon recommendation of the Director of Public Works, subject to appeal to the City Council.

The City is not responsible for the hauling of commercial and industrial trash. Commercial and industrial trash may be collected, removed and disposed of only by persons granted a permit by City Council.

Types of Receptacles
The City of Sterling provides one of three receptacles for trash collection of residential trash.

If the household does not have access to an alley, the City of Sterling provides a City-owned 90 gallon rollout container. This container should be placed at the curb at the front of the home on the designated days for neighborhood pick-up.

Some households may find the 90 gallon container is not enough to take care of its weekly collection on a yearly or a seasonal basis. The City of Sterling has two options available to the residences which need more container space.

1. The first option is to have a container year round with an additional utility charge per month for said container.
2. The second option is a container placed at the dwelling unit during the months of May through October. This option is charged up front with an additional handling fee. The cost for this is not pro-rated and non-refundable. The rate of $77.00 is based on six months pickup, plus a $5.00 handling charge.

In addition to the 90 gallon rollout container, the City of Sterling provides two types of containers for households which have access to alleys. The City Places 300 or 600 gallon non-rollout containers in strategic sites in the alley for use by residences of the neighborhood. The size of the container is based on the number of dwelling units served.

Proper Use of Container
It is unlawful for any person to deposit or place any garbage or rubbish in such a manner that the garbage or rubbish is or becomes a nuisance, or in such a manner to endanger the public health.

Do place these items in the container:

• Paper, cans and other normal household trash
• Garbage (please bag)
• Cardboard boxes – flattened to save space
• Tree limbs, small hedges and bushes cut to fit in container (4″ maximum in diameter and 3′ in length)
• Grass clippings, trimmings, leaves,  and flower and garden refuse must be bagged

Do Not place these items in the container:

• Construction, demolition or remodeling debris
• Concrete, dirt, sod, plaster or heavy materials
• Hot ashes
• Flammable liquids: such as cleaning fluid, waste oils, gasoline, etc.
• Appliances and furniture that will not allow the lids to close
• Tires

Items that are not allowed in containers may be hauled by property owner or occupant to the County Landfill, or the City will load and haul at a nominal charge. The rollout should be placed on the curbside off of the sidewalk for pick-up.

Holiday Trash Collection
The City of Sterling is not able to collect trash on certain holidays due to the Logan County Landfill being closed. Notices are published in the news media prior to these days. If your trash pick-up day is also a holiday, your trash will be picked-up on the following day of regular service.

The Logan County Landfill is closed on the following holidays:

• New Years Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• Presidents Day
• Memorial Day
• July the
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Election Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day and the Friday following
• Christmas Day

The county landfill’s regular hours are Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Routes and Billing
Trash collection is divided into two routes with two pick-ups scheduled each week. If twice a week collections are interrupted, the City informs the public through releases to the media.

Route schedules for rollouts are given to the user when the container is delivered. An informational sheet is placed on the doors of these dwelling units at that time.

Billing for trash collection is included with the water and sewer bill. The City of Sterling is on a four (4) cycle billing schedule. If you are in Cycle 1 your bill is sent in the first week of the month. If you are in Cycle 2 the bill is sent in the second week; Cycle 3 in the third week and Cycle 4 in the fourth week.

Schedule of Service for Sanitation Service
The sanitation rates were last set by Council effective
January 1, 2016, By Resolution 12-2-15.

Single family residences – $12.00/mo
Multiple family residences – $12.00/mo

Rollout Containers
The property owner or occupant is responsible for placing the rollout container at the curb as instructed at the time of delivery. Please return empty container to private property as soon as possible. The property owner or occupant is responsible for cleaning the rollout container. Additional Rollouts are available for $77.00 per 6-month minimum.

Each rollout container is numbered as part of the City’s inventory. Users are responsible for the upkeep of the containers. If one is damaged or destroyed, due to misuse, the landowner or renter or both are responsible for payment of the container.

The container should be placed at the curbside by 7 a.m. on each designated pick-up day. If the container has not been emptied by that afternoon, the City of Sterling should be contacted. Because the trash collection system is automated, items cannot be placed to the side or on top of the container. The city employee does not get out of the truck for these pick-ups.

Special Trash Pickup
The City of Sterling provides a special pick-up every Wednesday for those items which do not fit into a container. These materials must be placed at the curb or in the alley. City crews will not go onto private property for pick-up. There is a charge for this collection. Special pickup for residential users within the City limits is $50.00 per truckload. Please call the City Finance Department at 522-9700 to make arrangements for pick-up.  Payment is required prior to collection.

The City of Sterling provides a SPRING CLEANUP, in April. The exact dates are determined every spring.  As a service to residential trash customers, the City will pick up any trash or rubbish, which is legally disposable at the Logan County Landfill.  Appliances containing Freon will not be accepted unless they have been certified “Freon Free” by an approved Freon reclamation center such as your local appliance dealer. 

Service Begins
A new resident’s trash service begins at the same time water and sewer services are connected to the household. The Public Works Department will deliver rollouts to dwelling units requiring one.