Q: What is the City's policy on Garbage Collection? 
A: City residents currently receive garbage collection two times per week. Residents North of Fairhope Avenue (including the North side of Fairhope Avenue) are collected on Tuesday and Friday. Residents South of Fairhope Avenue (including the South side of Fairhope Avenue) are collected on Mondays and Thursdays. Residents should place bagged garbage and small bulk items in a city issued automated container (call us if you don't have one). Residents are charged $12.80 for garbage collection per container. Place garbage can at right of way of residents own city frontage. Collection begins at 1:00 a.m. the morning of pickup, so place your can out the night before your scheduled collection on your right of way.

Q: Why can't I mix garden pots, plastic bags and non-organic materials with my yard waste? 
A: City of Fairhope is encouraging yard waste recycling by picking up organic debris (leaves, straw, grass clippings, limbs) separate from other non-organic material.  The yard waste can then be reused either by land reclamation or chipping for mulch.  Mulch is available free to city residents.  For this reason, Fairhope has "banned the plastic bag" for yard waste recycling.  Paper, mulchable bags are available at area vendors for a nominal fee. 

Q: What are the specifics on yard waste placement?  
A: Due to the City of Fairhope landfill closing as of 2/27/10, we have a new procedure for Trash. There are 2 kinds of Trash -- Yard debris (grass clippings, limbs, and leaves) and C&D (discarded garden pots, toys, lumber, building materials, appliances, furniture, fixtures, miscellaneous items). Yard Debris will continue to be collected curbside free of charge. You MUST seperate the limbs and leaves. Also, we DO NOT accept plastic bags, leaves may be placed on your curb or use a mulchable bag (which may be purchased at area stores). All yard waste should be placed at residents own right of way for collection. Furthermore, be carefule not to place debris on city streets, in storm drains or in street flumes. Doing so could not only cause traffic hazards, but could contribute to storm drain clogging and ultimately flooding. To report placement violations, please call the City of Fairhope Environmental Officer at 928-8003

Concerning C&D Collection, you have 2 options...OPTION ONE: CALL in your collection and EXPECT A CHARGE. OPTION TWO: Bring your items to the city dump for city transport at NO CHARGE (you must have a sticker).

Q: Does the city promote home composting? 
A: The city highly encourages residents to compost organic debris at home!  Doing so will not only provide you, the resident, with a free, fertile soil additive, but it will also help our collection services in the long run by reducing the amount of yard waste and kitchen scraps that are disposed of.  Note that a healthy compost pile should include leaves, green waste (vegetable trimmings, grass clippings), egg shells, coffee grinds, etc. 

Q: What is the City's policy on Recycling? 
A: The City of Fairhope currently has a 47% recycle participation rate. We encourage all residents to participate in recycling, even if you choose just to recycle fiber (paper and cardboard) at curbside collection.  The City of Fairhope highly encourages recycling which saves landfill space, natural resources (energy), as well as provides revenues for the city.  City residents receive recycling collection once per week (the same day as trash collection, please call to verify your collection day, 928-8003).  Recycling materials should be sorted for ease of collection.  The City of Fairhope currently recycles mixed paper, cardboard boxes (broken down), glass containers, plastic jugs, and steel/aluminum cans at curbside collection.  There is no fee for recycling collection. Please check out our Recycling page for a complete list of items that the City of Fairhope recycles and other important information.