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City to replace fall bulk pickup with year‑round, appointment‑based bulk-item service starting June 2 sign-ups
Summary
The city presented a plan to replace its single annual bulk-item curbside collection with an appointment-based service residents can schedule year-round; the council and staff discussed implementation details including sign-up windows, pile-size limits and possible future recycling options.
The City of Prescott presented an operational change to its residential solid-waste services at the April 8 council meeting: the annual, citywide bulk-item curbside collection will be replaced by an appointment-based bulk-item pickup for residents.
Brady Higgs, the city’s Solid Waste Superintendent, told council the traditional fall event typically produced heavy, unpredictable volumes and required large crews and long drive times. Under the new model, residents can request a single bulk-item pickup per year via the city website beginning June 2; the city will open sign-ups eight weeks in advance initially and expand that window if demand allows. When signing up, residents will provide their address, usual trash day and a short list of expected items; the city will email or call with reminders the week of the collection to reduce missed stops.
Higgs said the program will retain the existing seven‑week fall event’s one‑time service model but give residents flexibility to schedule pickups year-round. Staff will set practical limits on item size (items should generally be no longer than about 4 feet and should be bagged, bundled, boxed or tied where possible) to ensure items fit in collection equipment and to reduce leftover debris on streets. The city will continue the annual hazardous household waste event separately.
Council members asked about specific operations and whether the program will accept cardboard and other recyclables. Higgs said the program could be adapted to add a recycling component as the service matures; staff will consider grouping heavy cardboard stops together and possibly scheduling separate truck runs for high-cardboard days, but he cautioned that segregation reduces efficiency and could increase costs.
Council members also discussed protecting events that might otherwise be disrupted by large piles (for example, holiday weekends or Halloween). Higgs said staff could block out specific dates, such as Halloween, to avoid conflicts with trick-or-treating and other community activities.
Why it matters: The change is designed to improve staff scheduling, reduce unnecessary driving, and avoid large curbside piles that can sit out for weeks. The service provides an option for residents who need to dispose of large, nonhazardous household items outside of the fall event.
What’s next: Sign-ups will open June 2 with the initial eight-week scheduling window. The city will monitor demand and participation and report back on adjustments and possible recycling additions.
