Here’s what I learned…

Much of my responsibility as Maintenance Director involves working with our trash service provider, Champions Industries (CI), and the day-to-day collection of Huntwick Forest trash. As such, I hear from residents from time to time about the issues surrounding CI’s collection. As much as we would like to forget about it, the trash we generate needs to be dealt with, and the way we dispose of it as a neighborhood says a lot about how the community cares for itself and others. I wanted to find out first hand how our trash was handled, so a few weeks ago, I hopped on the trash truck and completed a round with our collectors.

Lots Of Trash

About half way through the front section of Huntwick, I was informed that this was “light” for a Monday. Whew. Just to give you an idea, the main truck that I was working on was 32 cubic yards, and normal trash collection will weigh in close to 22 tons, which is the max for the truck. On heavy lawn debris days, the truck will hold less than 20 tons because leaves, pine needles, grass, and branches don’t compress like last night’s leftovers. You may have seen the big truck leave the neighborhood in the middle of collecting trash: they are headed to get a fresh truck because that one is full. (Mystery solved.)

Really Nice People to Work With

Let me tell you, the men on the trucks (there were no women working that day), are some of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. They are genuinely watching out for the safety of everyone and aim to be as thorough as possible. There were several instances where one would ask the other if they had checked this or that as they were making sure each house was serviced. They also asked me “are you doing okay?” many times. I was less appreciative of that since I didn’t think I looked like I was about to collapse. Turns out, the owner of the company told them not to kill me. Thanks, Jim.

Really Nice Residents

Along the way, I met some of Huntwick’s nicest residents. Of course, that should be no surprise to anyone who gets out and cruises the neighborhood on a bike or walks a bit. However, unless you are present when the trash collectors are, you miss the congenial interaction and even some giveaways like water and candy. (Yes, I explained that I was just doing the job for fun and didn’t deserve any, but she insisted, so I got some candy for the grandkids.) There were residents who were happy to take their trash cans back — not necessary, but it’s amazing how far kindness will take you. Like everywhere, pleasant customers make life better for everyone.

It’s a Sprint, not a Marathon

It may not be obvious to everyone, but these men are running much of the time. If a few weeks ago you saw someone who was doing his best just to walk fast (and not very well at that), that was me. I did find that riding on the truck rather than walking was preferable. By the end, my knees were loudly proclaiming “DON’T EVER DO THIS TO US AGAIN.” Deal.

Now for the Not So Good News

In 2020, the Huntwick homeowners association renewed a contract with Champions Industries newly specifying that all trash needed to be in bags and tied. While that was a minor inconvenience to adapt to, it made sense: putting loose trash in a bag, filling it up, tying it off and putting in a large can (to ward off animals) ensures trash isn’t spilled, littering up the streets, and that the trash itself is safe to handle for the collectors. Unfortunately, on my trash route, many households still had loose trash in the can. The men took it without complaining, but they didn’t have to. Per the contract, if there is loose trash in the cans, it goes unemptied, including bagged trash that is under the loose trash. Please invest in some heavy duty bags and line your cans to make things more sanitary for everyone.

A requirement that has been in this and previous garbage contracts, predating CI, is that bags and bundled limbs need to be 40 lbs or less and 4’ or less in length. On that Monday, there were bags and limbs that didn’t meet the requirements, but some of the men figured out how to bring them to the truck anyway. Please tell your yard guys to go a little lighter on filling the bags — or you do the same. And remember, the bags must be suitable. If a bag splits or tears when picking it up (or dropping it), it is not suitable. 

Every now and then, I or Champions Industries will get a call saying that a residence was missed. Okay, sometimes that may happen. But it turns out that just as often, a resident forgets to put a bag out until after the truck has come and gone. At that point, the resident may call to say they were missed. The collectors are well aware of when that is not true. Please respect our trash collectors and be honest with yourselves and them about who made the mistake.

What Can the Residents of Huntwick do to Help Make Trash Day Run Smoothly

Back door trash service (required in the Huntwick deed restrictions) is really nice when it works. 

No trash containers on the curb all day, no lawn bags on the curb for days: just a nice place to live. But this comes with a little effort on everyone’s part. 

• When your car is in the driveway directly affecting access to your trash, make sure there is plenty of room for the men to get your can or the big barrel on a dolly past it. It makes their job easier and keeps your car from inadvertently getting scratched.
• Make sure your trash/lawn bags are under the weight limit (40 pounds)
• Have limbs bundled and within the weight and size limit (40 pounds, 4 feet)
• Make sure ALL trash is in suitable bags
• Whether you have a car close by or not, make sure your trash is easy to get to

While we’re on the subject of where we store our trash, how about making sure the area it’s kept in is clean and swept? Even though other residents may not see your bins, the trash collectors do, and a clean environment can make the process more pleasant as well as easier. Huntwick prides itself on being an upscale community. Let’s all make sure that where our trash cans live fits that description too.

I want to thank Champions Industries and the men and women that work there for allowing me the opportunity to see the world from their side. It is indeed a different view.

FAQ

• “I promise I am telling the truth when I say I was missed. How do I handle that? “
  • If you call 281-587-1960 while they are still in the neighborhood, they most likely can come back and take care of you, or the next day if they have left. If you would rather send an email, customerservice@championsindustries.com will let them know. Please copy maintenance@huntwickforest.com so we know there was a miss.
• “I lock my trash behind a locked gate, or my dogs are often out. What should I do?”
  • If you have trash normally behind a gate or door that you don’t want opened, place the cans/bags on the other side of the gate or door. That is where your cans will be returned. After collection, please put the cans back behind the gate or door.
• “I use a lawn service and they pack the bags. It’s not my fault that they use bags that are flimsy. Is it?”
  • Whether you pay someone or do it yourself, it is the homeowner/resident’s responsibility to ensure that suitable bags are placed in the correct location, according to the HF deed restrictions. 
• “Sometimes, I have large items that need to be taken away. What do I do?”
  • Bulk items are an extra charge. Call Champions Industries, tell them what you have, and they will either give you a price or come out to quote. Pick up is usually on a Saturday.
• “How long do they work each day picking up our trash?”
  • Collection starts at 7AM and will go until the last can is emptied, or they run out of daylight, so the time of year and the amount of waste all figures into that. There are times when the routes are finished by 3PM or so and sometimes run into the next day.