If winds knock over your trash cart, don't expect haulers to pick it up

Today's strong winds proved to be too much for many trash carts, even the big, heavy ones that are used now by the City of Tulsa.

And if the cart is knocked over by winds, or animals, or anything else for that matter, it's ultimately your responsibility, not the trash hauler.

"The contract hauler is not contractually obligated to collect that litter or trash," said the City of Tulsa's Liz Hunt in cases where the can is knocked over by something other than the hauler.

However, she did say the hauler may use his of her discretion to go above and beyond the call of duty in some cases.

"If a hauler comes actross a cart that has been tipped over, and there is a bag that is intact, lying next to the cart, that when possible, the hauler will use good judgement and dispose of the bag," Hunt said.

But if they decide the mess is too much, the resident will simply have to pick it up and try again next week.

Hunt points out that it was the same policy with the old trash system, and that there seem to be far fewer spills with the new, uniform, heavy-duty carts.