Regional Compliance Hub: Huntsville, AL
Huntsville communities require strict handling of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), batteries, and electronics. Because Huntsville utilizes a Waste-to-Energy (incineration) system for much of its garbage, keeping explosive items—especially lithium batteries—out of the regular trash is a critical safety rule.[4]
Handle with Care Collection Center (HHW + Batteries + Electronics)
Apartment dumpsters in Huntsville commonly ban electronics, paint, batteries, and household chemicals. The required drop-off point for these items is the Solid Waste Disposal Authority’s drive-through HHW facility—often referenced locally as the Handle with Care Collection Center.[1] One-Stop Compliance: This facility accepts most banned items for FREE (Huntsville residents only).[1]
- Location: 1055 A Cleaner Way, Huntsville, AL 35805[1]
- Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed weekends)[1]
- Battery Warning (Incinerator Risk): Never place batteries—especially lithium—in apartment trash or recycling. These are a major fire hazard in collection trucks and at disposal facilities. Bring all batteries here.[1]
- Electronics Accepted: Computers, TVs, phones and related devices (items that are commonly banned from dumpsters and bulky piles)[1]
- HazMat Accepted: Paint, pesticides, automotive fluids, solvents, and many household cleaners[1]
- Resident Action: Do not leave electronics, batteries, or chemicals at the apartment gate or dumpster area—self-haul and drop off here to remain compliant and reduce safety risk.
Crucial Warnings: Glass & Recycling Rules
Glass is TRASH (mostly) in Huntsville recycling systems. The Recycling Alliance of North Alabama (RANA) carts and many apartment recycling services strictly ban glass. If you place glass in blue or purple carts, it can contaminate loads and cause rejection.[2]
- The Rule: Do not put glass bottles or jars in apartment recycling bins or RANA carts.[2]
- Action: Place glass jars and bottles in the regular trash unless your community provides a dedicated glass program.
- Alternatives: Some residents use in-store recycling stations (often at local Target entrances—availability varies), or subscribe to a private service such as Phoenix Glass Recycling.[5] Do not place glass in blue/purple bins.
Bulk Waste (Furniture, Mattresses, Large Items)
Huntsville’s curbside “knuckle boom” style collection is designed around city residential service accounts and route schedules. Apartment communities generally require property-managed bulk procedures, private hauling, or self-haul options.[3]
- Apartment Reality: Do not assume the City will remove furniture from apartment dumpster pads—follow your community’s bulk policy first.
- Resident Warning: If you leave a sofa or mattress at the dumpster, you may be fined by property management for illegal dumping or policy violations.
- Action: If bulk service is not provided, coordinate with property management to self-haul to an approved facility or use a private junk removal provider.
EEAT Sources: [1] City of Huntsville: Household Hazardous Waste Facility | [2] RANA: What Goes In My Cart (Glass Prohibited) | [3] City of Huntsville: Knuckle-Boom Collection Context | [4] SWDA Waste-to-Energy (Covanta) Reference | [5] Target: In-Store Guest Recycling Stations | [6] Phoenix Glass Recycling (Subscription Options)
Huntsville property owners and community managers: simplify recycling while boosting resident satisfaction. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling service aligns with Huntsville’s recycling guidance and the Recycling Alliance of North Alabama (RANA) program to reduce contamination and enhance NOI — all with a turnkey program.
In Huntsville, the Solid Waste Disposal Authority of the City of Huntsville (SWDA) manages the optional Recycling Alliance of North Alabama (RANA) curbside program for households that register, while the City collects household garbage and yard waste. Commercial and most multifamily communities arrange private hauling for on-site trash and recycling, and bulky waste from apartment complexes using private haulers is excluded from City collection. There is no explicit, citywide multifamily recycling mandate in municipal code, but organized recycling improves leasing performance, compliance readiness, and resident satisfaction.
- NOI & Property Value Lift: Increase ancillary income and retention with a visible sustainability amenity.
- Resident Convenience & Cleanliness: Doorstep recycling pickup reduces overflow and litter, improving property appearance.
- Container & Enclosure Practices: Provide clearly labeled containers and maintain clean, sanitary collection areas in line with Chapter 22 solid waste standards and hauler requirements.
- Local Program Alignment: Compatible with City of Huntsville — Recycling Info, RANA Cart Request, and Recycling Alliance of North Alabama (RANA).
At a Glance: Huntsville, AL
- Jurisdiction: City of Huntsville (Madison County, Alabama)
- Mandate Type: No explicit citywide multifamily recycling mandate located. General solid waste standards in Chapter 22 – Solid Waste apply to property owners/managers.
- Applicability Threshold: None specified for multifamily recycling in code. Apartments typically use private commercial haulers for trash and any recycling.
- Accepted (RANA curbside reference): Metal cans (aluminum & steel), paper products, flattened cardboard, and #1–#2 narrow-neck plastic bottles and cartons. (Verify materials list with your hauler for multifamily service.)
- Not Accepted (RANA curbside reference): Plastic bags/film, loose plastic wrap, miscellaneous scrap metal, glass, Styrofoam, HHW, e-waste, and non-listed plastics.
- References: City of Huntsville — Recycling Information & Programs · RANA — Cart Request · RANA — What Goes in My Cart · Madison County — Waste Control & Recycling · Ordinance 24-784 (amending Ch. 22) · Ordinance 17-601 (apartment/hauler provisions)
Property Manager Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Resources / Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Service Eligibility | For apartments and other multifamily, coordinate private commercial recycling and trash service. The City collects household garbage/yard waste but does not collect commercial trash; bulky waste from apartment complexes using private haulers is excluded from City pickup. | City — Commercial Trash Collection |
| ☑ Recycling Program Options | Determine whether your residents participate via a hauler-run recycling program, RANA carts (where applicable), or on-site valet recycling. Ensure container access and clear instructions at each collection point. | RANA — Program Overview · RANA — Accepted Materials |
| ☑ Container Requirements | Provide compliant, clearly labeled trash & recycling containers; maintain enclosures and ensure timely collections to keep areas clean and sanitary consistent with Chapter 22 solid waste standards and hauler guidelines. | Ordinance 24-784 (Ch. 22 update) |
| ☑ Resident Onboarding | Include recycling info in move-in materials and community rules; highlight accepted items, “no bags / no tanglers” guidance, glass handling (if accepted separately), and collection locations and schedules. | City — Recycling Info & Programs |
| ☑ Signage & Education | Post clear “What / What Not” signage at all shared collection points; mirror the RANA accepted-items list and your hauler’s contamination rules to keep streams clean. | RANA — What Goes in My Cart |
| ☑ Monthly Audit | Inspect recycling areas at least monthly for contamination and overflow; adjust signage, resident education, and service levels based on audit findings. | Maintain audit logs (photos, notes) for ownership and vendor records. |
| ☑ Service Documentation | Keep hauler contracts, pickup maps, and accepted-materials lists on file; review annually with on-site staff and your hauler; ensure emergency contact info is posted at enclosures. | Coordinate with your chosen commercial hauler (WM, Independent Waste, etc.) for up-to-date specs. |
| ☑ Recycling Plan on File | Maintain a written property recycling plan with vendor details, container locations, education cadence, and contamination strategy; update after any major service or vendor changes. | Attach the plan to your operations manual and share with site staff and ownership. |
Huntsville Recycling Summary — Checklist
- ☑ Jurisdiction Type: City (Huntsville municipal guidance; multifamily via private/commercial service).
- ☑ Mandate Type: No explicit multifamily recycling mandate; align with Chapter 22 Solid Waste standards, SWDA/RANA program rules, and hauler requirements.
- ☑ Applicability Threshold: None specified for multifamily recycling in City code; most apartments rely on private haulers.
- ☑ What We Can Recycle (RANA curbside reference): Metal cans, paper, flattened cardboard, #1–#2 narrow-neck plastic bottles, and cartons (verify multifamily service list with your hauler).
- ☑ What We Can’t Recycle: Plastic bags/film, miscellaneous scrap metal, non-listed plastics, glass in mixed carts, HHW, and e-waste (use HHW facilities/events where applicable).
- ☑ Best Practices: Labeled, co-located containers; resident training at move-in and periodically; monthly contamination checks and documented audit logs.
- ☑ Compliance Notes: Maintain clean, sanitary collection areas and timely pickups under Chapter 22; confirm accepted materials and set-out rules with your hauler or RANA.
Sources verified: City of Huntsville residential/commercial trash and recycling pages; Solid Waste Disposal Authority / Recycling Alliance of North Alabama (RANA) program and materials list; Madison County Waste Control & Recycling; and Huntsville Code Chapter 22 (including Ordinances 24-784 and 17-601). Confirm hauler-specific requirements before rollout.
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