In February, March, and April of this year, the Saint Louis County Department of Health delivered 64- and 35-gallon recycling carts to all one- and two-family residences in unincorporated Saint Louis County in order to educate people about the new basic trash service requirements and to encourage more recycling. The department is now coordinating an exchange and removal process for residents who either don’t want the complimentary cart they received or who would like a different-sized cart than the one they received.

NOTE: ALL EXCHANGES FOR A DIFFERENTLY SIZED CART ARE SUBJECT TO CART AVAILABILITY.

Below is a table with the tentative schedules for the cart exchange and removal process. (If you are not sure what district you live in, please see the Waste Collection District Map.)

Please be aware that YOU DO NOT NEED A COUNTY-PROVIDED RECYCLING CART TO RECYCLE. Weekly recycling pickup is now a standard part of basic trash service and all licensed haulers operating in Saint Louis County are required by law to provide you with weekly recycling pickup. Please contact your hauler for more information about their recycling pickup guidelines and schedules.

Please also be aware that the Saint Louis County Department of Health does not collect trash or recyclables. All trash and recycling collection in Saint Louis County is handled by private haulers. The Department of Health does not set, regulate, or even monitor trash hauling rates. Questions about trash and recycling collection, rates for trash and recycling collection, guidelines for trash and recycling collection, or about trash and recycling collection schedules should be directed to your private trash hauler. The Health Department is unable to answer such questions.

For additional information, please view our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any additional questions, or if you are not receiving the minimum level of service from your hauler, please send us an e-mail at waste.doh@stlouisco.com, or call us at (314) 615-HAUL (4285).

* - Dates for exchanges and removals are not calculated until the total number of recycling carts being exchanged or removed in a particular trash district is known; however, it is estimated that it will take between 6-8 weeks to make such determinations for each district. Postcards with specific timeframes will be sent to each resident who has requested a cart exchange or removal.

** - “Completed” refers to the standard exchange and removal process being handled by the company with which the Department of Health has contracted for this program. The Department of Health will continue to arrange additional removals and exchanges for special situations such as for damaged or missing carts, for new residents who have just moved in, and to remedy problems not fixed by the contractor.