The Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department provides garbage and trash collection and wood waste processing services for the City of Lake Charles. Garbage and non-burnable items collected from residences are taken to the Jeff Davis Landfill or the Waste Management Transfer Station. Burnable items are incinerated at the Wood Waste Processing Facility.

Solid Waste Division Responsibilities

  • Furnish once-a-week garbage container collection.
  • Provide container maintenance and repair on all city-supplied-and-owned containers.
  • Provide collection of trash and yard waste from residences a minimum of two times per month.
  • Provide a citywide collection of white goods from residences when required. All white goods must be free from all perishable food items. They must have the doors/lids removed or taped shut for public safety.
  • Operate a wood waste processing facility for the general public.

Curbside Pick Up Information:

What is eligible for collection?

White goods

White goods are considered to be any household appliances including stoves, washing machines, dryers, window air conditioners, freezers and refrigerators. White goods must be totally separated from other MSW to allow for separate collection. Commercial businesses that deliver and install new appliances are required to remove the old appliances from the premise and insure proper disposal. The Clean Air Act prohibits knowingly venting ozone-depleting refrigerants (ex. Freon) while servicing or disposing of air conditioning/refrigeration equipment. Examples of equipment are refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners, including automobile air conditioners and other equipment that contains refrigerants. In order for the City to remove these items, the refrigerant must be removed.

Building materials

The following items will be considered to be building materials; soil, metal, metal fencing, roofing material, sheetrock, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, paneling, carpet, plaster, concrete or other substances that may accumulate as a result of new construction, a demolition, common repairs, remodeling, building operations, or as a result of clearing lots.  The owner shall have such items removed at their own expense

Tree and shrubbery trimmings 

Waste accumulation of tree branches, tree limbs, parts of trees, bushes, shrubbery, cuttings or clippings, or other waste usually created as refuse in the case of trees or bushes. Tree limbs are not to exceed four feet in length and four inches in diameter. 

Yard waste 

It shall include cuttings of grass and weeds, fallen leaves, branches and vines, trees or limbs in any form which have been cut in lengths which can be easily handled and picked up, and do not exceed four feet in length or exceed four inches in diameter and weigh less than 50 pounds. All fallen leaves and to the maximum extent possible, small limbs and vines shall be placed in plastic bags. Yard waste must be totally separated from other MSW to allow for separate collection. Any limbs not conforming to the required length and diameter requirements will not be collected by the city. Trees and debris as a result of initial clearing of lots or as a result of building operations shall not be collected by the city. The owner shall have such items removed at his own expense. 

What is ineligible for curbside collection?

Sec. 9-14.  Items not to be collected.

  • White goods that contain refrigerants will not be picked up by the City. The Clean Air Act prohibits knowingly venting ozone-depleting refrigerants (ex. Freon) while servicing or disposing of air conditioning/refrigeration equipment. Examples of equipment are refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners, including other equipment that contains refrigerants In order for the City to remove these items, the refrigerant must be removed.
  • The following items will be considered to be building materials: fencing material, roofing material, sheetrock, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, paneling, paint, carpet, plaster, concrete or other substances that may accumulate as a result of new construction, a demolition, common repairs, remodeling, building operations, or as a result of clearing lots.
  • The owner must have all aforementioned items removed at their expense.

(Ord. No. 9709, § 1, 10-12-92)

Sec. 9-15.  Yard waste commercially cut.

Every nursery man, tree surgeon, and every person who cuts or trims trees, or shrubs as an independent contract shall remove or cause to be removed all yard waste from the premises serviced by him and it shall be unlawful for such persons to deposit any tree, tree or shrub cuttings or trimmings at any location for collection by the city.

(Ord. No. 9709, § 1, 10-12-92)

Sec. 9-16.  -  Illegal piles

  • Illegal pile defined. An illegal pile shall be any unauthorized accumulation of garbage or trash, litter, refuse, rubbish, appliances, building/construction debris or material, tires, limbs, trees, paint, or other discarded materials or debris or yard waste unlawfully placed on the curb side, neutral grounds, or premises, this includes vacant lots,  when chapter 9, chapter 10, or any other provision, of the city’s Code of Ordinance requires such accumulation to be disposed of by the owner and/or prohibits its collection by the department of public works.

CherryPicker