Woodlake Community Association Curbside Trash Pickup – FAQ's

Can you explain in layman’s terms, what we are voting on with the Curbside Trash Pickup Referendum?
With the Curbside Trash Pickup Referendum, Woodlake residents are voting on two things with their vote related to that ballot referendum.
1. Residents are voting to change the covenants to allow for curbside trash pickup.
2. With that vote, and in the event the curbside trash pickup referendum passes, Woodlake residents are giving the
Woodlake Board of Directors permission to administer a request for proposals (RFP) to award a community-wide contract
to an approved trash hauler (or haulers) to service the community.

See the following questions from residents to highlight details related to the RFP process, expectations and inquiries related to the referendum. In addition the companion “position paper” provides additional detail and financial information on the referendum.

Why do this at all?
There are limited companies that are willing to do backyard pickup at all anymore. The increasing liability and cost of having multiple laborers managing the trash trucks and walking through yards to retrieve and return the trash cans will continue
to increase. Most trash haulers are moving towards single person automation trucks for safety and financial reasons.
The WCA believes that in the future ‘backyard’ trash pickup will no longer be an option, or will become cost prohibitive and wants to proactively be prepared for that situation.

I really like my current backyard pickup company, can I opt out and keep them?
If there is a uniform curbside contract put in place residents may opt to keep a particular backyard vendor, however
the property owner will still be charged for curbside pickup as part of the assessment. Residents may continue to have
‘private party’ contracts with backyard trash haulers but would pay direct to those vendors at market rate.

I do not use any backyard trash haulers and take my trash to the county transfer stations, can I opt out of the assessment increase and program?
No, all property owners will have trash pickup, and potentially recycling, as part of the assessment. One may continue
to utilize the county transfer station as needed, however, the charge for trash pickup service will still be part of the assessment.

What vendors will be asked to participate?
The WCA will send an RFP to outside large-scale trash haulers as well as vendors who currently serve the community
that have the capability and willingness to bid on the community wide contract.

Will the WCA maintenance staff be handling residential curbside trash?
No, curbside trash pickup will be handled by an outside vendor. Maintenance staff will continue to service internal trash
needs for the community.

What will the WCA’s role be on operations regarding curbside trash pickup?
The WCA will administer and manage the contract for trash haulers and partner with the approved hauler to ensure satisfactory service levels remain in place for the WCA.

Will I need to purchase additional trash receptacles?
No, the RFP to the vendors will require that they provide a uniform trash receptacle with a fixed lid on wheels to each
household. This is to make sure that there is consistency to all property owners in Woodlake.

Will residents still be required to keep their trash cans out of sight in an enclosure?
If implemented the WCA will continue to abide by the covenants which require trash cans not be visible from the street.
The WCA may also require a time limit after pickup that trash cans must be retrieved from the road and stored. This is
to maintain consistency and community standards and avoid trash cans being left at the curbs.

Will there be specific days of the week that trash will be picked up?
Yes, it is the intent, if approved, as part of the RFP process, to set a defined day of the week for each neighborhood for trash pickup. This date may change for holidays and weather. However, having this program community wide with a single vendor(s), it will avoid the current 5-6 days a week of having trash trucks in the community and narrow that down to 1 or 2 days of the week for trash pickup.

Who will I contact if there is an issue?
If there is an issue with compliance, the resident will contact the WCA.
Example: a neighbor’s trash receptacle has been left at their curbside for two days. This is a “compliance issue” and will
be addressed by the WCA Community Standards Team.

If there is an issue with service, the resident will contact the approved hauler.
Example: spilled trash, a pickup was missed or other situations related to “service,” residents will call the hauler’s “helpline”
to resolve the issue. As part of the RFP process, all companies will provide a “helpline” contact number and an expected
timeline for resolving issues.

I do not recycle now; will I be required to recycle if a sole vendor is chosen for recycling?
No, it will be up to individual property owners to decide if they want to recycle; however, if the contracted vendor(s) does
include it in the contract price, the cost of recycling will become part of the assessment regardless if the property owner
utilizes the service.

Will curbside pickup also include leaves and branches?
Generally speaking, bagged leaves and fallen tree branches may be picked up curbside, provided they are placed within
the vendor provided trash can. Additional contract terms may be discussed during the RFP process for additional bags and
clean-up of these items.

Will bulk items like refrigerators, furniture, mattresses, old gas grills, etc. be part of the curbside pickup program?
No, to maintain consistency and community standards the only pick up items that will be permitted at the curbside
will be trash items in the vendor provided trash receptacles. Property owners will need to make other provisions to dispose of
these types of bulk items.

I have an ADA situation in my household. My driveway is on a sloped hill. I live in a cul-de-sac, and the placement of my mailbox provides very little room at my driveway for trash cans. How will situations like these be addressed?
For situations like these, each vendor will have to provide a solution for these circumstances.
Solutions are to be included in their response to the Request for Proposals.

I live in a condo or an apartment and already have trash pickup. How does this affect me?
Incorporating Condominiums, Apartments and Commercial properties into the RFP will be a portion of a negotiated contract.

REVISED: March 2025