The most significant expense incurred by the Prestonwood Forest Maintenance Association is that of waste collection. Nearly one-third of the annual budget is spent on this necessary service. The current contract for waste collection with Republic Waste Services of Texas will be in force through November of 2010. The terms of that contract include: a base rate of $12.00 per home (times 785 homes) per month plus a variable fuel adjustment fee (based on data from the U.S. Energy Administration), a yearly CPI escalation clause, an environmental fee of 6%, and all applicable taxes. The total expense for this one item in 2008 exceeded $134,000.

With that in mind, homeowners should bear in mind that timely payment and collection of everyone’s maintenance fees is extremely important to every household in the subdivision. We need the money to pay the bills. Therefore, should a homeowner become delinquent in the payment of these yearly fees, trash collection will be denied to that homeowner until such time as the fees are paid (see the section on Maintenance Fees.) When a delinquency is paid in full, trash collection will be resumed within a reasonable period of time, not usually exceeding two trash collection days.

Waste Collection Information

Republic Waste Services will collect and properly dispose of all household garbage from all eligible properties twice each week, curbside, on Wednesday and Saturday, except when a holiday occurs on either service day, in which event the pick-up scheduled for that day will be postponed until the next regularly scheduled collection (day except for emergencies resulting from "Acts of God." )

General Guidelines For Curbside Collection

When trash will be collected. Refuse placed within five feet of the curb will be picked up by the collectors between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. As a sanitary measure, all residents are requested to place refuse within five feet of curbside no earlier than 5:00 p.m. of the evening preceding a collection day. At other times, homeowners and residents are encouraged to keep all containers and refuse away from public view.

How waste is to be packaged. Acceptable means of packaging include covered plastic trash containers of a size and weight not to exceed 45 gallons and 50 pounds; tied plastic bags with adequate strength to support the contained waste of not more than 50 pounds; and bundles of tree limbs (not to exceed one inch in diameter,) shrubs and brush trimmings or newspapers and magazines which form easily handled packages not to exceed five feet in length, 50 pounds in weight, and 18 inches in diameter.

What can be picked up on Wednesdays or Saturdays. Garbage - all normal and usual household waste products to include organic waste from food preparation and consumption, wrapping and packaging materials, metal, glass, and plastic when placed in approved containers or bags, or bundled properly. Rubbish - wood waste, wood products, tree limbs and trimmings, grass cuttings, dead plants, weeds, leaves, chips, shavings, sawdust, printed matter, paper, pasteboard, rags, clothing, shoes and boots, waste paper and packaging materials, crockery, glass and similar items that might be found in or around the home when placed in approved containers or bags, or bundled properly.

What is picked up only on Saturdays. Bulky waste - refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners (Note: By law, any item that contains CFCs (Freon) must have the gas removed by a licensed technician and must be red-tagged prior to collection,) stoves, water tanks, washing machines, dryers, appliances, hot water heaters, couches, furniture, bicycles, large volumes of containerized yard waste, and similar items that might be found in or around the home.

What cannot be picked up. Hazardous or toxic waste - pool chlorine and other chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, paint, oil or other petroleum products, and medical sharps or waste; Contractor waste - construction or remodeling debris, scrap building materials, and tree removal waste. Such materials should be removed by the contractor performing the work. Exception: If minor repair work is done by the resident, small amounts of materials will be collected if they meet the general guidelines regarding containers, lengths, weights, etc. Such amounts must be reasonable. Other waste products - concrete, dirt, bricks, batteries, cross ties, rocks, tires, and logs and stumps over six inches in diameter.

Scheduled Holidays. New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. When a scheduled holiday falls on a Wednesday or a Saturday, the collection scheduled for that day will be postponed until the next regularly scheduled service day.

For more information, contact:

Republic Waste Services of Texas

Houston Residential Office
2010 Wilson Road -- Humble, Texas 77396
Phone: 281-446-2030 or 800-899-4064 -- Fax: 281-446-1949
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM--Saturday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Closed on Sunday

(Click here for the Republic Waste site http://www.rwstx.com/resgcinformation.htm )