Departments / Sanitation/Solid Waste
City of Walhalla - Sanitation & Solid Waste Management
The Public Works Sanitation & Solid Waste Department manages residential and commercial trash collection, recycling, brush and yard debris pickup, and seasonal mosquito spraying for the City of Walhalla.
Address
395 S Cedar Street, Walhalla, SC 29691
Phone
(864) 638-4351
Hours
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. [confirm hours]
Solid waste collection
Place your roll cart out at the curb the evening before your scheduled pickup, with the front of the cart facing the street, and remove it from the road by 7:00 a.m. the following day. Carts should sit within about six feet of the curb or road shoulder. (If you have an older cart with back-facing instructions printed on the lid, disregard that — the front should always face the street.) Crews reserve the right to leave a cart that isn’t placed correctly.
Keep carts at least three feet from mailboxes, fences, trees, walls, bushes, vehicles, or anything else that could be damaged.
What goes in the cart:
- All garbage must be bagged, tied, and placed inside the cart — nothing should be left on the lid, and loose trash or cardboard set outside the cart will not be collected
- If trash blows out during normal dumping, cleaning up loose litter is the resident’s responsibility; if a crew member knocks over or drops a cart, the crew is responsible for any resulting mess
What never goes in the cart:
- Poisons, acids, caustics, explosives, or other dangerous materials
- Soil or construction debris such as concrete, wood, or brick
- Furniture, oil, gasoline, paint thinner, kerosene, or other toxic substances
- Shingles or roofing material
- Long fluorescent bulbs — these must be broken before being placed in the cart
- Cardboard, unless it’s been broken down or cut up first — large uncut pieces keep the cart from dumping properly
Carts are city property and should be kept reasonably clean inside and out — please don’t paint, sticker, or otherwise mark them. Only carts issued by the City will be emptied; a cart purchased elsewhere won’t be collected. A stolen, removed-without-permission, or damaged-beyond-repair cart may result in a replacement charge of roughly $86, though the exact cost can vary by manufacturer.
If a pickup falls on a holiday or during severe weather, check local news, the City’s Facebook page, or call the department — pickup could shift earlier or later than your normal day, and the department may need two to three days to fully catch up afterward.
Brush & yard debris
Under South Carolina’s Solid Waste Policy and Management Act of 1991, yard waste, land-clearing debris, and construction or demolition waste can’t be mixed in with household trash, and the City — as the hauler — is responsible for keeping these waste streams separate, per City Code §265-13 (Ordinance 2020-22).
Crews remove up to five yards of brush or yard debris per location within any 30-day period at no charge; additional volume is billed according to the current fee schedule. If you hire a contractor to remove trees or brush, the contractor — not the City — is responsible for hauling away the resulting debris.
- Limbs, branches, and logs over four inches in diameter must be cut to six feet or shorter
- Leaf piles must contain leaves only — no trash or limbs mixed in
- Metal items, mattresses, tires, and TVs each need to be in their own separate pile, not combined together
- Don’t place debris or furniture where it could block a driver’s line of sight or force traffic to swerve
- Shingles, roofing material, and crossties aren’t collected curbside — these go to the landfill directly
- Cardboard isn’t picked up curbside either; break it down and place it in your roll cart, or drop it off at the recycling center at 395 S Cedar Street
- Wet paint isn’t collected; remove the lid and let it dry completely before placing the empty can in your roll cart
- Materials hauled in from outside the city for disposal are considered illegal dumping and may result in fines or prosecution
Recycling
Glass, plastic, cardboard, and tires can be recycled at the city sanitation department or Oconee County’s manned convenience centers. Aluminum cans and newspapers can also be dropped off at the Walhalla Post Office, the City parking lot, or the Walhalla Fire Department.
Mosquito spraying & honey bee notification
The city sprays for mosquitoes annually during June through the first week of October, with spraying conducted in the evenings to reduce honey bee exposure. Beekeepers are asked to register their hive locations in advance so crews can plan spray routes accordingly; contact Russ Price, Sanitation Director, at rprice@cityofwalhalla.com with questions or to report a hive location.
Frequently asked questions
What time should I put my trash cart out, and when should I bring it back in?
Put your cart out at the curb the evening before your scheduled pickup, with the front of the cart facing the street. It needs to be brought back from the road by 7:00 a.m. the day after collection.
Where should I place my cart so it doesn’t get damaged?
Keep the cart at least three feet away from mailboxes, fences, trees, or parked vehicles. Carts are city property, and a damaged, stolen, or missing cart may result in a replacement charge to the customer.
Does loose trash or cardboard outside the cart get picked up?
No. All garbage must be bagged and tied inside the cart. Loose trash or cardboard left beside the cart will not be collected.
What happens to my pickup schedule on a holiday or during severe weather?
Collection may shift by a day or two. Check the city website and Facebook page for updates rather than assuming your regular schedule applies that week.
Do I have to sign up for sanitation service, or is it automatic?
If you’re inside city limits, city sanitation service is required by city policy and is set up automatically as part of being a Walhalla water customer. The City provides a 90-gallon roll cart, emptied once a week, for a monthly charge of $16.50, which appears on your water bill as “RRCI.” Public Works typically delivers your cart within two weeks of signing up for water service and will let you know your pickup day at that time.
How much brush or yard debris will the city pick up for free?
Crews remove up to five yards of brush or yard debris per location within a 30-day period at no charge. Anything beyond that amount is billed according to the current fee schedule.
Can I mix yard waste in with my regular household trash?
No — South Carolina law prohibits mixing yard waste, land-clearing debris, or construction and demolition waste in with household trash. They have to be set out separately.
Are there size limits on branches and limbs for brush pickup?
Yes. Limbs and logs over four inches in diameter need to be cut to six feet or shorter before pickup. Leaf piles should also be kept separate — not mixed in with trash or branches.
Will the city pick up shingles, roofing material, or old crossties?
No, these aren’t collected curbside. They need to be taken directly to the landfill. Bringing in trash or debris from outside the city for disposal here is considered illegal dumping and is subject to fines.
Where can I recycle in Walhalla?
Glass, plastic, cardboard, and tires can be recycled at the city sanitation department or at Oconee County’s manned convenience centers. Aluminum cans and newspapers can also be dropped off at the Walhalla Post Office, the City parking lot, or the Walhalla Fire Department.
When does the city spray for mosquitoes, and how can I protect my bees?
The city sprays annually from June through the first week of October, with spraying done in the evenings specifically to reduce exposure to honey bees. If you keep bees, you’re encouraged to register your hive location ahead of time so crews can plan spray routes around it. Contact Russ Price, Sanitation Director, at rprice@cityofwalhalla.com to register a hive or ask questions.
What do I do if my pickup was missed?
Use the Report an Issue form on the city website, or call the Sanitation Department directly at (864) 638-4351.
What items are never allowed in my roll cart?
Poisons, acids, caustics, explosives, and other dangerous materials; soil or construction debris like concrete, wood, or brick; furniture, oil, gasoline, paint thinner, kerosene, and other toxic substances; and shingles or roofing material. Long fluorescent bulbs must be broken before going in the cart, and cardboard needs to be broken down or cut up first — large uncut pieces will keep the cart from dumping properly.
What happens if my roll cart is damaged, stolen, or missing — and can I use my own can instead?
Carts are city property; a stolen, removed-without-permission, or damaged-beyond-repair cart may result in a replacement charge of roughly $86 (cost can vary by manufacturer). Only carts issued by the City are emptied — a cart purchased elsewhere, even a similar-looking one, won’t be collected.
Who’s responsible if trash spills out of the cart during pickup?
If trash blows out during normal dumping because it wasn’t bagged and tied, cleaning it up is the resident’s responsibility. If a crew member knocks over or drops a cart while servicing it, the crew is responsible for cleaning up any resulting mess.
Is cardboard picked up at the curb?
No. Cardboard left on the side of the road is not collected. Break it down or cut it up and place it inside your roll cart, or bring it directly to the recycling center at 395 S Cedar Street.