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Marion County

DPW’s Indy Snow Force Treating Icy Roads

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With forecasts calling for a steep drop in temperature Thursday afternoon, the Indianapolis Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) will activate Snow Force crews at 11 a.m. to treat thoroughfares and secondary streets against icy conditions after a rainy morning. Indy DPW anticipates that crews will work at least two 12-hour shifts, remaining on the roads overnight Thursday and into Friday morning.

High winds are expected to continue Thursday, with the additional possibility of freezing rain and sleet. Indy Snow Force drivers will be strategic in dropping de-icing “salt” material so that it will be effective on roadways but not washed away with any heavy rain showers.

Report Downed Tree Limbs and Traffic Signal Issues

Stormwater, forestry, and traffic signal crews will also be available to address issues related to gusty winds and high water on roadways. If a roadway is impassable due to high water or a downed tree limb, or if a traffic signal is malfunctioning, residents should contact the Mayor’s Action at 317-327-4622. Calls to the Mayor’s Action Center after normal business hours can be directed to DPW Dispatch by selecting option ‘2’.

Watch for Flooding

With the presence of so much recent precipitation, Indy residents can help reduce the potential for flooding by proactively checking storm drains, inlets, driveway culverts, and cross-pipes to remove yard debris, trash, and other obstructions. Indy DPW will additionally monitor river gauges and communicate with news outlets if area waterways are expected to enter minor or major flooding stages. Residents particularly in low-lying areas are advised to regularly check news outlets for the latest updates.

Beware of Icy Roads and Overpasses

Motorists are urged to drive with care during wintry conditions, especially on bridge overpasses or locations known to get slippery. Remember to leave plenty of time to safely reach your destination, allow plenty of clearance near other vehicles, and keep at least three car lengths between your vehicle and Snow Force trucks.

Follow @IndySnowForce on Twitter for regular updates on snow fight activity during winter weather events. The Indy Snow Force Viewer is a tool for Indy residents to monitor where trucks have been during a major winter weather event, showing where roads have been plowed or treated with salt.

Indy DPW Contracts Snow Removal for Residential Streets

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Looking ahead to the end of expected snow accumulation late Thursday night, the Indianapolis Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) plans to contract snow plow vendors to plow residential streets, likely beginning Friday morning. Contractors will address approximately 4,400 miles of smaller, residential roadways beyond the 4,000 miles of thoroughfares maintained by Indy DPW’s Snow Force crews.

Vendors are contracted for a single pass along each public, residential street— including the “Connector” network of streets and beyond, in neighborhoods across Indianapolis. Motorists who park along public, neighborhood roadways should be wary that contracted plows will be working to make a pass through each street. Indy DPW encourages motorists to “hug the curb” or park in off-street locations if possible, allowing contracted plows maximum space on tighter, residential streets.

Private neighborhood streets and those roadways not under City of Indianapolis maintenance jurisdiction will not be plowed.

Indianapolis Trash Pickup Cancelled Thursday-Friday

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Due to the ongoing winter storm, the Indianapolis Department of Public Works has announced that all Thursday, February 3, 2022, and Friday, February 4, 2022, residential and heavy trash, as well as curbside recycling service, is suspended this week, including service completed by Republic Services and Waste Management. The Citizens Transfer Station will also be closed this Saturday.

Residents affected by this suspension will receive double service on their next service day. For standard trash collection, this will be next Thursday and Friday, February 10 & 11, 2022. Extra bags of waste will be serviced if placed next to carts for pickup.

Heavy Trash Pickup Changes

Regarding heavy trash collection, homes serviced by Indy DPW or Waste Management will be eligible for double pickup (up to four items) on their regularly-scheduled heavy trash service day in March.

Homes serviced by Republic Services may simply place heavy trash items at the curb on any other trash service day.

Recycling

Residents with additional questions about curbside recycling should reach out to their private hauler.

Indianapolis DPW Snow Removal by Indy Snow Force February 2-4, 2022

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With forecasts calling for a winter storm starting with rain Wednesday and developing into sleet and snow, the Indianapolis Department of Public Works expects to activate more than 200 personnel throughout the multi-day event, addressing the various impacts of the winter storm.

Workers across various shifts and from various teams will include those in Fleet Services, Stormwater Operations, Forestry Maintenance, Traffic Signals technicians, and Snowplow drivers and laborers.

Crews are expected to remain active for at least several days, working 12-hour shifts, as Indy Snow Force leadership continues to monitor the changing forecast.

High Water and Downed Trees and Limbs Possible

On Wednesday, with the presence of rainy conditions expected, crews will be ready to respond to issues related to gusty winds and high water on roadways. This includes forestry crews and traffic signal technicians.

If a roadway is impassable due to high water or a downed tree limb, or if a traffic signal is malfunctioning, residents should contact the Mayor’s Action at 317-327-4622. Calls to the Mayor’s Action Center after normal business hours can be directed to DPW Dispatch by selecting option ‘2’.

Pretreating Roads Difficult, Dangerous Driving Conditions Expected

The presence of rain ahead of more snowy, wintry weather (expected late Wednesday into Thursday) makes pre-treating roadways difficult; rain is known to wash away any salt material placed on the ground. Indy Snow Force drivers will watch for opportunities to salt roadways but expect to be mostly unable to pre-treat roadways ahead of ice and snow.

As rain shifts to sleet or snow, this will lead to very slick roadways and dangerous driving conditions.

Avoid Travel If Possible

Residents are encouraged to avoid travel starting Wednesday evening throughout the rest of the week.

This will allow Indy Snow Force drivers and other DPW crews plenty of space to clear roads and complete other necessary work.

Motorists are urged to drive with care during wintry conditions, especially on bridge overpasses or locations known to get slippery.

Remember to leave plenty of time to safely reach your destination, allow plenty of clearance near other vehicles, and keep at least three car lengths between your vehicle and Indy Snow Force trucks.

Indianapolis Department of Public Works Snow Plow Routes

Residents who park cars along DPW’s regular plow routes (PDF) are advised to park off-street if possible.

Any lane or space where a car is parked in an area that is unable to be plowed.

Moving snow out of the middle of the street can sometimes necessitate moving it into a parking lane.

Follow Indy Snow Force

Follow @IndySnowForce on Twitter for regular updates on snow fight activity during winter weather events.

The Indy Snow Force Viewer will be activated as trucks begin plowing snow from roads during this winter weather event.

The Indy Snow Force Viewer shows where roads have been plowed or treated with salt.

Indianapolis Electronics Recycling at Garfield Park Saturday, January 22, 2022

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The Indianapolis Office of Sustainability and the Indianapolis Department of Public Works will host a post-holiday electronics recycling event tomorrow, Saturday, January 22 at Garfield Park (2345 Pagoda Drive). Many Marion County residents may have upgraded electronics over the holidays or while working from home, so attendees are encouraged to drop off unused, outdated, and/or broken electronics so that they may be properly recycled.

On-site staff will direct traffic at the event, which will start at 9 a.m. and run until 2 p.m. Attendees should use the Garfield Park entrance off of E Southern Avenue, turn left to follow Pagoda Drive, and then follow directions to turn right into the Burrello Family Center parking lot for drop-off. Motorists should remain in their cars and wear a face covering when interacting with staff members.

Officials expect to recycle thousands of pounds of electronics, keeping the waste from otherwise ending up in the landfill. Last year’s event diverted nearly 60,000 pounds of electronic waste from landfills and more than 600 residents attended.

Officers from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Southeast District will be on hand to facilitate a prescription take-back service for attendees who may also wish to responsibly dispose of any unused or expired prescription medicines. Medications must be presented in a sealed container or sealed plastic bag at the time of collection.

“We encourage residents across Marion County to participate in another year of post-holiday electronics recycling as they clean and re-organize after the holidays,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Together, we can divert electronic waste from our landfills and safely dispose of hazardous medications, while continuing to offer impactful re-entry employment opportunities.”

The City is partnering with local nonprofit RecycleForce for electronics recycling. RecycleForce reduces crime through re-entry employment and job training opportunities while improving the environment through electronics recycling.

A list of which types of electronics can be found on the Facebook event page, but as a general rule of thumb, acceptable electronics include anything with a cord attached as well as phones, laptops, and tablets. Hazardous materials will not be accepted during this event on January 22.

Garfield Park is also one of eight Indy Parks locations included in the Indy Department of Public Works’ ongoing Christmas Tree Recycling program, allowing residents to drop off real trees until the end of January. The Christmas tree drop-off point in Garfield Park is near the Southern Avenue entrance, in front of MacAllister Amphitheater. Trees must be free of ornaments, tinsel, tree stands, and all other decorative materials. The live tree recycling program is solely for Marion County residents.

Indianapolis Trash Pickup on Slide Schedule Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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Indianapolis Department of Public Works Logo

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Monday, January 17, 2022

Indianapolis trash pickup will run on a slide schedule for the week of January 17-22, 2022.

  • Monday trash pickup will occur on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.
  • Tuesday trash pickup will occur on Wednesday, January 19, 2022.
  • Wednesday trash pickup will occur on Thursday, January 20, 2022.
  • Thursday trash pickup will occur on Friday, January 21, 2022.
  • Friday trash pickup will occur on Saturday, January 22, 2022.

Additional Indianapolis Trash Pickup Information

For more information on trash collection, please visit indy.gov. To report any trash and city-related issues, please use the RequestIndy portal online or the mobile app on your smartphone.

You can also report trash-related and other issues around the city by calling the Mayor’s Action Center (MAC) at 317-327-4622.

Indianapolis Trash Pickup Holiday Schedule 2022

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Your trash pickup will be delayed one day on the below holidays; residents who normally have trash collected on Friday will have it picked up on Saturday.

Any holiday that falls on a weekend will not be observed; therefore, trash will be on a normal schedule.

New Year’s Day Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Saturday, January 1, 2022

Indianapolis trash pickup will run on a normal schedule for the week of January 3-7, 2022.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Monday, January 17, 2022

Indianapolis trash pickup will run on a slide schedule for the week of January 17-22, 2022.

  • Monday trash pickup will occur on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.
  • Tuesday trash pickup will occur on Wednesday, January 19, 2022.
  • Wednesday trash pickup will occur on Thursday, January 20, 2022.
  • Thursday trash pickup will occur on Friday, January 21, 2022.
  • Friday trash pickup will occur on Saturday, January 22, 2022.

Memorial Day Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Monday, May 30, 2022

Indianapolis trash pickup will run on a slide schedule for the week of May 30-June 4, 2022.

  • Monday trash pickup will occur on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.
  • Tuesday trash pickup will occur on Wednesday, June 1, 2022.
  • Wednesday trash pickup will occur on Thursday, June 2, 2022.
  • Thursday trash pickup will occur on Friday, June 3, 2022.
  • Friday trash pickup will occur on Saturday, June 4, 2022.

Juneteenth Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Monday, June 20, 2022

June 20, 2022, the day after Juneteenth, will be observed as an Indianapolis city holiday but residential solid waste services and heavy trash service as well as curbside recycling will continue to operate on a standard schedule from June 20-24, 2022.

Independence Day Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Monday, July 4, 2022

Indianapolis trash pickup will run on a slide schedule for the week of July 4-9, 2022.

  • Monday trash pickup will occur on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
  • Tuesday trash pickup will occur on Wednesday, July 6, 2022.
  • Wednesday trash pickup will occur on Thursday, July 7, 2022.
  • Thursday trash pickup will occur on Friday, July 8, 2022.
  • Friday trash pickup will occur on Saturday, July 9, 2022.

Labor Day Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Monday, September 5, 2022

Indianapolis trash pickup will run on a slide schedule for the week of September 5-10, 2022.

  • Monday trash pickup will occur on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.
  • Tuesday trash pickup will occur on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.
  • Wednesday trash pickup will occur on Thursday, September 8, 2022.
  • Thursday trash pickup will occur on Friday, September 9, 2022.
  • Friday trash pickup will occur on Saturday, September 10, 2022.

Thanksgiving Day Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Thursday, November 24, 2022

Indianapolis trash pickup will run on a slide schedule for Thursday and Friday the week of November 21-26, 2022.

  • Thursday trash pickup will occur on Friday, November 25, 2022.
  • Friday trash pickup will occur on Saturday, November 26, 2022.

Christmas Day Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Sunday, December 25, 2022

Indianapolis trash pickup will run on a normal schedule for the week of December 19-23, 2022.

Additional Indianapolis Trash Pickup Information

For more information on trash collection, please visit indy.gov. To report any trash and city-related issues, please use the RequestIndy portal online or the mobile app on your smartphone.

You can also report trash-related and other issues around the city by calling the Mayor’s Action Center (MAC) at 317-327-4622.

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Indianapolis Christmas Tree Recycling Runs Through January 31, 2022

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The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) and Indy Parks will now accept live Christmas trees for recycling at multiple drop-off locations in public parks throughout the city.

Beginning today through Monday, January 31, 2022, residents can drop off live trees at eight different locations. Trees must be free of ornaments, tinsel, tree stands, and all other decorative materials. Trees should be dropped off only at the specially designated area within the park, and only between dawn and dusk.

Drop-off locations are as follows:​

  • Broad Ripple Park (1610 Broad Ripple Avenue), East side of the parking lot
  • Ellenberger Park (5301 East St. Clair Street), Northeast corner by the pool
  • Garfield Park (2432 Conservatory Drive), near MacAllister Amphitheater
  • Krannert Park (605 South High School Road), North side of the building
  • Northwestway Park (5253 West 62nd Street), to the left of the entrance
  • Perry Park (451 East Stop 11 Road), to the left of the Stop 11 main entrance
  • Riverside Park (2420 East Riverside Drive), by the basketball court
  • Sahm Park (6801 East 91st Street), near the recycling bins

The Indianapolis live tree recycling service recycles trees to be composted and eventually used as mulch. Last year 6,896 Christmas trees were chipped by Park Maintenance.

The live tree recycling program is not for commercial use and is solely for Marion County residents. Residents should also remember this service is for live Christmas trees only and any other items left would be considered illegal dumping.

New Years’ Day Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Saturday, January 1, 2022

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The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) reminds Marion County residents that curbside recycling, residential, and heavy trash service will operate on a normal schedule for the week of December 27-31, 2021.

New Years’ Day Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Saturday, January 1, 2022

Indianapolis trash pickup will run on a normal schedule for the week of December 27-31, 2021.

For more information on trash collection, please visit indy.gov. To report any trash and city-related issues, please use the RequestIndy portal online or the mobile app on your smartphone.

You can also report trash-related and other issues around the city by calling the Mayor’s Action Center (MAC) at 317-327-4622.

Christmas Day Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Saturday, December 25, 2021

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The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) reminds Marion County residents that curbside recycling, residential, and heavy trash service will operate on a normal schedule for the week of December 20-24, 2021.

Christmas Day Indianapolis Trash Pickup – Saturday, December 25, 2021

Indianapolis trash pickup will also run on a normal schedule for the week of December 27-31, 2021.

For more information on trash collection, please visit indy.gov. To report any trash and city-related issues, please use the RequestIndy portal online or the mobile app on your smartphone.

You can also report trash-related and other issues around the city by calling the Mayor’s Action Center (MAC) at 317-327-4622.