What Is Considered a Bulk Item for Pickup Services

Not all trash can be disposed of in the same way. Property owners have to know the special handling requirements, city laws, and disposal procedures for certain types of trash. When cleaning out, moving, or simply managing a property’s space, knowing how to classify bulk trash items helps avoid fees, bulk pickup delays, and legal repercussions due to code violations.

In Chesapeake, using bulk trash pick up means leaving to the professionals the task of classifying those bulk trash items, regardless of whether they were left behind by a tenant or owned by the property owner. Here’s a closer look at how bulk pickup services work in Chesapeake, including how bulk items are classified for easy pickup and important exclusions that property owners should know.

What is a Bulk Item?

In waste management terms, a bulk item is an object too large to be thrown in a dumpster or placed on the curbside. The definition of bulk trash includes large household items, many of which can be left behind by a tenant or thrown away as part of cleaning or downsizing projects. Bulk trash includes large furniture and appliances, but not construction debris.

Construction debris includes large structures and certain materials used during construction, demolition, or remodeling processes. According to the City of Chesapeake Code of Ordinances, these items cannot be collected as bulk trash, including:

• Driveway debris
• Soil
• Fencing
• Siding
• Refuse wood
• Wooden pallets
• Landscaping debris
• Demolition debris

The distinction between debris and trash is essential for property owners in Chesapeake to recognize since city ordinances forbid bulk trash piles from containing both residential and construction materials. Property owners have a responsibility to know the difference between different types of debris before requesting a pickup.

According to Chesapeake statutes, failure to comply within 48 hours of disposal can result in the property owner being charged removal costs plus a minimum of $100 in administrative fees. In addition to city fines, HOA rules may also result in fines due to this violation. 

What Are Bulk Items for Pickup Services?

Here is a short breakdown of the items that qualify as bulk trash in Chesapeake, with notes about any updates to trash disposal rules in Chesapeake. While this list is not exhaustive, property owners can use it to get an idea of how their debris should be classified and work more effectively with their waste management disposal team:

1. Furniture: Residential furniture counts as bulk trash, including mattresses, bed frames, box springs, couches, tables, recliners, dressers, desks, shelves, and patio furniture.
2. Fixtures: Residential fixtures like sinks, toilets, cabinets, doors, counters, siding, and more can be disposed of with other bulk trash.
3. Appliances: Appliances including refrigerators, stoves, ovens, washers, dryers, heaters, and air conditioners can be considered bulk trash with the right preparation. Items with batteries cannot be thrown out with bulk trash, meaning some electronics must be disposed of separately. Additionally, since chemicals are considered hazardous materials, substances like the freon in AC units must be removed before the appliance can be considered bulk trash.
4. Yard Debris: While this has not always been the case, yard debris is now included in the definition of bulk trash in Chesapeake. However, the items should be noted on the pickup request and separated into a different pile.

What Items are Excluded From Bulk Trash?

As mentioned, driveway, demolition, and construction debris, including fencing, refuse wood, roofing materials, and soil, cannot be classified as bulk trash. However, several other items cannot be included as bulk trash that property owners in Chesapeake should be aware of:

• Hazardous Materials: In addition to batteries and chemicals like freon, any harsh chemicals, gases (including aerosols and propane tanks), paints, solvents, and more cannot be thrown out with bulk trash.

• Tires: Tires cannot be thrown out with bulk trash. They must be separately processed at an SPSA facility.
• Carpeting: Like roofing materials, carpeting cannot be thrown away with bulk trash due to the presence of sharp objects and chemical adhesives.
• Contracted Yard Debris: As mentioned, yard debris can now be thrown away with bulk trash in a separate pile. However, yard debris removed by contractors cannot be classified as residential bulk trash since this debris is often far more extensive.

Knowing these distinctions is essential to avoiding fines and correctly classifying bulk trash in Chesapeake. However, correctly categorizing every item can be difficult to do without professional assistance.

Void Fines With A Local Chesapeake Bulk Pickup Services

In Chesapeake, separating bulk items from other debris can be complicated. For example, hazardous materials have separate SPSA disposal facilities from tires and commercial debris. Additionally, contractors are responsible for arranging the disposal of debris resulting from their work. Yet, this can often leave property owners in the lurch after a large project. Many are confused about what qualifies as bulk trash and how to dispose of it without fines.

At Full Strut Disposal, we offer bulk pickup services to handle the process from start to finish for home and business owners in Chesapeake. Property owners can rest easy knowing that our local experts are up-to-date on Chesapeake’s rules for safe disposal and can accurately identify and remove bulk items according to these regulations.

Contact our team today to learn how bulk trash disposal can be a seamless, risk-free process with experienced local help.