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Effective, Sept. 1, Hamblen County bulk waste pickup regulations are changing.

Earlier this year, the County Commission decided to stop perceived abuses of the bulk waste pickup program by commercial operators.

Hamblen County is the only county in the state of Tennessee that provides curbside garbage and recycle collection as well as curbside bulk waste collection. However, County officials grew tired of contractors and businesses taking advantage of the service to deliver construction waste to the Hamblen County Landfill.

“Construction waste is defined as any component used in the construction or renovation of a building, including wood, plastic, metal,concrete and brick,” the county says.” (It is the) policy of Hamblen County Government is NOT to collect construction material such as wood/lumber, drywall, shingles, plywood, plumbing/kitchen fixtures, brick, block, electrical components, shutters, windows, gutters, mirrors, vinyl siding, flooring, doors, Styrofoam, insulation, electrical components, plumbing components. sinks, cabinets, insulation, nails, screws, mirrors, concrete blocks/pieces, inside and outside house trim, vinyl siding, gutters, windows, shutters, columns, flooring, doors, concrete reinforcing materials, roofing tin Styrofoam, septic tanks, caulking containers, buckets, asphalt, dirt, stone, etc.”

The fine for violation of the law is $50 per day, starting with the first issued citation.

Residents are asked to make separate piles for bulk waste, tree and shrub trimmings and recyclable items and to keep those piles out of drainage ditches.

“The Sanitation Department will not pick up bulk waste at the curbside that is not separated from brush/tree trimmings and residential garbage,” the county says. “No residential trash, recycling, brush/tree trimmings, and bulk waste should be deposited in the ditch line in violation of storm water regulations.”

Recyclables – which does not include foam or glass – should be placed in the blue bins or bags for collection.

“ In order to make collection more efficient and safer for our workers, we recommend placing household garbage in bags before putting them in the county-issued garbage carts. All residential trash, clothing, rubbish, garbage etc. must be placed in the county supplied trash receptacle and not bagged up and placed at the curb as bulk waste,” the county says. “Non-collectible items for garbage carts; large batteries, metal items, uncontained hypodermic needles, kitty/dog litter, manure, urine or containers of urine, carcasses, engine oil, hazardous or caustic waste, paint, other chemicals specified by the garbage container manufacturer to be harmful to the container, etc.”

Keep Morristown Hamblen Beautiful holds bi-annual collection events to dispose of items not appropriate for garbage carts such as large batteries, engine oil, needles and more.

The fall collection is set for Oct. 7.