Prior to 1981, solid waste disposal had open dumps and was unregulated. In November 1981 the Ashland Sanitary Landfill opened and started receiving waste as the first publicly owned permitted landfill in Louisiana. The site was permitted for municipal solid waste and commercial waste, regulated by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality's Solid Waste Division.

The 126 acres Ashland site designed for 10 years of service closed July 31, 1999 well past its designed life with an estimated closure cost of 3 to 4 million dollars. The landfill had a design capacity of 1,588,774 tons averaged 80 scale trucks for 440 tons of solid waste per day.

Revenues for Ashland landfill are from an 11 mil Ad Valorem Tax which yields $3,300,000, user fees ($10.00 per household) of $1,200,000, and scale charges ($42.00 per ton) $3,600,000 for an annual income of $6,100,000.

Annual operation and maintenance cost for 1999 were $1,300,000 for the landfill site, collection contract to pickup waste from residential customers were $3,600,000 and the operation of pickup stations at $300,000 for a total of $5,200,000.

The EPA/DEQ requires an existing landfill to have a certified operator on site at all times, semi-annual groundwater monitoring, storm water permit, daily cover on disposal area, and daily litter control.

EPA/DEQ Subtitle D requires existing landfills to upgrade the monitoring well system, install a leachate collection and treatment system, install Methane gas collection and venting system, and monitor all commercial trucks for hazardous waste. Ashland Landfill had spent approximately $1,000,000 on Subtitle D requirements through the end of 1999.

With the closure of the Ashland landfill, waste is currently handled through the 500 ton per day capacity Ashland Solid Waste Pickup Station. The station is a 50 feet high precast concrete structure with a wind load design of 115 mph. The construction and engineering cost of the building is $2,115,333 and was completed in 127 days.

Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government has a 5 year private hauling contract of $1,000,000 per year with an additional fee of $8.95 per ton. Waste is deposited in the station and hauled away by the private contractor to River Birch, Inc located in Jefferson Parish. TPCG has a 5 year waste disposal contract with River Birch facility for $26.50 per ton for a total cost of disposal $32.40 per ton.

Other responsibilities under Environmental Services include the Animal Shelter which impounded 7,120 animals in 1999 and operates with an annual budget of $130,000. Additionally sanitation services are provided for Mardi Gras and parish sponsored events.

Small Commercial and Residential

• Two (2) times per week

Garbage Pick-up Days

City of Houma (from Saint Charles Street to Prospect Blvd.)
• Monday
• Thursday

Bayou Blue, Bourg, Chauvin, Coteau, Dulac, Dularge, Grand Caillou, Montegut, Pointe-Aux-Chenes
• Tuesday
• Friday

Bayou Black, Broadmoor, Gibson, Gray, Oakshire, Schriever, Terrebonne West
• Wednesday
• Saturday

Please observe the time of garbage collection in your area and place your can curbside to avoid missed garbage.

Furniture, water heaters, and other bulky items will be collected on the second pickup day of the week.

Furniture, water heaters, and other bulky items will be collected on the second pickup day of the week.

Debris Pickup

• All items should be placed curbside for pickup
• Small items must be bagged to provide ease of collection
• There is no pickup for demolition, construction, or remodeling: these items must be brought to one of the drop off facilities

Tree Pickup

• Grass clippings and leaves must be bagged to provide ease of collection
• Tree limbs, lumber, and other wood material must be tied securely in bundles not larger than 4 feet in length, 2 feet in diameter, and 75 pounds in weight

Appliance Pickup

• Appliances should be empty and all freon must be removed.
• Place appliance at the curbside.
• Call the Solid Waste at (985) 873-6760.

Residential Drop Off

• Ashland Drop Off – Hours of Operation: Dawn to dusk - 7 days a week
        277 Ashland Landfill Road
        Houma, Louisiana  70363
        Phone: (985) 873-6739
  

• Schriever Drop Off – Hours of Operation: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm - Monday thru Saturday (closed Sunday)
        Isle of Cuba Road
        Schriever, Louisiana  70395
        Phone: (985) 446-5465
  

• Montegut Drop Off – Hours of Operation: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm - Monday thru Saturday (closed Sunday)
        Crochetville Road
        Montegut, Louisiana  70377
        Phone: (985) 594-3602
  

Commercial and Non-Residential Drop Off

• Ashland Drop Off Only – Hours of Operation: Dawn to dusk - 7 days a week
        277 Ashland Landfill Road
        Houma, Louisiana  70363
        Phone: (985) 873-6739
  

• General Information
  
  • $45.00 per ton
  • Cash or Check only

The following items are not eligible for drop off but can be brought to the Ashland Facility for disposal during regular working hours. Refer to the list of drop off facilities for both hours of operation and Non-Resident/Commercial charges (if applicable):

• Antifreeze
• Batteries
• Cement
• Gas tank (must be empty and clean)
• Propane tank (must be empty with valves removed)
• Tires
  • Limit 5 tires per person per day
  • First 4 tires free, charges for the 5th tire
  • Residential – up to 5 per day, first 4 free, 5th cost:
    • Small – $1.00
    • Medium – $1.50
    • Large – $3.50
  • Commercial cost:
    • Small – $1.00
    • Medium – $1.50
    • Large – $3.50
• Used Oil

The following items are not eligible for pickup or disposal at any of the disposal facilities:

• Asbestos material
• Chemicals (liquid or powder)
• Creosote products
• Hazardous waste
• Industrial waste and liquids
• Medical waste

A message from from President Claudet about recycling –

In this eco-conscious environment of the 21st century, one of the most important things we can do to combat landfill waste and global warming is recycle. Because of the full backing and support of our Parish Council and Solid Waste Department, recycling options for our citizens are now greatly expanded. Three community recycling bins have been strategically placed in centralized locations throughout the parish. As of today, bins are already in place at the Bayou Cane Fire Department on West Main St., the East Houma Fire Department at the intersection of Plant Rd. and Tunnel Blvd., and the South Houma Fire Station at the intersection of St. Charles Street and Valhi. These bins will be clearly marked, and accept paper, plastics, and aluminum recyclables in a single-stream fashion. There is no need to separate or bag your recyclables, just place them in the bins.

• Newspaper / Magazines / Phone Books / White Office Paper / Ledger Paper
  • SP Recycling of Baton Rouge provides recycling bins at schools and churches in 35 locations parish-wide.
• Appliances
  • Refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves, ovens microwaves, etc. are collected curb-side throughout the parish or may be delivered to any of three resident drop-off facilities at the Ashland Landfill site, Crochetville site on Crochetville Road in Montegut, or Schriever site on Isle of Cuba Road in Schriever.
  • Residents are encouraged to call the Solid Waste Division at 873-6739 for expedited curbside pickup.
  • A convenient new resident drop-off facility with improved recycling accommodations has just been completed at the Ashland site.
• Waste Oil and Antifreeze
  • Area Wal-Marts, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Auto Zones are waste oil recycling partners and will waste motor oil and antifreeze for recycling.
  • Additionally, any of three resident drop-off facilities at the Ashland Landfill site, Crochetville site on Crochetville Road in Montegut, or Schriever site on Isle of Cuba Road in Schriever accept these products for recycling.
• Electronics
  • Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government and numerous schools, civic organizations, and retailers throughout the parish accept and recycle small electronics such as cell phones, PDAs, computer drives, circuit board and the like as well as sealed batteries used to power these devices.
  • In many cases revenues from the sale of these recyclables help support worthy causes.
• Scrap Metals
  • Scrap metals are accepted at any of three resident drop-off facilities at the Ashland Landfill site, Crochetville site on Crochetville Road in Montegut, or Schriever site on Isle of Cuba Road in Schriever.
  • Additionally, Southern Scrap purchases these products from individuals.
• Butane Tanks
  • By law, all butane retailers are required to accept butane tanks for recycling.
• Tires
  • Tires can be recycled at any of three resident drop-off facilities at the Ashland Landfill site, Crochetville site on Crochetville Road in Montegut, or Schriever site on Isle of Cuba Road in Schriever.
  • Residents can dispose of up to four automobile tires at no cost.
  • Additionally, all new-tire retailers are required to charge a recycling fee of $5 on each new tire sold and to accept and dispose of the replaced tires at no cost.
• Mercury
  • Devices containing elemental mercury can be recycled at the City of Houma Service Complex, 301 Plant Road in Houma.
  • Mercury waste must weigh no more than one pound, be in good repair, and have no leaks.
  • Batteries and lamps cannot be accepted.
• Plastic*
  • Residential
  • plastic with #1 through #7 inside the triangular-shaped recycling symbol, beverage bottles, food containers (rinse), detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, prescription bottles, baby wipe containers, household cleaner and bleach bottles (empty and rinse), flower pots, buckets (5-gallon or less, remove metal handles)
  • NO plastic bags, hangers,toys, 6-pack rings, chemical containers, packing materials, plastic wrap
  • Commercial
  • plastic with #1 through #7 inside the triangle on the bottom, beverage bottles, food containers, detergent bottles, prescription bottles, cleaner and bleach bottles, buckets (5-gallon or less, remove metal handles)
  • NO: plastic bags, hangers, 6 pack rings, chemical containers, packing materials, plastic wrap, Styrofoam
• Metal
  • Residential
  • aluminum, tin and metal alloy beverage, food and pet food cans, metal lids (empty and rinse)
  • NO aerosol cans, wire hangers, aluminum foil, pie pans, non-food metal containers
  • Commercial
  • aluminum, tin and metal alloy beverage & food cans metal lids
  • NO: aerosol cans, wire hangers aluminum foil, pie pans, non- food metal containers
• Paper
  • Residential
  • junk mail, coupons, white or colored paper, gift wrap, envelopes, paper grocery bags, shopping bags (remove handles), catalogs, magazines, newspapers and inserts (remove rubber bands and plastic bags, do not tie up newspapers), paperback books, telephone books, shredded paper
  • NO soiled paper, photos, hard cover books, carbon paper, newspaper delivery bags or rubber bands
  • Commercial
  • white or colored paper, shredded paper(bagged), brochures, envelopes, telephone books, catalogs, magazines, paperback books, paper grocery bags & shopping bags (remove handles), newspapers and inserts (remove rubber bands and plastic bags, do not tie up newspapers), You do not need to remove staples.
  • NO: soiled paper, photos, hard cover books, carbon paper, plastic bags or rubber bands
• Cardboard*
  • Residential
  • Flatten corrugated boxes and paperboard boxes, 6, 12 and 24-pack drink cartons (flattened), paper egg cartons, shoe boxes
  • NO pizza boxes, plastic or foam packing material, waxed cardboard or boxes with plastic or foil linings
  • Commercial
  • flattened corrugated and paperboard boxes, 6, 12 and 24 pack drink cartons
  • NO: pizza boxes, plastic or foam packing material, waxed foam packing material, waxed cardboard or boxes with plastic or foil linings
• Cartons
  • Residential
  • juice, milk and cream boxes and cartons (rinse), cereal and cracker boxes (remove liners)
  • NO waxy frozen food packaging, take-out food containers, pizza boxes
  • Commercial
  • beverage boxes and cartons, cookie, cereal and cracker boxes (remove liners)
  • NO: waxy frozen food packaging, take-out food containers, pizza boxes, pastry box
• Glass
  • Residential
  • NO GLASS IS ACCEPTED AT DROP-OFF SITES
  • Commercial
  • NO glass is accepted in the commercial recycling program

* Residential: ABSOLUTELY NO Glass, plastic bags, household garbage, yard trimmings or woody waste, building materials, automobile/trailer or bike tires, household or hazardous waste (electronics, batteries, paint, chemicals, oil or oil filters), soiled papers (diapers, tissues, paper towels, paper plates, napkins, pizza boxes)

Commercial: NO plastic bags, food, organic waste, building materials, tire, hazardous waste (toner cartridges, batteries, paint, chemicals, oil or oil filters), electronics (televisions, computers and other business machines), soiled paper (tissues, towels, plates, napkins, diapers, pizza or pastry boxes)

Empty & rinse all containers. Remove all nonmetal tops and lids and discard.