Waste Management and bulk pickup

Called up Waste Management to arrange pickup of an artificial Christmas tree.  I told them it was an artificial Christmas tree.  They told me that calling ahead was not necessary.

The tree was not picked up.

In the course of a five minute conversation, I heard these excuses why it was not taken away:

1. Should have called ahead to arrange pickup.
2. They only pickup the second collection day of the week ("Is this new?" "Yes").
3. They don't do bulk pick up of Christmas trees of any variety. 

Anyone have any suggestions?

Call again.  Tell them what you are putting out.  Ask which of your two pick-up days is preferable and then say you will put it out on that date.  Place it in the median by the curb where it will be visible to the person picking up.  If tree is a problem, consider putting it in large garbage bag.  If they still refuse to pick up the artificial tree, consider putting it on MOL or swap.

Today WM contacted me to arrange pickup.

Thanks Vic   

As a Maplewood W.M. customer you are allowed one item of bulk pickup each Friday without notification.  I used it last Friday without issue.

This might be true if you live in the Tuesday/Friday pick-up zone, though in that case, leaving something out on Tuesday should be equally effective.  However leaving a bulk pick-up item out on a Friday if you have Monday/Thursday pick-up or Wednesday/Saturday pick-up would not work at all.

Services have really changed with WM.  It's a new crew with a new attitude.  I've had some very unpleasant experiences with them.  Hoping services get better.  

joan_crystal said:

This might be true if you live in the Tuesday/Friday pick-up zone, though in that case, leaving something out on Tuesday should be equally effective.  However leaving a bulk pick-up item out on a Friday if you have Monday/Thursday pick-up or Wednesday/Saturday pick-up would not work at all.

When I originally called I was told to leave that week’s bulk pickup item out on the SECOND pick-up day of the week so it would NEVER be Tuesday...

Scully said:

joan_crystal said:

This might be true if you live in the Tuesday/Friday pick-up zone, though in that case, leaving something out on Tuesday should be equally effective.  However leaving a bulk pick-up item out on a Friday if you have Monday/Thursday pick-up or Wednesday/Saturday pick-up would not work at all.

When I originally called I was told to leave that week’s bulk pickup item out on the SECOND pick-up day of the week so it would NEVER be Tuesday...

Good to know.  I don't seem to have a problem regardless of which day I leave something out.  Assume those with one day a week pick-up would put a bulk pick up item out on their one pick-up day.

My neighbor had his sleeper sofa picked up yesterday (Tue). I've never had a problem with WM using either day. Not sure why they are apparently telling some folks, -never on a Tuesday.

Not only did we have a bulk pick-up yesterday, but the items were Christmas wreaths that were natural branches on wire frames (so we couldn't put them in Township pick-up with the tree).  It wasn't a problem when I called Waste Management to explain what they were.

Scully said:

joan_crystal said:

This might be true if you live in the Tuesday/Friday pick-up zone, though in that case, leaving something out on Tuesday should be equally effective.  However leaving a bulk pick-up item out on a Friday if you have Monday/Thursday pick-up or Wednesday/Saturday pick-up would not work at all.

When I originally called I was told to leave that week’s bulk pickup item out on the SECOND pick-up day of the week so it would NEVER be Tuesday...

When I've called I've been told that it was either pick up day, just so long as I only put out one item per week