How to schedule bulk pick up with Waste Management.

Submitted by OutlandishnessNo7283 t3_102gh9q in providence

Does anyone know how to go about doing this? I tried scheduling online and got a confirmation email, but no pick up. Then I tried calling their customer service and actually scheduled it with a person and received a confirmation number (866-230-1547), but still no pick up. I’ve now had this trash sitting outside of my apartment for over 3 weeks and can’t get through to a person using this number anymore!

Does anyone have any ideas? It’s just an old broken down entertainment center which would be very inconvenient for me to bring to the dump myself. Is this something you’d normally need to pay for? I don’t have an account with WM because I do not own the property. Would I need to have the owner schedule a pick up? I tried calling a junk pickup service but their minimum fee was $180, which seems absurd for this small amount of wood.

Please help!

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saucyname t1_j2t9djr wrote

Question, do you use city trash pickup or does your landlord provide a dumpster? If your house has a dumpster and doesn’t use or qualify for trash pickup that may be why waste management isn’t picking up the items. They may have scheduled it when they shouldn’t have.

If you do have city trash cans/pickup call PVD311 with the confirmation number and the day it should have been picked up. They escalate it to WM that they didn’t do their job (and probably charged providence for a pick up they didn’t do) and they also will look for and reverse any tickets you may have gotten for trash being out on the sidewalk. They did this for me when WM didn’t pick up my mattresses and I had to be out of the house in two days or so- a truck came and got them within hours.

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OutlandishnessNo7283 OP t1_j2tusy0 wrote

It’s city trash pickup every Friday, so not sure why it hasn’t been picked up. Only thing I can think of is the lady said they’d pick it up on Friday, I asked if she was sure it wasn’t Saturday because of the holiday, and she confirmed Friday. Maybe that was the issue. I figured the trash dudes would see a message for Friday and just know to pick it up on Saturday since that’s when they’d be here.

I’ll try again tomorrow and if that doesn’t work will use your 311 advice.

Thanks for the help!

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PrincessFig t1_j2thzhd wrote

It took me three phone calls and three times scheduling for them to pick up my stuff. Twice they said it was "completed" and my trash remained on my curb. Good luck they are not the best. I called each time and finally they picked it up.

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OutlandishnessNo7283 OP t1_j2tv5uf wrote

Yeah, it’s a thankless job so I feel like I can’t complain too hard lol. Thank you though, I’ll try again tomorrow.

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PrincessFig t1_j2u4y3l wrote

It was just frustrating because I had to pay for it out of their normal service and they kept insisting it was completed. But yes definitely a thankless job & I’m appreciative of the people holding those jobs!

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putathorkinit t1_j2t5mg6 wrote

It sounds like you've tried to schedule online and via phone as described here - but linking just in case (or for others). I suppose you could try calling again and starting from scratch?

My only other suggestion would be to report it via Providence 311 as either "Trash/debris on private property or lot" or "Trash/litter on public street or property" depending on which is more accurate. I think that just prompts the city to report to WM, but perhaps that request won't get lost in the same black holes as yours are.

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Status_Silver_5114 t1_j2tjtsg wrote

Reporting your own debris isn’t the point of that 311 app. Don’t schedule online since you don’t have an account. Just call - and keep trying since it was just a holiday weekend.

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OutlandishnessNo7283 OP t1_j2t9ek8 wrote

Ok thanks. I’ve been trying to call back but the automated system keeps hanging up on me after entering my zip code. Will have to try again later.

Thanks for the heads up about the 311 app, I’ll give that a try as well.

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bucci21 t1_j2tuhse wrote

I’ve had success with this process in the past but same as you have been trying for the past 6 weeks and nothing. Like I am getting confirmation emails but no response on when stuff will be picked up. Tried calling too just to be on hold for 2 hours and no pick up. I guess we just keep trying!

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cofonseca t1_j2u18fe wrote

I’ve used WM many times for bulk pickup in Providence and haven’t had any issues. I’m a little surprised.

Call WM at 1(800)972-4545 and follow the prompts. You’ll need to call at least 1 day before your normal scheduled trash pickup day. They’ll schedule the pickup, usually for the same day as your normal trash pickup. More info here:

https://www.providenceri.gov/public-works/bulky-items/

If they still aren’t picking up, I’d ask to speak to a manager and go full Karen, or start calling them out on Twitter. I’ve never had issues with WM picking up bulk items, but I have had issues with them dropping off new trash bins, and the only way to resolve it was to go full Karen.

Good luck.

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FezzikSPrestonEsq t1_j2wove1 wrote

Same, ive used it a ton and never really had a problem. They have always been very nice on the phone. Call at least 24 hours before your pickip day,if you are a Monday pickup you need to call before noon on the Friday before.

If someone grabs it when you put it out and you have a chance don't forget to cancel, they'll have more time to actually pick stuff up instead of driving by your house for no reason.

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