Billings Waste No-Nos: 8 Things You Can’t Put in the Trash

It blows my mind how much trash my family-of-four household produces each week. Heaven forbid I miss a week rolling it to the curb because there is no way in hell that the big, black trash bin can hold two weeks' worth of garbage.

Most of our household rubbish - which seems like an embarrassingly large amount - is acceptable to put in the garbage can. However, some items are a big no-no, for environmental and safety reasons.

Here's a refresher on eight things you cannot put in the garbage can in Billings.

Items that weigh more than 75 pounds.

As much as you'd like to toss your Wile E. Coyote anvil in the trash, you can't. Haul it  (and other heavy items) to the dump like a responsible adult.

Items that don't fit in the trash bin.

You can call the City at 406-657-8285 to schedule a pickup for larger items.

Construction materials.

Roofing, kitchen counters, old fencing, etc. are all the responsibility of the contractor (or the homeowner, if doing the work themself) to dispose of properly... by taking it to the dump.

Infectious wastes.

You'll need a permit to dispose of yucky things that can easily transmit disease, such as human body parts, blood, contaminated medical supplies, etc.

Flammable Waste

We're not talking about paper or cardboard. Many things can burn, of course. But you're not allowed to put highly flammable stuff like gasoline, kerosene, bottles of nail polish remover, propane tanks, etc, in your City of Billings trash can.

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Acids

Car batteries and other acids should not be thrown in the trash can.

Explosives

This seems like common sense... you can't put leftover dynamite, fireworks, ammo, or your great-grandad's "souvenir" War grenade you found in the attic in a City trash can. Contact the Billings Police Department for safe disposal of any explosive materials.

Household Hazardous Waste

Lots of household chemicals, solvents, paints, and cleaning products should not the tossed in the trash. The EPA breaks it down here. You CAN drop your hazardous household waste off at designated areas at the Billings landfill.