WATERVILLE — Residents with old stoves, clothes dryers, washing machines, furniture and other unwanted bulky waste items may dispose of them curbside at no cost the week of May 22 to 26 as the city hosts its first bulky waste pickup in 18 years.

The bulky waste items must be left at the curb no later than 7 a.m. May 22 to ensure they will be picked up during that week, according to Public Works Director Matt Skehan.

“We’re really happy to be reestablishing this bulky waste day,” Skehan said Tuesday. “It’s been 18 years since the city of Waterville did a bulky waste pickup for all residents. We’ll be using just about the whole public works crew with most of our equipment — skid steers, excavator, roll-off containers.”

When the city had its own landfill on Webb Road years ago, it was much easier to host the pickup regularly, but it became cost-prohibitive and ended, according to Skehan. A couple of city councilors initiated discussion late last fall about reestablishing it and Skehan sought input from public works crew members who were around when the city did it in the past, he said.

“It sounded reasonable, so it’s something we wanted to try,” he said, adding the city would like to do it every year or every other year.

It is important, he said, that people from outside the city don’t try to bring items in, and he asked residents to notify the Public Works Department at 680-4744 if they see that happening. Contractors may not dispose of bulky waste curbside as part of the event, he said. The city will take the items to Casella Waste Systems on LaFleur Road, off Airport Road, or Gregory’s Disposal Service in Fairfield, he said.

“We anticipate collecting 200 to 250 tons of debris,” he said.

Acceptable items for curbside pickup are listed on the city’s website, www.waterville-me.gov, and its Facebook page, but if people have questions they may call the Public Works Department, Skehan said.

All loose materials must be consolidated into a sturdy container (no cardboard boxes) at the curb. Acceptable items are construction-demolition debris, a three yard limit; furniture, wood, cardboard, plastics, paper, white goods such as ovens, washers, dryers and tires; and scrap metal. Those not accepted: air conditioners, refrigerators and other items that contain Freon; television monitors and printers, which are accepted, free of charge, at Give IT, Get IT at 60 Industrial Road; waste oil, propane tanks, chemicals, paints; and hazardous, industrial, liquid, biomedical and radioactive wastes. Scrap metal and tires should be kept separate from other items.

Regular trash and recycling pickup will continue as scheduled during that week.

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