UPDATE (March 29, 2026): Republic has begun collecting the old blue trash carts. The city is asking residents to place empty carts at the roadside on their side so workers know they are ready for pickup and so the wind does not blow them around. Residents can also view GFL Environmental’s new collection routes HERE.
MURRAY – All across Murray, new black trash carts have begun appearing at the ends of driveways, in front yards and beside garages, catching some residents by surprise as the city prepares to switch sanitation providers next month.
For the past decade, the city’s sanitation service has been handled by Republic Services, but GFL Environmental will take over collection beginning April 1.
With old blue Republic carts still in use and new black GFL carts arriving neighborhood by neighborhood, the result has been an unusual roadside scene: some homes have two carts, some have one and some are still waiting.
Murray Sanitation Manager Ron Allbritten told city council members earlier this month that the rollout had already generated a wave of questions from residents, from which cart to use to when old carts will be picked up.
“Most residents won’t really see things change, except they’ve got a new garbage can that’s a different color, and there’s a bright English pea green truck coming down the street to pick it up,” he said. “If you’ve seen some of the (commercial) dumpsters, they’re a bright green. So, those trucks will stand out.”
As carts continue to arrive across the city, officials say these are some of the most common questions they’ve been hearing from residents:
Q: My new cart is warped. Is something wrong with it?
A: Probably not. The warping is the result of how the carts are shipped – tightly packed into tractor trailers. Residents are advised to place the cart in direct sunlight for a few hours, and it should return to its normal shape.
Q: Now I’ve got two carts, which cart do I put out?
A: After April 1, only GFL’s black carts should be used. Until then, Republic will service either the old blue cart or the new black cart, but residents should put out only one cart at a time. Officials also encourage residents to empty their blue carts before switching to the black ones so they are ready for pickup when Republic begins collecting them.
Q: When are they going to pick up my old cart?
A: City officials have not been directly involved with scheduling pickups for the old cartss. Republic and GFL are working together to coordinate that task so that no residents are left without a cart.
Q: What about recycling?
A: Recycling services will not change. Like Republic, GFL distinguishes its recycling carts with a yellow lid. Service schedules will stay the same. Residents interested in adding recycling services are asked to wait until April 1 to sign up.
Q: Will my service day change?
A: Possibly. GFL will expand residential collection services to include pickup on Fridays. A limited number of customers on the current Monday routes will be moved to one of the new Friday routes. GFL will notify customers directly if their service day will change in April.
Q: Will my sanitation charges be going up?
A: No. Residential sanitation rates will remain the same. The city has maintained its $15 residential collection rate — the lowest in western Kentucky — since 2012 and does not anticipate an increase under the new contract.
Q: My new cart has been delivered, but I did not receive the number I was supposed to receive. What do I do?
A: Call the sanitation department at 270-762-0380, and they will correct the problem.
Q: I don’t have a new cart; what do I do?
A: Residents are asked to be patient through the process of switching out thousands of carts – around 7,500 for trash service alone. However, customers whose neighbors have received new carts should contact the sanitation department at 270-762-0380.
Q: I am disabled and have walk-up service; will that continue?
A: Yes, GFL has been informed where those stops are located to ensure they are incorporated in the routes and the service continues uninterrupted. However, if a customer signed up for walk-up service is missed, they should contact the sanitation department at 270-762-0380 as early as possible the next morning, and they will correct the problem.
