Wonder why that old television set, worn-out chair or nonworking microwave oven discarded by a neighbor sits on the curbside in Washington for weeks at a time?

City trash crews are not ignoring such discarded items, known as bulky trash. The city collects bulky trash items four times each year — at no cost to the residents it serves with solid-waste collections. The free collections take place the second full week of February, May, August and November of each year. The bulky trash — items that do not fit in the green garbage carts — is picked up on the same schedule as regular solid-waste collections. So, if your garbage is picked up on Wednesday, then any bulky trash you have will be picked up on Wednesday of the second full week of the applicable month.

Place bulky trash items on the side of the street during each free week only. There is a limit of one truckload per resident during each free week of bulky trash collection.

The next collection of bulky trash is Nov. 11-14.

Bulky trash may be picked up during other times for a cost of $75 per trip. Such collections may be arranged by calling 975-9302. City residents also may carry bulky trash to a Beaufort County solid-waste convenience center at any time at no charge.

Items such as tires, hazardous materials, appliances that contain (or did contain) Freon, televisions, computers and computer accessories will not be picked up. Televisions and computers are accepted at the convenience center on Magnolia School Road.

Allen Lewis, the city’s public works director, said people who put out unacceptable items for pick up will receive “door hangers” telling them how to properly dispose of those items. “The door hanger, basically, tells them that we don’t pick those items up. It should also direct them to one of the county roll-off sites that will handle those types of things,” Lewis said.

“At times,” Lewis said when asked if there is a misconception by the public when it comes to what items the city will and will not pick up. “We probably get one or two things like this a week. It’s not like it’s widespread by any means, whether it’s new folks moving in or folks who don’t realize what we will and what we won’t pick up.”

With fall approaching, that means leaves will be falling soon. City crews pick up loose leaves placed next to the street from Nov. 1 through Feb. 15 on an annual basis. Leaves placed in bags may be picked up at other times.

After Nov. 7, bag loose leaves for pick up before Thanksgiving. Thursday and Friday routes need to have bagged leaves ready for pre-Thanksgiving collection on Nov. 13 and Nov. 14. Loose leaves collection will continue, but pre-Thanksgiving pick up is not guaranteed. After Dec. 5, bag loose leaves for pick up before Christmas. Thursday and Friday routes needs to have bagged leaves ready for pre-Christmas collection on Dec. 18 and Dec. 19. Loose leaves collection will continue, but pre-Christmas pick up is not guaranteed.