Live in Washington and replaced an old appliance with a new one? Don’t put the old one on the curbside for pick up right away. Doing so means it won’t be picked up until February, May, August and November.

That’s correct. The city won’t pick up bulky trash for free until the weeks of Feb. 12-15, May 14-17, Aug. 13-16 and Nov. 12-15.

Some city residents who place such items on those curbsides erroneously believe those discarded items are picked up weekly as part of the normal solid waste pick-up schedule for their neighborhoods. Not so. Residents who believe the city is ignoring that bulky trash are wrong, too.

City sanitation crews collect bulky trash four times every year, at no cost to the city’s residents and businesses that have their trash collected by the city. Those collections take place the second full week of February, May, August and November. Bulky trash — items that don’t fit in the green rollout carts — is picked up on the same schedule as regular solid waste collections. If one’s garbage is picked up Wednesdays, then one’s bulky trash will be picked up on the Wednesday of the second full week of the applicable month.

Put 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. Bulky trash may be picked up during other times for a cost of $100 per trip. Such collections may be arranged by calling 975-9302 Mondays through Fridays. City residents also may carry bulky trash to a Beaufort County solid-waste convenience center at any time at no charge.

Some items will not be picked up, according to city officials. Items such as tires, hazardous materials, appliances that contain (or did contain) Freon, televisions, computers and computer accessories will not be picked up. Televisions, computers and computer accessories are accepted at the Beaufort County convenience center (roll-off site) on Magnolia School Road.

Generally, according to city officials, if someone puts a television, microwave oven or another unacceptable appliance at curbside, the sanitation crews will place a door-hanger on the residence’s front door, initially, to let the person know he needs to take the item to the roll-off sites in the county. The city also will let that person know if he keeps the item until one of the free pick-up weeks, it will be picked up then, said those officials.

The city collects loose leaves left next to the street until Feb. 15.