The city is rolling out a new curbside collection system for residential garbage and debris beginning May 1.

Twice a month on one of a customer's regular collection days, crews will pick up garbage inside the cart, recycling, two bags of yard debris and other excessive debris outside the cart. Included items are things like tree limbs, mattresses and other furniture.

“The current system was not getting the job done,” Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said. “We took a long, hard look at our service model and realized it needed to be changed, and most of the public could not understand our current system.”

Residents will be notified by mail of which days they can place items for curbside collection. They will receive a magnetic calendar with the dates to help them remember. The collection days will either be the first and third week of the month or second and fourth week of the month, depending on location. 

The city’s current curbside service allowed for trash pick-up within 21 days after a homeowner called 311. City officials said the system had a 65 percent success rate.

“The problem with it was it was not predictable,” Al Lamar, director of the city's Solid Waste Division, said. “The lack of predictability in the service we were delivering caused the shortfall in our delivery of service.”

To implement the changes, the city invested $15 million from its reserves for new equipment and hiring 70 new employees. The announced changes also include the addition of a new contractor for Cordova and part of Hickory Hill.

Customers will also be able to access a collection calendar tool online to keep with up collection dates and any changes in service. 

The announcement comes several months after Strickland appointed Lamar as Solid Waste Division director. Collection previously was under the Public Works department.

Lamar's appointment was part of a larger plan to overhaul the city’s curbside collection service.

“I took this entire delivery service model and pulled it apart to see where we could improve,” Lamar said. “My staff, the very first thing that I told them (is) we will not fail the citizens of Memphis. They’re going to get better (service). They deserve better and now we have to deliver better.”