CALCASIEU PARISH, La. — Ward 4 residents in Sulphur, Westlake, and surrounding unincorporated areas face different sets of rules for curbside garbage collection, depending on whether they live inside city limits or in the parish-governed zones.
Local codes for the City of Sulphur, the City of Westlake, and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury set specific times, locations, and container requirements for residential trash. While the regulations share similar goals — cleaner streets and more efficient routes for haulers — the details vary by jurisdiction.
This overview breaks down the rules in each area so residents can keep their neighborhoods in compliance and avoid missed pickups.
Sulphur: Early-Morning Deadline And Same-Day Container Removal
For residents inside the City of Sulphur, garbage collection rules are laid out in Section 11-10 of the city code, as amended by Ordinance No. 1246.
Where to place containers
Garbage and trash containers must be placed:
- “On or near the curb line in front of the residences,” or
- “On or near the designated collection area” if a specific pickup area is assigned, or
- “In an appropriate place by a business establishment” for commercial users.
The phrase “on or near the curb line” generally means close enough to the street for collection crews to reach the containers without entering private property, but not blocking traffic.
When to put containers out
Sulphur’s rules emphasize timing:
- Containers must be placed for removal before 6 a.m. on the scheduled collection day.
- Residents are allowed to put containers out the night before the day fixed for collection.
The early morning deadline is intended to match the start of regular collection routes, which often begin around dawn.
When to bring containers back in
Empty containers must be removed the same day garbage and trash are collected. The code does not allow containers to remain at the curb indefinitely after pickup, a measure often used by cities to reduce cluttered sidewalks and improve neighborhood appearance.
Heavy items require prior arrangements
The city specifically addresses large quantities of trash and bulky items:
- “Heavy items of trash and large quantities of trash shall not be placed for collection near the street before arrangements have been made with the city or any private collector for collection thereof.”
This means residents cannot simply drag a pile of furniture, construction debris, or other large items to the curb and expect regular crews to collect it. Instead, they must contact the City of Sulphur or a private hauler and make a separate agreement for pickup.
The rules are based on Code 1970 § 7-30 and Ordinance No. 1246, adopted Sept. 8, 2014.
Westlake: Evening Set-Out And Strict Removal Window
In the City of Westlake, residential garbage collection rules are defined by Section 8-1004 of the municipal code, most recently updated by Ordinance No. 540.
Residential placement rules
Westlake provides more specific placement options depending on how a property is laid out:
- At most residences, containers go “on or near the front curb line” of the home.
- If a lot extends through to another street, containers may be placed in the rear if that side faces a street suitable for collection.
- If the property has a paved alleyway adjacent to the building, containers may be placed there, but only if the alley is accessible to the garbage trucks.
These options give some flexibility for properties with multiple street frontages or rear access, while still keeping pickup efficient for collection crews.
Set-out and removal times
Westlake uses a tighter schedule than Sulphur for when containers may be put out and when they must be removed:
- Containers may be placed out starting at 4 p.m. on the evening before collection.
- Containers must be removed by 7 p.m. the day following the collection day.
That creates a specific window of roughly 27 hours after pickup is completed for residents to bring their cans back in, while also preventing containers from being left at the curb for several days.
Like Sulphur, Westlake requires residents to follow the collection schedule “designated by the proper authority of the city,” meaning any changes to route days or times would be communicated by city officials or their contracted hauler.
These rules are based on Ordinance No. 248, adopted July 16, 1974, and Ordinance No. 540, adopted April 13, 1995.
Unincorporated Areas: Waste Management Contract And Container Limits
For Ward 4 residents outside city limits — in communities and neighborhoods that are not incorporated as cities — garbage collection is governed by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury through a contract with Waste Management.
An updated agreement between the Police Jury and Waste Management took effect Jan. 1, 2023, setting new standards for curbside service in unincorporated areas.
Weekly curbside collection
Under the contract:
- Waste Management provides curbside collection of properly containerized residential solid waste once a week for each residential unit.
- Service is limited to up to three Waste Management–provided containers per household.
“Properly containerized” generally means all allowed waste is placed inside the provided cart(s), with lids closed if possible, so that trash does not spill or scatter during pickup or high winds.
Container rules and costs
The parish agreement includes specific container provisions:
- One container is provided free of charge to each residence.
- Residents may purchase additional containers for $75 per container.
- Only containers provided by Waste Management will be serviced.
If a household needs more capacity, it must do so by acquiring extra official carts, not by using different brands or loose bags at the curb. Containers can be requested by calling 337-436-7229.
Set-out timing and removal
Timing in the unincorporated areas is also regulated:
- Carts must be placed at curbside by 5 a.m. on the scheduled day of service, or residents may set them out the night before.
- Containers must be removed from the right of way within 24 hours after collection.
The 5 a.m. deadline is earlier than Westlake’s evening allowance but similar to Sulphur’s early-morning expectation, ensuring that carts are in place before the first trucks roll through.
Bulky waste handled separately
The parish contract distinguishes between regular household trash and bulky waste — a term commonly used for larger items like furniture, appliances, or other oversized materials that do not fit in standard carts.
According to the guidelines:
- All waste items, other than bulky waste items as identified below, should be placed inside the container(s).
While the excerpted information notes that bulky waste is identified separately, full details on what qualifies and how it is collected are available through the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. Residents can visit the parish website at calcasieu.gov/home for complete service descriptions, schedules, and any bulky waste instructions.
Different Rules, Same Goal: Clean Streets And Consistent Service
Although Sulphur, Westlake, and the unincorporated areas of Calcasieu Parish use different time windows and container policies, all three systems stress three common themes:
- Put containers at the right place — at or near the curb or other approved pickup point.
- Follow the time rules — whether it is Sulphur’s 6 a.m. deadline, Westlake’s 4 p.m.–to–7 p.m. schedule, or the parish’s 5 a.m. rule.
- Remove containers promptly — the same day in Sulphur, by the next evening in Westlake, and within 24 hours in unincorporated areas.
The ordinances and contract terms are designed to support efficient collection routes, protect public health, and keep neighborhoods in Ward 4 — from Sulphur and Westlake to the surrounding unincorporated communities — looking orderly.
Residents seeking more details are directed to:
- City of Sulphur’s code, Section 11-10 and Ordinance No. 1246.
- City of Westlake’s code, Section 8-1004 and Ordinances No. 248 and No. 540.
- Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s website at calcasieu.gov/home and Waste Management at 337-436-7229 for those outside city limits.