ZIP 02909: what the housing means for your container
02909 is the west side of Providence. Olneyville, Silver Lake and Hartford sit inside it, and it takes in parts of Manton, Mount Pleasant, the Valley and Federal Hill. The buildings here decide most of the dumpster questions before price does.
The numbers
| Housing units | ZIP 02909 | Providence overall |
|---|---|---|
| All units | 18,637 | 79,423 |
| In 3 or 4 unit buildings | 6,054 (32%) | 20,142 (25%) |
| In two-family buildings | 4,155 (22%) | 15,413 (19%) |
| Single-family, detached | 3,349 (18%) | 20,741 (26%) |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 56% | 55% |
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25024 and B25034.
So more than half of the homes in this ZIP are in two-, three- and four-family buildings, and fewer than one in five is a stand-alone house. That has three practical effects.
1. Several households, one curb
On a block of triple-deckers, the stretch of curb in front of your building is also where two or three other households park. A roll-off on the street takes that space for days. Talk to the neighbors before delivery day. It costs nothing and it heads off the complaint call to the city.
A container on the street, sidewalk or roadway needs city approval, and the code requires flashing lights or orange and silver reflective sheeting on it day and night. Ask the company whether its permit and reflective sheeting are in the price.
2. Old walls weigh a lot
With 56% of homes built in 1939 or earlier, many renovation jobs here pull out plaster, lath, brick and old flooring. Providence's own code lists plaster and masonry as heavy debris. Heavy debris fills the weight allowance long before it fills the box, and every ton over the allowance costs money because the hauler pays the landfill by the ton. A smaller container filled with plaster can cost more than a bigger one filled with cabinets.
If you find pipe wrap, old floor tiles or other material that might contain asbestos, stop and get it tested. The state landfill rejects any construction load with asbestos in it.
3. The 6-unit line
The city's trash contract covers buildings with 6 or fewer units. Most 02909 buildings qualify, which means free bulky pickup of up to 3 items per unit. Owners of larger buildings get no city collection at all and arrange their own hauler, so a cleanout after a tenant moves out usually means a dumpster.
Landlords between tenants
With so many rental units in two- and three-family buildings, a common 02909 job is clearing one apartment after a move-out. If it is mostly furniture and bags, book the free bulky pickup first and see what is left. If carpet, a kitchen and a bathroom are coming out too, a 10 or 15 yard container is the usual starting point. Ask for a quote that names the weight allowance in tons.