Beginning Thursday, April 9 recycling services in the city will be suspended and trash collection will be temporarily reduced from twice to once-per-week due to staffing shortages in the City’s Public Services Department. The once-per-week trash service will take place according to the normal schedule for recycling collection across the city. No changes are currently planned for the City’s Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC) service.
The service changes are due to staffing shortages related to the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Crews are being reorganized to fully staff vehicles in order to maintain the essential service of collecting waste at least once a week. Service will be brought back to normal as soon as it is safely possible to do so.
The City has seen an increase in BABIC calls with the onset of spring and more people staying home due to COVID-19 concerns. To help BABIC crews meet this new demand, residents are asked to “Think Big” by only requesting service when there is a sufficient amount of material to require a truck to haul the waste. Items weighing 50 or more pounds, such as large furniture or appliances, should be set out for BABIC. Small piles of brush, lawn clippings and anything else weighing less than 50 pounds should be disposed of through regular trash collection.
The City’s Public Services Department is working hard to return to normal as soon as possible. Workers in the department appreciate your patience as they continue to bring the best service possible under these difficult circumstances.
