All articles tagged with #trash collection
A labor strike involving Teamsters members against Republic Services has halted curbside trash collection in Bellevue and surrounding areas, leading residents to haul their own garbage or use a free drop-off site, with the strike affecting multiple cities and prompting the company to collect extra waste on the next service day.
Philadelphia city and union workers reached a tentative deal ending a weeklong strike that halted residential trash pickup, with workers receiving a 3% annual raise over three years and additional benefits, while residents and city services experienced disruptions.
Philadelphia's largest public sector union and the mayor reached a tentative three-year deal ending an eight-day strike that disrupted trash collection and city services, with a proposed 14% pay increase for union members over four years, pending ratification by union members.
New York City has implemented a new rule requiring residential buildings with nine or fewer units to use secure-lidded bins for trash collection, as part of Mayor Eric Adams' initiative to reduce curbside trash bags and rat infestations. This affects 88% of the city's buildings, with fines for non-compliance starting in January. The move follows a similar mandate for businesses and aims to containerize 70% of the city's trash, with plans for larger buildings underway. Standardized bins will become mandatory in 2026.
New York City's trash problem is a result of historical decisions and urban density, with trash bags piled on sidewalks attracting rats and straining sanitation workers. The city plans to shift to containerized trash collection, but faces challenges in finding space for containers and balancing competing demands for curb space. The proposed plan involves using wheelie bins for smaller residences and large stationary containers for big apartment buildings, while midsize buildings present a challenge. The city's plan aims to balance the need for cleaner streets with the complexities of New York's diverse urban landscape, but critics argue that the focus on rats overlooks opportunities to rethink the city's streetscape and reduce overall waste.
Hillsborough County in Florida has issued a mandatory evacuation for Zone A and has opened several shelters for residents. Two shelters are already open, with eight more scheduled to open later today. Special needs shelters are available for residents with medical or cognitive issues. Sandbags are also being provided at four locations. Trash, recycling, and yard waste collections will continue as normal on Tuesday, but there will be no collections on Wednesday. Residents are encouraged to stay informed through the HCFL Alert system or by calling the storm information line.
Over four tons of trash, including cigarette butts, plastic food wrappers, and barbecues, were collected from Lake Tahoe and its surroundings after the Fourth of July holiday weekend. More than 400 volunteers participated in the "Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue" Beach Cleanup event, removing the highest amount of trash in the event's 10-year history. Zephyr Shoals, an unmanaged beach area, had the most litter, with 6,279 pounds collected. The League to Save Lake Tahoe emphasized the importance of individual responsibility in protecting the lake and its surroundings.
Contract negotiations between the mayor and City Council of Jackson, Mississippi failed, resulting in the sudden end of trash collection services. This has left residents scrambling to figure out what to do with their garbage, with some dumping it in front yards of vacant homes or at gas stations. The contract dispute has been brewing for two years, and the council failed to ratify a proposal to award a new, six-year $54 million contract to Richard’s Disposal, a New Orleans-based company that has been collecting trash for the past year. The breakdown in public services has the potential to hit Jackson’s most vulnerable residents the hardest, including those living in poverty and those with limited access to transportation.
The Jackson City Council in Mississippi voted down a six-year contract with Richard's Disposal, which has been providing trash collection services to the city for seven months without pay. The council's decision means that trash collection in the city will be delayed until a new vendor is chosen. The mayor, who has backed Richard's Disposal, said he could not put another emergency contract in place, citing a recent Mississippi Supreme Court ruling. Richard's workers protested the decision, with some chanting "vote them out."